Week 7 Update

I'm running a week behind. We went to Disneyland for four days. Donegan was a great hotel guest! But he's happy to be home. I have a lot of catching up to do after the vacation and my family battling the stomach flu (yuck!), so I'll just leave you with a few 7 week old pics. As you can see, he still has baby fuzz on his head, but he's getting the pretty blue/green feathers in on his wings!

Click pics to enlarge

Donegan's Weekly Growth Comparison Photo: Seven Weeks Old

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First Timer

My first sculpture... work in progress.

I'll never look at Donegan the same... lol

Couple things...

Donegan is nearing 7 weeks old.
I couldn't keep up with his feed consumption, so I bough this "Bistro" Feeder from Tractor Supply.

Made my life easier!  I also finally found a good pellet feed!  So I mixed half pellets and half crumbles to give to him yesterday.  When he finishes his feeder's worth, it's all pellets from there on out.

Additionally, I introduced grit (without oyster shell) now that he has a more solid food to digest.  You can find this at most any feed store and a small bag will last you forever.

He is tall now, so I also placed a new water container in his cage.  It allows him to dunk his head in and clean his eyes and nose... very important!  He loves to place the pellets in the water and search for them.  I have these jars available to customize with your duck portraits on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/KatiesPaintedGlassware

So far I haven't found anything better to use for indoor ducks.  With the heavy weight, I have yet to see any spills.  Here are a couple I custom painted for Skeeter The Duck:

He's officially grown out of the diaper harness I made (previous posts), so I'll be back at the sewing machine today.  He is a really big boy!  Still has growing to do and he's already bigger than Cheyenne was full grown.

Pasghetti!

Took suggestions from fellow pet duck owners on good duck noms, and this one was a majority leader.  Spaghetti!
Donegan gets his first bites of it...

Week Six Update

Hooray for less poop! Donegan's feathers are coming in nicely, so he is poopin less. lol Getting to be quite the handsome fellow, though I do prefer the dark green plumage. Not an ounce of green shimmer on his head yet! Monday we're taking him to disneyland. No, not in the park, as much as I wish I could :D As I've said before, having a pet duck is a huge commitment and they just don't thrive like fish or dogs if you leave them for the weekend. This is no joke :) You want a companion... you got one! I'm waiting for him to grow a bit more before I start sewing more diapers. I adjusted the pattern a bit and added an adjustable strap down the back and I finally found my poly-cotton waterproof duck canvas. Yes, it's called duck canvas. Hooray for irony!
I'm doubling the size of his cage when we get home from Disneyland. Other than that, nothing new in regards to him.
As for me, though, I have a tattoo appointment set for March 16th. My son has Autism and I, myself, have Aspergers. We spend a lot of time beating the odds and stereotypes, and spreading awareness. So I really wanted an Autism awareness tattoo because it is such a big part of our lives (and we couldn't be happier, let me tell you). But I want a duck tattoo, too :( DING DING DING! Mesh them together! So I have this pic on my facebook profile, but I think the ducks are hideous.

So I drew my own. The colors will be in more detail and the words made to look like grass, but here it is. I'm putting it on the inside of my forearm. The man who is going to do my tattoo told me he has a granddaughter with Autism. It makes it that much better to have someone do it that has a true understanding.

And I leave you with more six week old pics of Donegan (click to enlarge)

Donegan's Weekly Growth Comparison Photo: Six Weeks Old

Go HERE for more growth comparison pics.

Vegetable Chopper

I bought a vegetable chopper a couple weeks ago at Walmart for Donegan's daily greens.  Makes things soooo much easier!  Only $14 and great quality.  Rival has one, too, for the same price.
Get yours HERE

Week 5 Update

Nothing new to report, really, other than Donegan went outside for his first time. Waiting for that weather to warm up! It's a disadvantage raising a duckling in the winter. Still no quacks!
We also went on a weekend trip with him. Four hour drive one way to my home town. Donegan did great... very quiet boy... and my mom let him romp around the house in his diaper. His diaper fell off at one point (made some adjustments and the pattern is officially done). I tried to grab him off my lap and instead he ran up my chest and sat on my shoulder. Yup... he immediately took a nice, big, runny, warm poop on my chest. At least my family got a kick out of it. haha! He was very good in the car, too. He will be going to a hotel near Disneyland with us next month :)

I went shopping for fabric. Not a whole lot of options, so I bought him camouflage print so the hunters can't see him. (Knee slapper!) I also got him another shamrock pattern... one that also has beer mugs. I'm a sucker for Ireland. Most excited, though, about the Autism Awareness puzzle piece fabric I ordered :) Here's a few week 5 pics:
(click to enlarge)

Donegan's Weekly Growth Comparison Photo: Five Weeks Old

Go HERE for more growth comparison pics.

