Domestic Diva turned... Homesteader?

Quack.
Two years ago I got it in my head that I wanted to start raising ducks.

"Why ducks instead of chickens?"

Everyone I encounter seems to ask this question.  I tell them that I'd rather eat a duck than a chicken, but there is just something about this waterfowl that's so enjoyable.  Their crazy antics bring a smile to my face even on some of my worst days.  I'm sure chickens are fun to watch, too... but... ducks!  Seriously. Ducks.

I created a budget to build a coop and pen.  I placed an order with a local hatchery for Cayuga ducklings, and I waited impatiently.  And waited.  And waited. Silly nature and it's inability to produce results on your schedule!

I finally got tired of waiting, and went up to Tractor Supply where they just *happened* to be having chick days.  Huh.  What a weird coincidence.

I purchased some bare necessities and four Pekin ducklings.  I set up my sister's old rabbit cage in my basement with a heat lamp, and pointed my Raspberry Pi webcam at them.

3 days old

ZOMG DUCKIES.

I had so much fun watching them run laps around the cage.  The peeping they would make when I walked into the room, and their excitement over crushed Cheerios kept me smiling from ear to ear.

For a few weeks.

11 days old

Then, they were in a weird in-between phase.  They were messy, and big, but they didn't have their adult feathers so they couldn't go outside (and... the coop wasn't ready yet because the ground was still frozen).  So I laid down some tarps and set up a pen in the basement.  Which worked quite well.

15 days old

Once the snow melted, my husband tried to hurry to build the pen and coop before a scheduled surgery, and before the ducklings out grew their basement apartment.

4 weeks old
Getting some outside time and checking out the construction

Soon, the pen in the basement wasn't enough for the four ducks.  I was constantly cleaning out their pen, and they emptied their 3 gallon waterer faster than I could fill it up.

5.5 weeks old

The coop was finished just before Mother's day.  I was so excited to move this crew outside.  They would have more space, actual sunlight, and a better watering solution (PVC pipe with 4" holes drilled out, capped).

The ducks really seemed to like their new set up, and I was SO thankful to have them out of the basement.  But then, my phone rang.  My original hatchery order was ready. Time to rinse and repeat!