Advice for transporting older ducks?

[headred]

I am doing some trading tomorrow for some ducks. I got 5 khakis at our farm supply a few months ago, hoping at least for a half and half. In the last week, most all the heads have turned green :-0 (3 months old now).

I am taking 1 drake and getting 3 hens back. What is the best way to transport them? I'll be going about 20 minutes away.

 

[Lorettawyandotte]

I used a Vari Kennel dog crate to transport my adult geese...seemed to work ok...everyone arrived safely at their destination...

 

[goosedragon]

At the risk of being booed off this board I have to admit I like cloth bags. Burlap if you can find them or old pillow cases if not. Once you get their head in the bag they quiet right down and don't panic at every little thing like they do in a cage or a ventilated cardboard box. Just remember to keep them cool if the temperature is hot.

 

[MDC]

If you're talking about inside a car, a pet carrier would be good, put something on the floor so it's not slippery. Might want to cover holes with some type of material so if they poo it doesn't fly out onto the seats. I've actually made transport boxes using rubbermaid containers before, as well. Of course, those don't come ready to go so you'd have to take the time & make the effort to outfit them.

The holes in the top allow for heat escape. I kept all of the holes on the sides up along the rim so that they couldn't poop out them, otherwise holes towards the bottom of the container would help with air movement. I just didn't want any effluent on my seats!

 

[DuckLady]

I just put them in a dog carrier.

And just from my own experience, every drake I have ever transported gets carsick. And they don't get sick politely. They fling it everywhere.

I learned not to feed or water less than 2 or 3 hours before transporting.

I never had a problem with ducks. Only drkes. Go figure.

 

[headred]

Thanks for all your ideas! My daughter has a large dog carrier so think I'll try that. Interesting about the drakes getting carsick!

 

[Wifezilla]

I have a rubbermaid container that I cover with green netting and secure with a couple of bungie cords. It is a bit redneck, but it works in a pinch if you don't have a pet carrier

Good luck with your trade. You really did get burned on your drake to hen ratio, didn't you!!! Your boys sure are cute though.

(That is why I paid over $8 per duckling to make sure I got girls)

 

[headred]

I knew when I got them I should have gone the shipping route to pay a little more for girls. I've learned the hard way ;-) And I really like the drakes, darn it! But hey, I should get immediate eggs and that will be worth a lot!!

 

[headred]

I did it! No problems!

I now have 3 new female dirty ducks (they came from a mud floor pen).

What are the lighter khaki campbell ducks called? They should be beautiful once they experience the fabulous wading pool. My hubby says they have come to the "spa" compared to their space before.

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Headred you probably know this but just in case it's best to keep the newbies seperate for a few days mostly so they don't spread any disease to your other ducks. Also it helps them adjust to each other if they can just observe each other first.
The lighter Campbells are the Khakis, unless you found some rare white CAmpbells. I wonder if the ones you just got have their feathers fading. My girl is a year old and she is looking like a bleached blond, she started out with nice rich brown colored adult feathers, but as the days go on they are fading to almost white in spots.