DUCKIES!!!!! (Pekins)

 So we have decided to add ducks to our homestead. We went down to the local farm store and purchased 3 ducklings, they are Pekins (I am pretty sure at least).

Pekins are a great starter duck. They are relatively quiet (for ducks ha), docile and great egg layers, up to 200 a year. Pekins grow to be about 8-11 lbs and can live 9-12 years. Pekin ducks can be very loyal to their humans, some say a stronger loyalty than dogs can have.

Pekins have white bodies, a yellow bill, and orange feet. It is very difficult to tell the sex of Pekin ducks until they are older and have their feathers then you can tell by the wing feathers. Male ducks have a curl to the end of their wing feathers and females or smooth. (picture to come once mine are old enough to tell)

Generally Pekins duck are not brooders (lay on their eggs) and need to be incubated if you plan to hatch your own. Pekins eggs have a 28 day incubation period at 99.5*F and a humidity level of 55-75%. When incubating Pekin eggs it is similar the incubating chicken eggs in which you lock down the eggs 3 days before the hatch day. At lock down the temperature is slightly lower and the humidity higher, this increases the survivability of the ducklings. Compared the other birds, duck eggs are relatively easy to hatch since they are very forgiving when it comes to temperature and humidity levels.

Pekin ducklings are yellow with orange bills and feet. Ducklings hatched in and incubator should be watched very closely and limited on their access to swimming water. The ducklings feathers are not sufficiently developed to protect them for extended periods in the water. They also don't produce enough preen oil to water proof their duckling feathers. 

I decided I wanted a pretty duck so after some googling and research I have ordered some Cayuga ducklings. They are also docile, loyal and relatively quiet. They are about the same size as pekins and absolutely gorgeous. I will post more about these guys after I get them.