Completely new and no idea what we are getting into lol

[Miss Lydia]

Not my intent, just thoughts I had. Enjoy.

Harping is good Holly if it saves lives. I was mainly talking about myself.

 

[Miss Lydia]

ok we were wondering about that. Does straw help or is it needed? Also how many times a day do they need to be fed?

I keep feed out during daylight hours and take up at night but I don't feed inside. Layers need to be able to eat when they want i feel they are putting alot of energy into laying those eggs.

My girls just use the shaving as their laying medium straw can get nasty pretty fast with ducks

 

[Djcoak]

Everyone seems to be adjusting well. Had to move one of the horses to another stall. The ducks freaked him out. Lol. I moved my 31 year old mare in there, she could care less.

Let the ducks run around the barn a bit today. They are learning their pen is the safe spot, and I am guessing that's a good thing.

Their names are Bertha, Judy, and Harriet for the Pekins. And Molly and milly for the rouens.

Seems the one pekin could have a deformed leg. She can't seem to stand on it as well as the others. We will see if the added room and exercise helps.

I like the sting drinking and cleaning routine. It's pretty funny to watch. They also don't seem supper skiddish. When we go in the pen the get excited but if we stand there outside the pen it's not too bad.

So that's tonight's update.

 

[Amiga]

Great report!

I would want to get a good look at that leg in case it is bumblefoot. The sooner the better with treatment for that, to avoid surgery. You are doing good by those duckies!

 

[Djcoak]

Thanks. We will look tomm but the leg actually looks deformed but we will check it over.

 

[Djcoak]

I have heard to only feed them in the evenings so they know to automatically go to their pens at night.

 

[Djcoak]

So today is welcome to water day. No, they are not going to the pond yet, but I am going to go get a plastic pool to put in the barn for them to get used to. It is our belief that they have never seen a large body of water so I am getting the kiddie pool for both them and my Gand daughter to play in this summer. Dual purpose!!! They seem to be adjusting quick so we figure why not.

So we will see how it plays out!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

So today is welcome to water day. No, they are not going to the pond yet, but I am going to go get a plastic pool to put in the barn for them to get used to. It is our belief that they have never seen a large body of water so I am getting the kiddie pool for both them and my Gand daughter to play in this summer. Dual purpose!!! They seem to be adjusting quick so we figure why not.

So we will see how it plays out!!!

Sounds great and they will love the water although it may take them a bit to get use to so much. make sure they can get in and out with out having to jump. and I'm with A on the leg won't hurt to give it a look and make sure it is a deformity and not something else going on. Thanks for the update.. Once your ducks settle in and know for sure where their home [pen] is I'd leave food out for them when they go to the pond they will hopefully come up to eat off an on through out the day and keeping it inside in their [Home] will reinforce this. How far is the pond from the barn? asking because the duck with the leg problem may have trouble having to walk along way.

 

[Djcoak]

Checked on Judy's foot and it's fine. Seems it more her legs are either deformed or weak. Not sure which

The water was a bust, they are scared to death of it. We dipped their beaks in it and one of the rouens got in but after that it was a no go.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Checked on Judy's foot and it's fine. Seems it more her legs are either deformed or weak. Not sure which

The water was a bust, they are scared to death of it. We dipped their beaks in it and one of the rouens got in but after that it was a no go.

If these ducks came from a hoarder there could have been some too close breeding and this maybe what your seeing, although maybe with some good feed exercise and some poultry vitamins with B3 in it you may see a big improvement. and don't worry about the water all if will take is one to get in on their own the rest will follow it takes time with water fowl. Dipping bills is for ducklings these adults don't need that.