This is "Skittles".  He is only 5 days old!

He was hatched in an incubator by his "mom", Brandon.  Brandon saved up his money to buy an incubator to hatch a duck egg as a project. He tried and tried all summer long and no luck. Then, almost Thanksgiving time, little Skittles was born!

Now that Brandon successfully hatched a duckling, a friend of his was to adopt him. The plans didn't work out and little Skittles needed a home.

Brandon's Dad met me in Binghamton and there is where I adopted Skittles. Even though I know I am free to re-name him, I think it fits well. Just trying to take a picture was difficult because Skittles, skittled everywhere and FAST!  Remind you of another duck I had?

We had a nice drive back to the Big Sky Ranch. Skittles rode in my shirt most of the way. He is very curious and likes to talk (duck chirps of course...)

When he got home, he got his own mini-swimming dish (large pie pan) and a snack of starter feed. He is now resting in his box and listening to the TV and to us talking.

Welcome baby Skittles to the Big Sky Ranch!

PS:  Brandon, you can come visit any time!

Pat J

UPDATE: July 25, 2010

Skittles turned out to be a very handsome Drake.  He is now 9 months old.

I decided to get Skittles a girl friend, so I went to a place that had a hen for sale.  I took "Bertha" home. She is BIG!  I introduced Skittles to "her" and come to find out, "she" is a "he"!  So now "Bertha is "Donald". Donald is a Rouen drake.

I found a local farm that had tons of ducks and I got a mallard hen ( 1 1/2 yr old) for free.  I didn't like the name "Free", so I am calling her "Penny". Now Skittles has a real  girl friend!