Third time is the charm, as some say. “Quack Quack! Ur babies r here!”, read the text message at 7:30 this morning. Pretty easy-going, this surrogate mother situation, text and go. Eleven golden, super soft baby ducks are the newest kids on Cricket Thicket. I sure am hoping these aspiring Giant Pekings from McMurray’s Hatchery are easier keepers. Off the cuff, I find them the cutest of all the farm critters we’ve welcomed this year.
Using an old dog kennel, with the top off (for easy human hand access to water and feed), I’ve set heavy boards up against the sides so that nobody plops out. An adjustable light stand (like what a photographer would use for studio shots) holds a heat lamp bulb (selected from the local feed store), and the little goldies are clustered underneath in a duck scrum. I imagine it would feel totally awesome to be in the middle of all that baby duck down. The cage is plenty big enough for them to move away from the heat should it prove too much.
When a little bigger, perhaps a week out, we’ll open up the yard to them. I am feeding a starter duck feed, available at the feed store, but hope to mostly satisfy them with the grass option in short order. Predicted to be of duck a l’orange size in just 8 to 10 weeks, this is one critter we’re hoping proves a time and money economizing meat option. Get ready for your Christmas presents family and friends! This is, however, a trial run. as my mothering instincts increase daily, I hope to hatch out the next batch, as well as branch out into more diverse, heirloom breeds.
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