Call ducks.

[cskotek]

So I may be getting A call duck and MAYBE a friend for him/her, i do have runners, pekins, a muscovie. So can anyone tell me anything special about them, behavior (ive seen alot of small but really friendly), feed, how are they with other ducks, life span and anything else! Any help appricated!

 

[aprille218]

They're usually friendly. Will fly if wings aren't clipped. Very prone to predators (small size and loud voice). Good quality duck food is great, my calls don't like the crumbles- pellets only for them. They like sunflower seeds, peas, zucchini (split open) and most other softer produce. I only have bantams so I'm not sure how they are with other ducks but make sure the others are nice to them. Due to their size they can get hurt by big bullies or large drakes. Life span ? I have a blue fawn hen that will be 9 this year. Check out these websites http://www.faithvalleywaterfowl.com/articles.html and http://www.callducks.net/looking_after_calls.htm
Aprille

 

[ariel4birds]

The reply above just about covered it. They do fly. I don't clip my call ducks wings, and let the free-range during the day. I've never had any fly away with the exception of when I had a neighbors dog attack them. I think it was pretty justified for them to fly in that situation.

I have a lot of people ask me if they eat slugs. Ducks are about the only animal that likes to eat slugs, so this is important to some people for pest control. Truthfully, I never see the call ducks eating as many slugs as my runner ducks. I tell people the call ducks are good for getting rid of slug eggs and very small slugs. I assume they are.

The are louder than standard ducks. Or at least the hens are. If you have neighbors that like to complain, you might want to be cautious about call ducks.

 

[cskotek]

Yeah i was looking into getting just one. And i want to get it duck diaper so it can be like a house pet for the most part. But i now have 4 1 day old baby pheasents that im taking care of for school, so maybe after that, and i think this weekend im going to be a new owner of 3 baby rouens, Are they nice to other ducks???? I got pekins at TSC not knowing and they are mean to well everything, which is going to be a problem, so i think im going to have to put them on a lesh so they can only go so far.....
Btw thank you for the link!

 

[Kaianuanu]

If you want that super affectionate pet house duck, i strongly recommend that you only get one or at least raise them separately. But if you raise them separately, remember that many pet ducks that are super sweet when you raise them individually, will never be as affectionate to you if you keep them in groups as adults. Most of these problems can be avoided by keeping only one duck, but, this can lead to an overly needy duck that is like those obnoxiously affectionate dogs that jump on you and lick your face off constantly, and are distressed and destructive when you are gone from separation anxiety.

BTW: jealous that you have rouen's in your area, I wanted a rouen but i couldnt find any so i got a pekin/campbell cross that looks identical to a rouen duckling except for his foot color.

 

[cskotek]

Yeah I really want a duckie that will be like a dog but not a dog xD and the rouens i was susposed to pick up yesturday but the guy wasnt able to do it so mabye this sunday.

 

[cutechick2010]

Yeah i was looking into getting just one. And i want to get it duck diaper so it can be like a house pet for the most part. But i now have 4 1 day old baby pheasents that im taking care of for school, so maybe after that, and i think this weekend im going to be a new owner of 3 baby rouens, Are they nice to other ducks???? I got pekins at TSC not knowing and they are mean to well everything, which is going to be a problem, so i think im going to have to put them on a lesh so they can only go so far.....
Btw thank you for the link!

Ducks need to be in a flock, or at least a pair. It is not fair to get just one. I personally would not put calls in the same pen with standard sized ducks, there is such a size difference the calls could get hurt. If you want to keep it as a house pet, you can get a pair or trio and they will still be tame with handling. BTW, have you had ducks before? Ducks are super messy, their food flies everywhere when they eat, and they of course will climb into their water and splash that big time. I would personally NEVER keep an adult duck in the house, ducklings are messy enough. They would have to be fed and watered in something water proof like a big rubbermaid tub or your flooring will be ruined.

 

[cskotek]

Ducks need to be in a flock, or at least a pair. It is not fair to get just one. I personally would not put calls in the same pen with standard sized ducks, there is such a size difference the calls could get hurt. If you want to keep it as a house pet, you can get a pair or trio and they will still be tame with handling. BTW, have you had ducks before? Ducks are super messy, their food flies everywhere when they eat, and they of course will climb into their water and splash that big time. I would personally NEVER keep an adult duck in the house, ducklings are messy enough. They would have to be fed and watered in something water proof like a big rubbermaid tub or your flooring will be ruined.

xD I have 20 runner ducklings, 4 runner adults, 2 pekins,1muscovie,and 2 semi wild mallards and one mallard that went and found a girlfriend that hes been bringing aroung xD and alot of wild canadian geese that call my yard home for the summer. And I love them all to death but i just want to have one or two that just love me like their mommy. I found with my one runner it did love me lots then it became like the others just a lil bit more friendly :/ And hopefully a lady at TSC will be getting 2 of the runner ducklings

 

[JaceStolle]

I have 4 gray calls and they get along great with my brown Muscovy female