Age guess

[KaleIAm]

My ducks belong to my cat.

Photo evidence!

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Oh my, I will have to get some

 

[DEsilou86]

what age would you say these babies are. I've figured from when I got them about at 2 weeks 2 days?!?!

 

[matchucalligani]

Trying to find some resources on aging ducks. I have two Indian Runners who are going white around their shoulders and neck, one seems to be moving slower and less interested in joining the rest foraging. She prefers to just float in the pond most of the day. Anyone have experience with ducks as they get older? Anything in particular I should be doing?

 

[KaleIAm]

Trying to find some resources on aging ducks. I have two Indian Runners who are going white around their shoulders and neck, one seems to be moving slower and less interested in joining the rest foraging. She prefers to just float in the pond most of the day. Anyone have experience with ducks as they get older? Anything in particular I should be doing?

You'll probably get more responses if you start a new thread.

I have experience with older ducks. Arthritis can be an issue, and they sometimes move and preen less. Anti inflammatory medication can help with pain - I get it from my avian vet. I also provide soft surfaces to stand on. If it is arthritis, and she'll let you, you can carry her. Or you can just bring her things. Put her food and water nearby. Go pick a few of her favorite weeds and put them in her water bucket.

Sometimes they have behavior like that if they are having a serious health concern and they just feel so awful they can't keep up with the flock.

I have also noticed that my flock just sticks together less as they get older. When they were three years old they would panic if they were out of sight of each other, but now they frequently intentionally go inside the barn alone to get something and nobody reacts.

@Miss Lydia also has older ducks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Trying to find some resources on aging ducks. I have two Indian Runners who are going white around their shoulders and neck, one seems to be moving slower and less interested in joining the rest foraging. She prefers to just float in the pond most of the day. Anyone have experience with ducks as they get older? Anything in particular I should be doing?

How old are your Runners? My Blk Runners starting getting white around age 2. And now they are really showing it, they are 5. I have a blk Runner who won't be 2 until June and she is showing alot of white already. My Blue Runner who is 5 is also turning white. My silver is the only one who still looks the same. And even my 5 yr old blk runner drake has white around his eyes now. I'll have to get some recent pics when the sun comes it. It's raining. If she isn't hanging out with the others and seems to be slower there maybe something going on health-wise. Is she still laying?
My blue Runner Smidge.

 

[matchucalligani]

one of mine is a black and the other girl is a blue, I know the black is between 2 and 3, the blue is older than that but previous owner didn't know exactly how much older. she was still laying consistently up through February then both stopped laying till mid-april. now the black is back to daily, blue is laying every other day and also who is lower on energy. The blue defininetly hasn't gone as white as your 5 y/o so I'd guess she's somewhere between 3 and 4.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You might try putting some vitamins into their drinking water. Poultry Nutri drench is a good one. Do you offer any calcium like Oyster shell? even with layer feed they need extra calcium and the Oyster shell is a good one and they will only use it as needed. Just place it close to where they eat.

 

[KaleIAm]

one of mine is a black and the other girl is a blue, I know the black is between 2 and 3, the blue is older than that but previous owner didn't know exactly how much older. she was still laying consistently up through February then both stopped laying till mid-april. now the black is back to daily, blue is laying every other day and also who is lower on energy. The blue defininetly hasn't gone as white as your 5 y/o so I'd guess she's somewhere between 3 and 4.

Oh, I was thinking before that you were talking about much older ducks. Unless she has had an injury I'm less likely to suspect pain from arthritis and more likely to think illness, based on my experience. How long has she been lower energy?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd check her over real good. I was just sitting out with mine and noticed one limping picked her up to check her legs snd feet and all looks good so I am thinking she has over done. we live on the side of a mt and they have part of their fenced area that goes up so they are up and down all day running to nth or so rarely walking. I usually have one limping every month or so, they recover pretty quick and are back doing the same thing again and again. So have you noticed her limping even slightly? that can be a reason for not moving much and staying in the water is taking pressure off the legs.