The Great Coop Swap

Mr. Badger was the best husband ever today and drove up to pick up a new coop for the drakes near Portland, ME (about 2 hours each way). He left around 10am and didn't make it back until about quarter to 5! Long day ... and then we had to actually swap out 3 different groups of ducks. 

First we set up the new coop for the drakes under our apple trees on the opposite side of the yard from where the big coop is. I am hoping they will calm down a bit if they don't see the ladies all the time. We then brought the 11 big ducklings out into the big coop onto the side where the drakes used to be. I am hoping this will help integrate them into the bigger flock, since they will all get to see each other, but no fights can break out. And then lastly, I moved the 3 younger ducklings into the bigger brooder the big ducklings were using. Phew! It was a lot of work, but we got it done. We just put the drakes in their new coop for the night (they were not willing to do so ... ) and I closed up the big coop for the night, the ducklings spending their first night out of the house. And about time ... between the mess, the noise, and Corra's new obsession with stalking them inside (she is great with them outside) it was more then time to get them out there. They will have their first day in the permanent run tomorrow.