We have a three week old Indian Runner duckling with two mothers. They have been in their pen since the duckling hatched, it is doing really well, swimming eating beeetling about. When can they begin to free range, they will have about two acres to wander in. I notice that the duckling does rest a lot, so I am wondering whether its too small, also the parents although protective can be a little absentminded,and given it is our 'first' duckling, I am probably just a wee bit overprotective!

-- Fiona Strahan (fidel@netconnect.com.au), February 18, 2002

Answers

Fiona, I don't let my ducklings out on our meadow until they are fully feathered. Until then they stay in a large, grass covered and tree filled duck yard. And of course, even the free ranging ducks are brought in every night and put in a secure pen and house. Hope that helps. You might also skip over to www.poultryconnection.com and check with all the experts there and get some more ideas. Click on The General Waterfowl Forum when you get there. Have fun, ducklings are a trip aren't they? Even if you just have one. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 18, 2002.

I wondered about that, too when one of our Blue Swedes hatched out 8 little cuties, but we decided to leave it up to Mama, survival of the fittest and all that. She went all over from day one and the little guys just scrambled to keep up -- it was like watching an old silent at double speed. They all survived, though sometimes I had to help them into the duckhouse at night. Their instinct to be with Mama is incredibly strong. All the books told us to worry about them getting wet or chilled or whatever, but Mama dealt with it all. Of course, that was summertime.

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), February 18, 2002.

Thanks LQ and Snoozy, yes ducks are certainly a trip! I'll wait a little longer, the parents are good at heading back to the pen in the late afternoon, so no probs there. Nice to have a bunch of other duck people/fans out there, saves my friends thinking I am completely quackers!

-- fiona (fidel@netconnect.com.au), February 18, 2002.

True Fiona! LOL You know you are seriously hooked when you walk around yelling "AFLAC!" LOL LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 19, 2002.