Ducks big & little (pics)

[Javamama]

My what a difference a few weeks makes! The little ones are now 3 weeks old and the big boys are almost 8 weeks. For the last couple of weeks the boys had plastered themselves to the side of the outdoor pen to watch over the little ones. Yesterday I determined they had grown enough to fend for themselves and let the littles loose. The big boys are taking their jobs seriously - showing off, herding the little ones to the safe places, and leading them to the nighttime pen in the garage last night. It was so cute. They are a bit territorial over the food and water though, so I have to keep an eye on it. You would think 2 pools and numerous tubs would be enough for everyone, but it's not

Out of the littles, who are all supposed to be girls, we have one already unmistakably quacking. Maybe we will call her Whoopie.

 

[Wifezilla]

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

ohmigolly! they are sooooooo cute!!

great job, javamama!

 

[Mackay]

So cute!

What kind of ducks are they and for what purpose do you raise them?

 

[Javamama]

Mackay - these are Welsh Harlequins. They are for 4-H for my daughter, eggs and breeding once they are grown, and a new species for our entertainment in the yard. I got tired of looking at the chickens and I can't have goats. I'm wearing down my husband one species at a time

 

[Wifezilla]

Welsh Harlequins are awesome ducks. They lay eggs like crazy. Almost as many as a runner or a khaki campbell. They are pretty friendly and have loads of personality.

Allegedly they also make a good meat duck, but they are so cute I doubt I will ever find that out for myself.

 

[Javamama]

I have never had duck meat or eggs. I don't think any of these will become dinner - the drakes are from Holderread's so whichever one we don't keep will hopefully become a breeder for someone else. I'd hate to waste good stock.
I'm hoping we can sell a couple at the fair in July. It would be nice to get more local people interested in them.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Welsh Harlequins are awesome ducks. They lay eggs like crazy. Almost as many as a runner or a khaki campbell.

Somebody needs to come talk to my ducks, then!

 

[Rebbetzin]

In the goat pen there now lives a very nice duck. Yesterday, I put out two big pails of water for the kids who can't yet reach the big water container. Well, the duck decided to swim in both the buckets rather than in his normal tub! The tub stayed clean all day so the kids could use that for drinking water! Silly duck, I wish I had a photo of him "swimming" in the water bucket!!

 

[Rebbetzin]

Do duck eggs taste like chicken eggs? I assume that is a question that gets asked frequently.