This was taken their first week out of the coop about one month of age. Muscovy and Runner ducklings.
This is them today two months later. Muscovy and Runners all still together.
They roam in a group all day and at dusk put themselves up in the coop. They have not found the pond yet. They are always on the move eating every bug they find. Which is great as it is june bug season. When the blister beetles arrive in August I hope they leave them alone. This is my first time raising Muscoy. It is a nice change to the flock dynamics. I got them for their intelligence and foraging skills. And they are very thorough foragers and not heavy feeders. Saves me money on feed.
Speaking of feed bills. I was burning through more feed than usual. I bought these gravity feeders for the young ducklings. The feeders were empty every night! Turns out I had an army of squirrels eating out of these bins every day and night. Along with deer, mice and turtles! So I removed them and went back to using the rubber dishes to feed the flock. I might use these over vacation but not for everyday. My feed amounts are back to normal now. These gravity feeders were great though, water and snow proof and very stable. I will use again in the winter but not when I have so many wild animals around.
With the rise of the disease killing wild birds in parts of the USA, I keep my flock feed only out for morning. My poultry get what they need and the rest they have to forage for.
