I have to agree with Going Quackers....ducks are sooo messy! I use the rubber livestock bowls too along with a stainless steel large dog bowls, I like them because I can scrub clean easily as needed, which is pretty much everyday LOL! I also use the large 5 gal. drinkers usually sold for...
Hello, I have ducklings that are about 4-5 five weeks old and am wondering if they are old enough to be let out with the adults.
They are almost completely feathered out, still some fuzz on their backs, so do you think they will be ok during the cold nights outside yet, or wait longer? They...
I have 2 Black Swedish ducklings about 4-5 weeks old and they do have the green shimmer to their feathers. Looks like they will have greenish heads with pretty green laced back feathers. Both I suspect are drakes. Does anyone know if the wing bars will be more green, kind of like how Mallards...
HollyDuckFarmer~ Glad to know I'm not the only one with a "buddy sour" duck Momma :) She just is not happy without her trio. She was a great setter, and that's what's confusing, 'cause she gave no indication that she would be this way before. I guess I figured if she was a good and diligent...
Thanks Miss Lydia, from what I see, the momma is fine when she's with her trio group and the babies are fine as long as momma is within sight of them, which she is always with her trio so if the babies want Momma...they get the whole trio. thankfully the other hen and drake in her trio are super...
I have just the trio in the fenced off area with the babies. The other ducks are out in the huge main yard. They are doing fine so far, it's a decent sized fenced pen that the babies and trio are in approximately 75ft around the perimeter with plenty of shade. The main yard is about an acre...
Miss Lydia~
Last night I did end up taking the ducklings inside to our brooder, and let the Momma go in the coop with the others. This morning I have her out with the ducklings in the small fenced area but she just panics and paces the fence to be with her trio....so, guess I will catch the trio...
I have heard of someone using a lightbulb and put holes in the top and bottom because hot air rises and will draw cooler air in the bottom to keep a constant temp. You would have to play with the bulb wattage to get the right temp depending on how big your incubator is, and adjust the hole sizes...
My Swedish Blue hen hatched last year spring 2012 and started laying mid fall last year. Has laid one egg every single day since. She got her "quack" prior to starting laying and was noisier than the drake. Our BS drake (same age) got his drake feather at about the same time she started laying...
My Hubby's folks raised ducks and said they will eat small fish like minnows and small frogs or toads if they can get them. It may depend on the duck breed too...I think some are more active foragers than others. I have not personally gotten any minnows for our ducks to see if they would though
I have a lot too. All three hens (2Mallards and one Swedish) lay one egg every single day. Even throughout winter! There are a few friends of ours that use them for baking, they say it makes baked goods like cakes and cookies more delicate and rich, and we use them for baking as well and we sell...
Hello Gravitystar~
I have heard of using sand in chicken coops and maybe that would work for ducks as well? I have a gravel base in our duck coop and currently put straw on top. It does get messy (more so in the winter as they stay inside more but it isn't too bad the other 3 seasons. as far as...
Update:
Got the poultry netting and set up a decent sized area around the nest with some shade for momma and ducklings. She protested and panicked a lot when trying to separate her from her trio....so ended up putting the trio in the fenced area. Then put a couple feeders and 3 different water...
Miss Lydia
Ok thanks for the heads up. It's a long drive to town (abt an hour) so will try Lowes if can't find at TSC. You would think they would carry it! So is it listed as poultry fencing at Lowes? Or like landscaping/snow? There is another Mom N Pop feed store I can try in town if I strike...
Miss Lydia
Ok thanks for the heads up. It's a long drive to town (abt an hour) so will try Lowes if can't find at TSC. You would think they would carry it! So is it listed as poultry fencing at Lowes? Or like landscaping/snow? There is another Mom N Pop feed store I can try in town if I strike...
Ok, I am going to TSC later today so I will see if they have any of the poultry fencing. I really do want her to take care of them, So disappointed that she'd rather chase around with her friends lol! Hopefully I can find the fencing and get it put up yet today and put them all in there. I guess...