I often keep chicks inside for up to a week before tossing them into the outdoor brooder, but this batch was already two days old when they arrived, and the weather had been so warm, I opted to move everyone outside Saturday morning.  By Saturday afternoon, I was sitting and watching them through the open door when chicks started tumbling out onto the ground, so I figured, why not let them go outside early too?  I did have to babysit the youngsters a bit when a few of them couldn't figure out how to get back inside, but soon both ducklings and chicks were busy pecking at ants, crowfoot seeds, and dead nettle flowers.

Sunday, Mom came over, and I figured it was time to let our ducklings go for a swim.  Mark found a glass pie pan in the barn that was just the right depth for safe escapes, and the ducklings took to it like, well, like ducks to water.

The chicks soon came running over to see what all the excitement was about, but most ran right back inside to drink from our EZ Miser.

(We did decide to stick to a nipple waterer for both ducks and chicks in the brooder, but will be giving the ducklings daily swims to keep their eyes and nostrils happy.)

The Ancona ducklings and Cornish Cross chicks are much tamer than the Australorps we usually raise, so I showed Mom that they'd clamber right onto her hand if she left it on the ground.  She baited the hand with dead nettles, and soon was snuggling with ducklings.

Despite their cuteness, though, I don't think Mark needs to worry that the adorable livestock will be impossible to turn into dinner.  If ducks are anything like chickens, they grow out of their cuteness about the time they start to lose their fluff --- around week two or three.  I'll enjoy the cuteness while it lasts and will enjoy chicken and duck dinners in July just as much.