Recent content by cmtrivia

  1. cmtrivia

    One Lonely Duck

    We/ve been in the one duck situation a couple of times. I would recommend the mirror and a stuffed toy, at least for a few days. Also, you can spend lots of time one-on-one with the duckling. Should be able to introduce it gradually to your flock after the appropriate quarantine period, but...
  2. cmtrivia

    Leg weakness in ducklings?

    Thanks for the recommendations. I'll definitely try the brewer's yeast, and ponder what percentage protein to use. Thanks
  3. cmtrivia

    Leg weakness in ducklings?

    We have three new ducklings. They are 2 weeks old as of Wednesday. I've noticed one having trouble walking starting at about 10 days old, and another not quite as nimble a couple of days later. Is there a leg weakness syndrome in ducks? The three are Snowy Mallard, Cayuga, Magpie. The Snowy...
  4. cmtrivia

    Duckling startles when sleeping

    Hi, Quick question about a 1 week old duckling. She is a Snowy Mallard, and is housed with two other week-old pullets: a Cayuga and a Magpie. The Snowy Mallard is normal in every other way, but she startles out of her sleep several times an hour, and shoots around in the kennel for a few...
  5. cmtrivia

    Snowy Mallards...are they the same as Welsh Harlequins?

    Thanks for the helpful replies. I didn't mean to indicate that Ideal was giving me a problem...they are a great hatchery, and only 45 miles from me. That's where all our chickens have come from. One final question: is the temperament of the Snowy Mallard comparable to the Welsh Harlequin? I...
  6. cmtrivia

    Snowy Mallards...are they the same as Welsh Harlequins?

    A relative newcomer to ducks... We have had about 4 ducklings over the last month (from 2 orders, small, I know). All have met their demise (respiratory issues, raccoon during daytime, trauma). I would like to re-order from Ideal, but I note they don't carry Welsh Harlequins. They do have...
  7. cmtrivia

    Can you take another duck leg question?

    OK, I've been watching our little duckling (now 3 weeks old). She holds her feet almost at a 90 angle (toed inward) from where they should be. Think of pigeon-toed so much that the toes on each foot point at each other. This is impairing her walking all the time. She mostly just stands or...
  8. cmtrivia

    Can you take another duck leg question?

    Thanks for the reassuring reply. I will watch her as she grows, and definitely keep the rougher substrate beneath her. We've had a rough day, as we lost this little duckling's "sister," a little Cayuga to some type of respiratory problem today. The Welsh Harlequin seems ok from that...
  9. cmtrivia

    Can you take another duck leg question?

    Well, I have read a lot about duck leg problems...but, since it is the first time for me to personally experience it, I have some questions. Our 2 1/2 week old Welsh Harlequin duckling has seemed fine, but I notice her legs/feet are very "pigeon-toed," to the point of her stepping on her own...
  10. cmtrivia

    Are these breeds "quiet?"

    Thanks everybody for the input. I am a veterinarian, and I did not know about the skull deformity causing the crest in ducks! Live and learn. I don't think I'll specifically order any crested ducklings. Anyway, we have bitten the bullet and ordered one Cayuga female, and one Welsh Harlequin...
  11. cmtrivia

    Are these breeds "quiet?"

    I have read that the Muscovy is the quietest. However, we're not big fans of their appearance (my apologies to all Muscovy lovers!). Do you have any knowledge of the white crested? The cayuga drake was pretty quiet, but I haven't heard a hen before. Thanks!
  12. cmtrivia

    Are these breeds "quiet?"

    We had 2 ducks last spring that turned out to be drakes (crested magpie and cayuga). Very adorable, but no eggs were going to come out of a drake! Also, we are in the city, and in a subdivision that doesn't allow poultry.:-( So, we had to give the drakes away. Broke my daughter's heart. For...
  13. cmtrivia

    Hen laid poorly formed egg overnight from roost

    Hi all, I have 4 hens: 1 Brahma, 1 Ameraucana, and 2 Plymouths. One of the Plymouths has always laid eggs with very thin shells. I have only had one break in the nesting box. The eggs from this hen also typically have a concretion of shell deposited on the narrower end of the egg. If you...
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