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Generally speaking ducklings and chicks can go outside without heat when fully feathered, however is there a magical temperature that is considered safe for a roughly 8 week old duckling? I had troubles last spring when my chicks were this age and outside in April and May and the temps were...

Let's see your duck house @chickens really!

also how tall (minimum, duck size house but not people size) should the ceiling be and/or door opening? I'm honestly hoping to find a larger dog house online, but will build something if this doesn't work out.

Duck house question. Do ducks like to have a separate nest/laying area in their duck house, or is just a house with bedding sufficient? Overall, building an adequate duck house seems far less complicated than building a chicken coop.

Does anyone have experience with Metzer's production birds, white layer, golden hybrid, etc.? Do production birds burn out faster? What I mean is while they may lay a lot of eggs in a year, will they continue to lay for as many years? Are there more problems because they are bred for...

Sounds good! Thanks! With my chickens I know I like having a mixed flock. It's easy to tell them all apart, they all have different personalities, and hopefully by having a variety of chickens and ducks it will help me to have eggs all year and they won't all quit laying at once or molt all...

Ok so when starting a small flock of ducks (6 or less) does it make a difference (for the well being of the ducks) if you have all one breed, or a mixed flock, or maybe pairs or trips of breeds so they have a buddy of the same breed? Do ducks care about the breed of the other ducks in their...

Sorry, I have never had ducks, only chickens. I would think if you add a pair and integrate carefully in the future you would be ok as long as you don't have too many drakes and not enough hens. I'm not sure if ducks are prone to intestinal parasites?? Maybe someone else can weigh in.

medicated vs non-medicated aside Is chick starter still the best thing nutritionally? Are there things it's lacking other than enough niacin or is chick starter plus brewers' yeast adequate?

I'd start looking for breeders in your area now. That way they can let you know when they have the breeds you are looking for available. Even if they say call back in March, at least then you know and can be ready.

Do you add Niacin their whole life or just while growing? What food do you like now that they are grown?

Also how much brooder space per duckling is needed? As in, what's the max space they will need indoors at the end of brooding when they are biggest and about ready to move outside?

I'm joining in. I found an old duck/chick schedule tucked in a book the other day and saw that my local feed store first had them in February last year! That's really not too far off. Currently I only have chickens, so my big question is, what do I need to feed them? or how do I need to feed...