BYC Never Mind, Ignore This Thread

If you do a search you'll be able to find all the info you have questions about.

 

Ducks do eat the same food as chickens. During the laying season mine get layer pellets with some whole oats or wheat added, and some grit. During the off season when they arent laying, they get flock raiser pellets, some whole corn and wheat, and some scratch.

Also, no ducks cant breed with chickens or chickens with ducks.

And, dont give ducks medicated feed.

 

Yes, ducklings need a heat lamp, but not for as long as chicks do.

Incubation period depends on the kind of duck.....26-32 days.

I raise all my call ducklings on Purina medicated Start & Grow.

You are not abandoned...all these answers have been posted over and over again on here already, so it is hands on knowledge from the rest of us.

 

Quote:Incubation period depends. Call ducks take 26-27 days. Mallards take aruond 28 days, and muscovies take around 35 days. They do need a heat lamp until they are at least 50% feathered on their backs. They do eat chick starter, but make sure you get the non-medicated kind. I use 20% for the first 6ish weeks then switch to a lower protein feed so that they dont develop angel wing.

 

Quote:I also highly recommend this book. It is written by THE duck expert, Dave Holderread who owns Holderread's Waterfowl Farm:

http://www.holderreadfarm.com/

Everybody has their own way of raising their ducks so expect alot of conflicting ideas. I've found that ducks are easy to raise and care for, much moreso than chickens, and they aren't very particular about anything. And they are so doggone CUTE!!!!

 

That's a pretty tall order you are asking for. It's so overwelming that it's not fun for one person to attempt, and the next person would have to read through all those details written to add whatever else, so you see why people may be reluctant to jump in on this one. There are some care sheet type things already published, I have linked to a few below.
I started out with the book Terry recommended, it's very good, a lot of us use it as a resource. No matter what resource you turn to you will find some advice that doesn't fit your situation exactly, or is just plain wrong. You will find many differences of opinion on BYC about the best way to care for ducks that can be confusing, but that is the nature of this type of forum. It's like an endless conversation with many different points of view. We learn so much from conversing this way, but it takes time because there is a lot of complexity to understand all there is to know about ducks (which like any other topic is never ending). Anyway I hope you can enjoy starting with these basic things and building your knowledge as you explore this subject.
Are you planning to get some ducks? How many, what breed? Tell us more about what you are thinking about so we have a good starting place. Ducks are really fun!!
Please do ask more questions, just maybe scale them down a bit.
http://www.minkhollow.ca/HatchingProgram/Ducks-Incubation/As-Pets.html#care
http://www.phelpswaterfowl.com/Duckling_Care.htm
http://liveducks.com/care.html
http://welcomehomefarm-tj.blogspot.com/2009/05/duckling-care.html