Hi everyone!
I'm looking for any and all advice from experienced duck owners. My husband and I have been talking about getting ducks for YEARS and have just decided now is the time (now that the kids are grown and gone and we are in desperate need of a hobby!).
We live in the country and have a lovely 20 ft. x 10 ft. natural pond with 2 acres of lawns, surrounding by acres of woods. We are in the process of building them a "duck condo." We have no idea what kind of condo a duck would like, but it is going to be SO adorable! It's a little miniature house (6 ft. long x 3 ft. or so). It has a door that we can lock so we can protect from predators at night.
My goal is to have my ducklings roam the property as they wish during the day (no fence or anything) and then put them into their condo at night to protect them. We have another large outbuilding that we will keep them in during the winter months (with a kiddie swimming pool - with a water heater to prevent water from freezing.
Now...the above all sounds fantastic to me, but I could be WAY off base! Is my plan do-able with ducks? Will they stay in the yard and not run or fly away to greener pastures? (I've heard they will, but I really don't know!). I'm hoping I'm not living in a dream world here!
We have ordered 4 ducklings (Blue Swedish) from a local farm. Right now, they are still in their eggs and are due to hatch in a week or so. Even though I'd like your thoughts and advice on the adult duck situation I told you about above, I REALLY need some help preparing for these day-old ducklings when I get them! I understand they will need to be in the house???
What do you use for a crate? What kind of heat lamp? What temperatures? What do you feed them when they are that little? What size bowls/plates do you use for their watering? Do you use hay? Wood shavings?
They are being sold "unsexed", which I guess just means they don't know if they are boy or girl? If I end up with both, will I end up with 1,000 little ducklings before I'm done???
Anything I should know?!?!? I'm so excited but don't want to miss important things that responsible duck owners should know!
Also, anyone with good info on the blue swedish ducks is great!
Thanks in advance.
Rhonda
I'm looking for any and all advice from experienced duck owners. My husband and I have been talking about getting ducks for YEARS and have just decided now is the time (now that the kids are grown and gone and we are in desperate need of a hobby!).
We live in the country and have a lovely 20 ft. x 10 ft. natural pond with 2 acres of lawns, surrounding by acres of woods. We are in the process of building them a "duck condo." We have no idea what kind of condo a duck would like, but it is going to be SO adorable! It's a little miniature house (6 ft. long x 3 ft. or so). It has a door that we can lock so we can protect from predators at night.
My goal is to have my ducklings roam the property as they wish during the day (no fence or anything) and then put them into their condo at night to protect them. We have another large outbuilding that we will keep them in during the winter months (with a kiddie swimming pool - with a water heater to prevent water from freezing.
Now...the above all sounds fantastic to me, but I could be WAY off base! Is my plan do-able with ducks? Will they stay in the yard and not run or fly away to greener pastures? (I've heard they will, but I really don't know!). I'm hoping I'm not living in a dream world here!
We have ordered 4 ducklings (Blue Swedish) from a local farm. Right now, they are still in their eggs and are due to hatch in a week or so. Even though I'd like your thoughts and advice on the adult duck situation I told you about above, I REALLY need some help preparing for these day-old ducklings when I get them! I understand they will need to be in the house???
What do you use for a crate? What kind of heat lamp? What temperatures? What do you feed them when they are that little? What size bowls/plates do you use for their watering? Do you use hay? Wood shavings?
They are being sold "unsexed", which I guess just means they don't know if they are boy or girl? If I end up with both, will I end up with 1,000 little ducklings before I'm done???
Anything I should know?!?!? I'm so excited but don't want to miss important things that responsible duck owners should know!
Also, anyone with good info on the blue swedish ducks is great!
Thanks in advance.
Rhonda
