Um...came home to a duck.

[racheldazy]

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.

 

[Going Quackers]

is it making a sort of raspy noise (boys do)
or a quack (girl duck)

Muscovy don't do that...

Drakes only hiss

Females honk, trill, hiss and coo.. mainly coo and trill a honking, quacking scovie lady is usually NOT happy lol

Muscovy are not mallard derived so have a unique makeup of features and characteristics, awesome fliers, roost and claws that rival the best cat.

 

[emmajane07]

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!

 

[boskelli1571]

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.

 

[Amykins]

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!

 

[veronicasmom]

Oh she is soooo cute! I have four Muscovys. They are great birds. Maybe you could eventually get her another female to pal around with? I'd probably not get a drake if you are going to keep them in with the chickens. I have had quite a few other breeds and they seem to be the most calm birds of all the breeds. And the little noises they make are so adorable.
If you keep girl ducks, you can feed them layer pellets. They are great layers, nice big eggs. You can offer some additional ground oyster shells during the heavy laying season. I like to also feed some chopped veggies, some cracked corn in the cold parts of the winter, and of course, peas as a treat.
Make sure you give her a bowl of water that is deep enough to wash her face completely in. Some of my Scovys like to swim in their kiddie pool, some don't. But at the very least, try providing a large enough pan of water that she can get into to bathe if she chooses. Just make sure it is separate of the drinking water. If she has food out, she will need water, they can choke if they don't have water to wash the food down.
Love to see more pics of her. She is so pretty.

 

[boskelli1571]

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

 

[racheldazy]

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.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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.

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.

 

[racheldazy]

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!