Considering runner ducklings need advice.

[TLWR]

And my runners LOVE the water. They have a 1000 gallon pond and spend lots of quality time in there.

 

[ppimf]

I was reading somewhere their not as crazy about water as other ducks is this true?

i have pekins rouens and runners, i don't see them in my pools much, my pekins and rouens both have a pool in there pens and use them all the time. for the winter i took the pools out and only have one pool out side there runs, i fill it and let each breed out for hr or so to have a swim but seems the runners don't get it in much. i had all my ducks put into one big coop when it was really nasty out, and the pekin witch is 12lbs about killed my runner duck, she is now healed up but it took a while before she could walk very good so becarefull you will love them for sure.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

I have a variety of ducks, but out of 19 total, 6 are runners (5 fawn & white and 1 blue). The fawn and whites I hatched from eggs purchased off eBay and sent from a breeder in Georgia. The Blue came as part of an order from McMurray. BTW...I ordered 2 geese and 8 ducklings last April from McMurray (had won a gift certificate) and had 100% survival: So it can happen. Metzer's stock is better quality from what I have seen than McMurray's, and I have always wanted to order from there...however they don't carry my breed of geese and I have a 20 duck limit.

My only runner drake (Wadell) bonded with one particular female (Buttercrunch) and unlike the others, they spend as much time wandering the property as they do swimming in the ponds. My other three runner hens, Puddles, Paddles, and P Ducky live with two Mallard males, a Pekin hen and a Magpie hen, plus a pair of Pomeranian geese. Those three LOVE the water and spend nearly all day in any water they can find.

The blue runner lives with a Cayuga hen, two Khaki Campbell hens, three Welsh Harlequinns (two drakes...one hen), and three Silver Appleyards (two drakes...one hen).

I don't find the Runners to be any more jittery and evasive than the other ducks. However, I take sort of a hands off approach with them...letting them bond to the flock rather than me. However, when I show up in the morning with the feed bucket, they have no problem standing at or on my feet to be first in line at the feeders. They don't come sit in my lap, but they don't outright run away either.

Either way...I LOVE my runners and would love to have more of them. They are just too cute to watch.

Smokey the blue runner with some of her friends.


Puddles, Paddles, P Ducky with their friend Opal....under the watchful eyes of John and Jean...my original pair of Pomeranians.

 

[duckins]

They are so pretty

 

[blondiebee181]

Beautiful fowl all! Duckins, keep us posted on your babies! I'm glad you go the grogel...mine ate all of theirs by the time they arrived. As to water, my girls LOVE it. You got all female Runners? Do you have names in mind for your babies? Keep us updated!

 

[duckins]

Yes all hens . was thinking on names chocolate girl / coco truffles blue girl / lula Lou 2 fawn & white girls / Carmela & marshmalla black girl Bebe Dee lol but personalities usually do the naming.

 

[blondiebee181]

This is true....pics when you get your duckies!

 

[duckins]

I will. Thanks to everyone for advice.

 

[cskotek]

I have plently of runners! They lay pretty well. I have also found they train well also! Mine are all dog crate trained! If it wasnt for them knowing to go in the crates my other kinds of ducks would have never of learned! They also know when its time to come home from the pond and the others follow! I did find that mine are a little sittish but not badly. Hope you get what you want! BTW I orderd from Mcmurrays.

 

[blondiebee181]

My 2 Runners have hardly missed 2 days between them as far as laying.