I'm Officially Head-Over-Heels In Love!

How To Make Your Duck Happy

Wear a braid!

Donegan Wants More Pasghetti!

"What IS that?!"

Couple Videos of Donegan :)

Donegan's Weekly Growth Comparison Photo: Seven Weeks Old

Click HERE for more growth comparison pics.

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.

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

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.

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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Donegan's Weekly Size Comparison Photo: Two Weeks Old

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First Time's a Charm

Today Donegan wore a diaper harness for the first time.  He did AMAZING!!!  He didn't mind it at all.  He was perfectly happy.  This footage was taken immediately after I put it on him.  He acted like it was the norm.
Not long after that, he settled into his carrier for a nap.  He's such a good, mellow boy. 
Get these duckling diapers HERE.  I recommend, instead of simply fastening a safety pin as the directions show, that you first cross the two pieces (basically the first step to tieing your shoe laces) and then inserting the pin in.  Works WAY better this way.)

Taking a Breather

Thinking about the week I had and laughing about it now. It was a crazy one. One of those where every little thing goes wrong... from the cat collapsing my paint shelves to getting three drinks spilled on me by little people within two days (lol). Today Donegan and I are going to sit our booties down and we ain't movin for nuthin! :D 

13 days old

Movin' On Up

10 days old.  I upgraded his water dish last night from a chick waterer to a little dish with higher sides so Donegan can dunk his nose better.  I also started lessening the amount of water I put in his crumbles.  He will be eating dry crumbles by Monday.  As of yesterday I'm mixing his feed with unprocessed oatmeal to reduce the protien level in his feed.  This will help slow the high growth rate domestic ducks are bred for and reduce the chances of him developing Angel Wing.  (Ideally you should be looking for an 19% protein feed, no more.  But I am no vet, so do your research :)
He got a bath upgrade, too!
(more detailed information on the first days of raising can be found in my blog's early posts... back when I had cheyenne)

He Loves It!

Donegan LOVES his new carrier!   (see previous post for ordering info).

He settled right in after his bath to preen.  You can tell he feels secure in it.  Definitely happy with my choice to buy.