First Paddles

He is one month old now.  His feathers have grown in on his chest so he took his first official swim today in the bath tub!  These are his first paddles... trying to figure out how his feet work.  All my videos are of baths so far, but there will be more to come when the weather warms up. Besides, who can't sit an watch a duck play in the water for days??  ;D

Closer...

Week Four Update: Donegan

As you can see, Donegan is getting his feathers in fast. Yay! He has more white than I expected, but recently read that their dark green plumage on their heads is only within certain times of year :) His feathers are already lookin pretty.... even if he IS in the awkward phase. His beak has lightened up a lot, as well. He just keeps getting more and more cuddly. He now hops up into my arms like he's a baby and falls asleep with his beak stuffed under my forearm. Its so cute. He has grown out of his training diapers that I ordered from The Goose's Mother (link to the right), so I busted out my sewing machine. I don't sew. Never have. I put together this diaper harness, but it was still too small. Yesterday I gave diaper sewing an official go and it actually worked out (post to follow). He's slowwwwly getting his quack. I've heard a few "honks" here and there. Looking forward to having a quieter male :D He's not much into playing.... nowhere near as much as Cheyenne was. He's more interested in relaxing on my lap or in my arms, which is fine with me. Welsh Harlequins are a different breed! (not sure if that pun was intended???) Still showing signs of angel wing. I'm going to call the avian vet and get the "OK" to SLIGHTLY cut the protein in his feed with whole cleaned oats. His nails are sharp sharp right now.... similar to a puppy's teeth, they will become more dull over time... but for now my legs are covered in scratches. Serves me right for handling him in shorts. I never learn. One of the things Cheyenne left me with when she passed were plenty of scars on my arms and legs. I don't mind them now. Makes me smile when I look at them. She definitely left her mark on me! (okay, THAT pun was intended).

(click on pic to make larger)

Donegan's Weekly Growth Comparison Photo: Four Weeks Old

See more growth comparison photos HERE.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a..... duck?!

I live on a military base... was looking at an arial view and ran across this. Totally didn't expect that! LOL!

Week 3 Donegan Update

Donegan keeps getting sweeter and sweeter. Welsh's are definitely my number one breed to recommend. He got a bath upgrade and needs one again already! He's getting big. He's convinced he still fits perfectly on my shoulder and in my hand. lol. He also started wearing the next size up in training diapers. My eyes could be playing tricks, but it seems as though his walk is a bit off... maybe too pigeon toed. I'm going to look into it, but regardless it doesn't seem to bug him. He's a poopin machine! SURPRISE! Looking forward to less poop after his feathers are in. They are on their way... looking less like feathers and more like spikes. Gotta love that awkward stage. He's still quite photogenic, but we will see if that still stands next week!! :D His beak is slowly getting lighter. Welsh Harlequin males have a dark beak when they hatch, which lightens and turns yellow over time. The femals are born with a light beak that darkens with age. This is why most breeders consider welshs the easiest to sex at hatching. I did a supervised cat/duck meet n greet with donegan in his cage. YUP... the cats were terrified of him. lol I'll be looking for a medium there. I really need to get some orders in for juvenile and adult diaper harnesses, but it's hard to guess the size =/ We removed the heat lamp, but have the heat turned up in the house. Other than that and upgrading the size of his food and water dishes, nothing new :)

Donegan's Weekly Growth Comparison Photo (3 Weeks Old)

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Duck Decal

Snuck this onto the truck while the husband was sleeping. **evil laugh**
Get yours HERE.

Donegan's Weekly Size Comparison Photo: Two Weeks Old

Click HERE for more weekly size comparison photos.