Um...came home to a duck.

So I arrived home to find a duck perched on my lawn chair. I checked craigslist lost and found, no posts for lost ducks. It is just hanging around my chickens. I don't know what kind it is, if it's a boy or a girl, what to feed it or where it should sleep. Do you think it will fly back home? Do ducks typically wander? Ugh! I have so many questions! Any help would be appreciated.

Lucky you!! Where are you located - do you want to keep it?? Many people here keep ducks with chickens without problems. Not sure about feed ration tho', but I'm sure someone else will chip in on this ..........btw - welcome

Hi! I'm not too super knowledgeable (even though I have 5 ducks and 6 chickens, I'm still a newbie) but I can answer a few of your questions.

Ducks can eat what chickens eat--as long as the food isn't medicated. They do rely on water more than chickens--one of my ducks eats just fine without water, but the others take a bite of food and almost require a gulp of water right after the bite to wash it down and prevent choking.

If the duck and chickens are getting along just fine---you can house the ducky with the chickens (I do). If you see any fighting going on--I would house the duck separate. But, generally their needs are the same.

I'm not certain of the breed--so, I'm not sure if it would fly home. My ducks do not fly, although they wander all over the yard...they don't go far enough to where they are unable to see the coop. I almost wonder if an animal was after the duck and chased it away. Not sure why a duck would wander away from home. (doesn't look like it's missed a meal )

Looks like a girl--I don't see any drake feathers.

Could be a Muscovy--but, please don't take my word for this

Hope some of this helps!

I live in Washington state. If no one claims it, we will keep it. I'm hoping someone can tell me how old it may be, boy or girl and maybe what kind. I'm researching how to make it comfortable (sleepwise) and what to feed it.

I have just been reading up on ducks, since I intend to get some next year! Apparently, just a pile of dry straw/hay does just fine for bedding. If it gets along ok with the chickens, I would put it in the hen house for overnights. If you are planning to get more ducks, I really recommend Storeys' guide to raising ducks by Dave Holderread - very informative. It even shows you how to sex a duck - not sure I would try it on an adolescent/adult duck tho' The book states that ducks start to lay around 16-20 weeks I believe. I'm definitely no expert but the coloring could be Magpie or Ancona.
I hope someone else chimes in to give you more concrete info.

Ducks can't actually eat chicken feed, they need niacin, even as adults. So just put some crushed niacin tablets or brewer's yeast (NOT baking yeast!) in the mix. That's all. :3

Looks like a muscovy pullet, or an adult cross-breed. Muscovies don't have drake feathers, but the males' heads look downright bumpy! She's an adorable little girl, and she seems super friendly towards you. Best of luck!

racheldazy said:

I live in Washington state. If no one claims it, we will keep it. I'm hoping someone can tell me how old it may be, boy or girl and maybe what kind. I'm researching how to make it comfortable (sleepwise) and what to feed it.

Click to expand...

Looks lie a young Muscovy duck[female] maybe 4 months.. they fly real well so she may have been out flying and can't find her way back where she came from, do you have any body of water close by she could have came from there. Muscoy's are great ducks I have 13 of them. Congrats!! She'll need to be kept protected just like chickens and will even roost with them make sure the chickens won't mind her being in with them, they can be pretty mean to a newbie.

My ducks eat chicken feed with out any problems once they are around 10 12 weeks the niacin they need for growth development isn't as great as when they are younger. Just make sure she gets a varied diet along with it, romaine lettuce mine love also kale and cabbage they like real well and forgaging for bugs Scovy's love to do.

We are surrounded by lakes, creeks and a giant river, so it's sort of a crap shoot about which direction she may have come from. She seems to be doing well with the chickens, though both the rooster and the lead hen gave her a bit of the what for. Thank you for the food, age, breed and gender info! She is awfully sweet!

racheldazy said:

We are surrounded by lakes, creeks and a giant river, so it's sort of a crap shoot about which direction she may have come from. She seems to be doing well with the chickens, though both the rooster and the lead hen gave her a bit of the what for. Thank you for the food, age, breed and gender info! She is awfully sweet!

Click to expand...

She may stay then again she may fly off, hopefully if you like her shell hang around. If you want you can clip one wing to keep her grounded. I love my Scovies they are so personable hard to believe some states hate them. Keep us updated on her. If you lock everyone up at night you might want to make her a privacy fence temp in your coop just to keep anyone from beating up on her too much. Always best when introducing a new flock member. Dog crate will work for intro bedroom till everyone gets use to her.

Oh good idea! I will put a dog kennel in there! I'm okay if she finds her way home, but we are also happy to have her stay. I love how she wags her tail!