Can I evict my ducklings yet?

[jennybvcr]

Major construction is finished! The babies will be kicked out into their bachelorette pad tomorrow morning. Ever. Single. Inch. Is covered with wire. We used about 12,000 staples, 8,000 yards of hardware cloth, 4,700 screws, 1,800 brackets and I’m pretty sure it will withstand an earthquake. I’m exhausted!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Looks great, you did an awesome job and you can rest knowing your lil ones are safe. Now go and rest. lol

 

[jennybvcr]

So the girls have been moved outside and of course I’m already seeing things I want to do to upgrade... *facepalm* but first the basics...

I could use some advice on a feeder. They have been using a Tupperware with holes cut in the top for a watered which I’m going to upgrade to a 5 gallon chicken waterer set up in a deeper rubber feed dish.

For food they have been eating chick starter crumbles, wetted down, with brewers yeast out of a pie pan. Perfect size and shape for stepping on and pooping... Eventually I would love to move them on to dry duck food in an automatic feeder so they can be a bit more self-sufficient.

Any suggestions on transitioning from damp crumble to dry duck food?

 

[CarleeAnn]

So the girls have been moved outside and of course I’m already seeing things I want to do to upgrade... *facepalm* but first the basics...

I could use some advice on a feeder. They have been using a Tupperware with holes cut in the top for a watered which I’m going to upgrade to a 5 gallon chicken waterer set up in a deeper rubber feed dish.

For food they have been eating chick starter crumbles, wetted down, with brewers yeast out of a pie pan. Perfect size and shape for stepping on and pooping... Eventually I would love to move them on to dry duck food in an automatic feeder so they can be a bit more self-sufficient.

Any suggestions on transitioning from damp crumble to dry duck food?

Buy your dry duck food and you should be able to transition them in about a week-

Start off with 100% damp crumble on the first day

Day two: 3/4 damp crumble, 1/4 dry duck food

Day three: 1/2 and 1/2

Day four: 1/4 damp crumble, 3/4 dry duck food

Day five: 100% dry duck food.


You can always stretch it out and make one day last two days or so- it’s all up to you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Start by adding less water to their feed and slowly stopping all together. or put out both till you know they are eating it dry. The rubber bowls from TSC are nice feeders. Since I have chickens who like to scratch all their feed out on the ground I use a long goat through that hangs and has metal that goes over top to keep the chickens out. These work good for my crew of 40. What ever you use for their water container just make sure they can dunk their heads into it to wash their faces.

Oh and it's never ending I have had ducks since 2004 and am always thinking of ways to improve.

 

[jennybvcr]

Thanks, all! They may have to get used to the dry food quick because even the wet stuff was dry after a little bit in the sun. They usually gobble it all up, but I think they were anxious after being moved into their new enclosure. We'll see how the did after I get home tonight.

I added a pool to help keep them cool because the run gets full sun in the morning. I may also add a sail shade or something because it seemed like Sonia (the cayuga) was pretty warm.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep that blk really absorbs the heat. I use those sail shades they are awesome!!

Maybe you can figure out how to add a roof attached to their coop so their food and water would be under cover. Here is one of many sizes I have made.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...I use sand. Rubber livestock bowls for both feed and water.
I free range daily so they swim then..how old are they?..They can eat Dry..

 

[gilbert2]

I have only ever used chopped straw for bedding. It's just my preference. Nothing against sand. BTW, I am so picky, I would have sealed the wooden floor with either marine spar varnish, or polyester resin (like you use for fiberglass work). Without that sealer, the wood will probably swell, warp, and rot, since there is a tremendous amount of water in their poop, to say nothing of the splashing they do with their water bowl. Furthermore, I'd have drilled lots of 1/4" holes all over the floor, for drainage.
I do not "baby" my ducks--I would simply take out the wet food, and replace it with dry crumbles same day. They don't even know the difference.
The one time all of my ducks balked was when I cut down lots of the tall, reedy dry grasses that were growing in one part of the run, and threw them down on the ground as bedding. WOW! The ducks thought I had spread out some kind of radioactive duck-killing material that would zap them! They finally adjusted, but it took two days.
I think you've built a wonderful duck house!! And having it be that high, it will let you go inside without having to stoop over. Really--just a great job!

 

[jennybvcr]

Maybe you can figure out how to add a roof attached to their coop so their food and water would be under cover.

I was thinking that - perhaps to one of the cross beams so it isn't free standing. Thanks for the photo! In the end, I think I am going to probably add a roof sooner rather than later, but the little food/water roof would be feasible for the rest of the summer.

Hello...I use sand. Rubber livestock bowls for both feed and water.
I free range daily so they swim then..how old are they?..They can eat Dry..

They are five weeks. I have about 10 lbs of chick crumble left and then was going to switch over to duck pellets.

BTW, I am so picky, I would have sealed the wooden floor with either marine spar varnish, or polyester resin (like you use for fiberglass work). Without that sealer, the wood will probably swell, warp, and rot, since there is a tremendous amount of water in their poop, to say nothing of the splashing they do with their water bowl. Furthermore, I'd have drilled lots of 1/4" holes all over the floor, for drainage.

The floor is not wood, just the outer frame. For the floor I just used 1/2" hardware cloth over the ground, which is why I opted for sand at least for a base so it could fill in the hardware cloth holes and be easier on their feet. Hopefully the drainage between the hw cloth and the sand will be sufficient.