Ducklings!

I have always wanted ducklings. I very much enjoy going to the park or beach to feed the ducks. I love the way they eat so frantically. I went ahead and got some ducklings! We got straight run so we aren't sure of the genders. I decided to get Rouen and Cayuga ducklings. Rouen because I read they are similar to Malards (which I think are beautiful) but are easier to tame and they don't fly away. Cayuga, because they are absolutely gorgeous! I am very happy with my choices.
We got them all settled in with a heat lamp in a small tub with the Silver Laced Wyandottes and the new baby Golden Laced Wyandottes. They are eating a feed that is formulated specifically to feed ducks and chickens as we learned the chicken only feed is not acceptable and does not offer proper nutrition for the ducklings.
It is awesome learning the differences between the chickens and the ducklings. They have very different personalities. Ducks are waterfowl and have webbed toes. They sit low to the ground and waddle around. They also do this adorable thing when they drink water where they shake their heads really quickly. They are definitely full of personality. It is so fun to just sit and watch them. I can't wait till they get their big feathers in and we can set up a pond for them to swim in! They are getting along great with our baby chicks and the bunnies. The only issue right now is how messy they are. We are trying different things to figure out the best way to give them lots of water but maintain the mess. They spill every where and it quickly turns their shaving into mush. They have added some extra work to our routine - we had the chicken routine pretty perfect - but they are definitely worth it!

Rouen Duckling

About the Breed Rouen 

Mellow and easy to tame. Unlikely to fly away due to their size.
Origin: Rouen, France 
Size: 10 pounds
Recognized colors: 
Drakes - green heads, white band on the neck and a gray with blue on wings
Females - light brown with dark brown/black pencil markings, dark eye lines, blue on wings
General Appearance: Heavy weight breed. Look the same as the commonly known Mallard but larger in size. Yellow bill, orange legs and feet.
Egg Production: Not prolific egg layers. Between 35-125 white eggs per year
(Production Rouens are slightly smaller, but lay more eggs, 140-180 per year.)
Breeding: Because of their large size you'll need a pool for them for breeding.
History: Originated in France as a larger mallard. Arrived in England in the 19th century where it became a much larger breed used for meat. Named after the french town in France they are called Rouen Foncé (dark) as opposed to Rouen Clair, which are lighter in color.They were included in the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 1874

Cayuga Ducklings

About the Breed Cayuga 

Hardy and easy to tame. Adjusted to harsh weather. Great foragers. Quiet quackers,
Origin: Cayuga, New York, USA
Size: 7-8 pounds
Recognized colors: Greenish black and rarely you'll see one blue in color. They will get white feathers as they age.
General Appearance: Bill is black and sometimes olive. Feet and legs are black.
Egg Production: 100-150 eggs per year. Eggs start out a beautiful black but change to gray to white. Breeding: They raise a lot of offspring and are great brooders.
History: 
Known for their flavorful meat this breed is one of few that originated in the United States. They were bred from wild ducks in 1809. They were named "Cayuga" after the people in that area. In 1874 the Cayuga duck was accepted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection.

General Duck Info: 

Lifespan - There are a lot of different answers out there about the average lifespan of a duck. A lot of resources say between 6 and 12 years but others report a lifespan of 20+ years if cared for well.
Breeding - It takes 28 days for a fertilized egg to hatch
Water - "Like a duck to water" ducks love water. They drink like crazy and make a mess. They will love to swim in a small pond but it is not necessary. They can thrive with just plenty of fresh drinking water. It does need to be deep enough to cover their bill so they can clean their nostrils. Ducks are very sensitive to bacteria in water and need their water cleaned frequently. 
Food - Provided enough land, ducks will forage for their own food. You can also provide duck specific pellet. Make sure it is formulated for ducks (and not chick feed!). Ducks cannot process niacin from chick feed and it can also be too high in protein.
Grit - Ducks do need grit to help digest their food but will do it naturally with rocks and sand when foraging.

June 3rd Update:

Cayuga:

 

Rouen:

 

Rouen 2:

 

 First Taste of Swimmin' - June 7th

I was sure ducks would be crazy for taking a swim but it turns out my ducks were not too excited about it. I put our cayuga in a tub of water and it scrambled out so fast it landed on its face:

  

 Don't worry, she was fine!

August 28th Update:

Our ducks aren't really "ducklings" anymore and are doing great at free-ranging. I now can trust them out and about without having to worry. They roam with the other animals without any problems and stay close to each other. I can let them out all day and throw them back into the coop to sleep. They sleep in the lower part of the coop with the chickens tucked up inside. We are working on a new habitat for the ducks and the rooster to live in that should give them plenty of space, a pool to swim in and will keep the rooster from getting into trouble with our hens.

August 8th