So, I’m overdue in announcing that we had some new additions to the flock. While my dad was down this summer, he repeatedly told me he would love to hold a duckling. His socials have been flooded with call ducks and pet ducklings and ducks in costumes. So what better way to grant his wish than adding a half dozen Rouen ducks to Chayotix?
We very quickly discovered: they are stinky, messy little creatures. Even cleaning them was messy. We placed them in a tote of water to clean the brooder and they’d immediately relieve themselves in the warm water. Instantly. They’d fill their waterer with their food and make a paste. And the smell! The house filled with this vaguely fishy smell while they maintained their baby fluff.
The Coop
Some research told us ducks don’t care for roosting the way chickens do. So, our idea was to make something of a doghouse for them. We designed a little floorless house with an automatic chicken door on the front. And the back wall opens up for cleaning purposes. But guess what. The ducks didn’t even go in it for the first month. Even now, they only go in when the sun is being a bit much. (The picture is not the finished coop. Windows were cut out and the whole thing was painted gray.)
The Ducks!
As I said, we bought a half dozen ducklings from TSC. They’re Rouens, a kind of meat bird. The plan was to buy 3 or 4 and process one to see how we liked duck as an addition. But Kentucky has made a rule where even non chickens have to be bought in groups of six. We somehow ended up with all girls, Wanda, Sylvie, Pepper Pots, Shuri, Runt and Funny Feather. Along with it, a plan to take Runt and Funny Feather to a poultry swap.
They enjoy their kiddie pool, laugh-squawking at us when we come out, and chasing butterflies now. They still smell, even from a distance. And that poor pool never stays clear for more than about 10 minutes.