Hello BYC Duck peeps!
I have adopted two Pekin ducks from a coworker's children (they got Easter basket surprises, which they can no longer keep in town) yesterday. They are approx. 4 - 5 months old and very cute...but I don't know how to care for ducks :-O I took them because he had nowhere else to send the ducks & one of his horrid neighbors in town was threatening to turn him in to Animal Control, etc. for having these in his back yard. I have 20 hens & three roosters which free-range all day & get cooped up at night. I put the ducks in with them last night & they seemed to do well. The chickens are not bothered by them at all, no rooster attacks or anything like that.
I have some questions I was hoping to get answered:
1 - the ducks came with Purina Layena crumbles...is this what they should be eating? I'm still feeding my chickens the Starter ration, but will be switching them over soon (they were hatched on April 10). The ducks seem to have trouble swallowing the crumbles...they cough & stick their necks out straight alot. I wasn't sure if this was common duck eating behavior.
2 - my chickens seem to stick pretty close to their coop and in the livestock pens, but the ducks are roaming farther out...is this just because their surroundings are so new? I don't have any type of run or pen set up for the chickens, and no place to pen in the ducks to keep them close to the run during the day. I did read that some people pen up new birds for a week or so, but this is not an option where I am. I am only feeding the ducks at the coop, hoping this will teach them to stay close. Their only water is also right near the coop (not inside it) so I'm hoping this helps also.
3 - do ducks need a pond to be happy? These guys will have access to fresh water at all times (I have a drip system that goes into a large rubber tub). They can hop into the tub, or go over about 15 feet to a concrete stockwater trough to swim in. The trough is about 2.5 feet deep x 2 feet wide x 6 feet long -- there isn't much room but they can paddle around a little bit in there & eat bugs/moss stuff if they want. Will this work?
4 - How do I tell what sex these ducks are? One is a little larger than the other & has a tiny, tiny curl on its tail feathers...I'm really hoping I have a drake and a hen, because I'd love to get some ducklings if my hens would set on those eggs too.
Thanks y'all!
I have adopted two Pekin ducks from a coworker's children (they got Easter basket surprises, which they can no longer keep in town) yesterday. They are approx. 4 - 5 months old and very cute...but I don't know how to care for ducks :-O I took them because he had nowhere else to send the ducks & one of his horrid neighbors in town was threatening to turn him in to Animal Control, etc. for having these in his back yard. I have 20 hens & three roosters which free-range all day & get cooped up at night. I put the ducks in with them last night & they seemed to do well. The chickens are not bothered by them at all, no rooster attacks or anything like that.
I have some questions I was hoping to get answered:
1 - the ducks came with Purina Layena crumbles...is this what they should be eating? I'm still feeding my chickens the Starter ration, but will be switching them over soon (they were hatched on April 10). The ducks seem to have trouble swallowing the crumbles...they cough & stick their necks out straight alot. I wasn't sure if this was common duck eating behavior.
2 - my chickens seem to stick pretty close to their coop and in the livestock pens, but the ducks are roaming farther out...is this just because their surroundings are so new? I don't have any type of run or pen set up for the chickens, and no place to pen in the ducks to keep them close to the run during the day. I did read that some people pen up new birds for a week or so, but this is not an option where I am. I am only feeding the ducks at the coop, hoping this will teach them to stay close. Their only water is also right near the coop (not inside it) so I'm hoping this helps also.
3 - do ducks need a pond to be happy? These guys will have access to fresh water at all times (I have a drip system that goes into a large rubber tub). They can hop into the tub, or go over about 15 feet to a concrete stockwater trough to swim in. The trough is about 2.5 feet deep x 2 feet wide x 6 feet long -- there isn't much room but they can paddle around a little bit in there & eat bugs/moss stuff if they want. Will this work?
4 - How do I tell what sex these ducks are? One is a little larger than the other & has a tiny, tiny curl on its tail feathers...I'm really hoping I have a drake and a hen, because I'd love to get some ducklings if my hens would set on those eggs too.
Thanks y'all!