Dodge941, where might you move to? I'm in Kennewick, but was born here so I have no experience transferring the birds to different climates. I did lose a Cochin when we hit 104 last year but otherwise the birds have done fine. You really need to have several options for shade and put out water...
So I have a 3-sided shelter with a roof and my waterfowl still lay in the open in the pen. It is dropping into the teens all of a sudden. I think I'm going to start herding them into the shelter and blocking them in so at least I'LL feel better!
houseofknauss, I love your set up and your duck is beautiful! Sounds like you can get some pretty cool looking mixes! My only two ducks are a mallard duck and black IR drake. I'd love to get a couple more ducks when budget allows. I'm not sure how people decide to stick to one breed of duck...
I've heard they can get aggressive during mating season in spring. So far it is their loud mouths that DH hates! They seem to have a need to have the last word and shout over you. They honk at him when he is out in the shop. We shall see if they get mean next spring since they were just...
This is my first year with ducks and got 2 drakes and one duck. We rehomed the Khaki drake and are left with a black Indian Runner drake(B.P. as in Bowling Pin) and the Mallard duck (Disco, as she bobs her head diagonally like she's dancing). They hang with the 2 African (?) geese we got at...
Ugh, just cleaned the kiddy pools AGAIN. I have 2 geese, 2 ducks and 2 kiddy pools which stay clean for about 5 minutes, haha! Seems like such a waste and pain to clean them so often but they enjoy them so much!
Had the same happen to a Silkie rooster. Didn't know there was even a wound until he looked punky and found him infested with maggots. Tried cleaning it out, but he went downhill fast. Im still horrified and sick about this.
You probably should make sure any antibiotic cream you use does NOT say "pain relief". Hopefully someone with better duck experience pipes in, but I have read some of the steroids that are put in some ointments can be dangerous to chickens so I wouldn't risk it. In the ingredients they...
So sorry that happened!! With punctures you want to clean a couple times a day and don't let them close too fast. They need to heal inside first so they don't seal in bacteria and cause an abscess. I think I would use diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (if you can find it reasonably...
Any ideas on encouraging a duck to lay in a clean spot. My 5.5m old just started laying and likes to put them right around the kiddy pools where they get dirty!
I read that if you have drakes and feed your birds layer you should offer access to straight grain, like wheat in a shallow dish of water, so the drake can lessen the calcium intake. Thoughts?
Blondiebee, it looks like you have a little cutie in that second pic trying to get your attention! Pretty ducks! We have a black Runner that looks to be a drake. Unfortunately, we didn't handle the ducks enough and they hate being picked up