Considering runner ducklings need advice.

[Boshaft]

I live at the south end of Florida, which is about as far as VA. Out of the 7 ducklings I ordered, one was crushed in transit, one had heat blisters from standing on the heat pad for too long (healed up fine), and one had a foot atrophy, which eventually had to be removed (she now has one supersized leg and one normal leg, but hobbles around just fine). They were only in transit for about 24 hours, so we might have just gotten unlucky, but 3/7 isn't a great outcome.


That said, Ashley, the Metzer farm rep, was very helpful throughout the whole ordeal and offered us a refund as soon as I let her know. I'm saving it until we get an incubator up and running, then ordering eggs - hopefully they will fare better on the trip over.

Boshaft

 

[jdywntr]

I started with runners from Metzer. I ordered 10, got 11. I looked at cost and it was just a tiny bit more to get 10 instead of 6 and I thought I'd sell the extras. I ordered 6 sexed fawn/white, blue, chocolate and black and the others straight run. The SR were all males. I lived in FL at the time, central gulf coast. They arrived the morning of the 2nd day. I did lose 4, 3 the first day and 1 the next. I don't know if it was shipping stress or if I didn't pay enough attention to make sure they all ate. They arrived very energetic and looked good, so I think it may have been a combo of the two things. I did order the gro-gel for the shipping box since they were literally going across the country. The remaining 7 did very well. They actually had pretty good upright stances, not as bottle shaped as show birds but not short squat like some hatchery quality.

I did not handle and pick mine up much. They would come to me for treats/feed but all but 1 male would go running if I moved quickly. If you want friendly pets, handle them alot. Because they "run" make sure that there are not things that they can trip over coming in/out of the coop. Like Amiga said, be careful with the Pekin drakes, they are huge compared to Runners.

They are not always the greatest broodies. My black female tried to hide a nest in an unsafe area (which was moved) my blue female went broody on 14 eggs and hatched 10 with 1 late comer that I moved inside. The other hens laid in her nest so they took 4 days to hatch and she stayed that whole time. She was a very protective broody and a good mom.

Here's a pic of some of the babies that I got. 1st pic has the little late comer. He was a few days younger than the rest.

 

[duckins]

They are so cute. I am waiting on them to open so I can call and ask a few questions but have herd really good reviews with metzers.

 

[duckins]

Talked to metzers they said ca to va no problem further away shipments like mine will fly from ca to tenn so I should have them by wed long as everyone's able to ship wanted four but 5 was same cost and in case someone passes hope not! got 2 fawns 1 black 1 blue 1 chocolate all hens got the gro gel with order
I can't wait got 8 Texas ladies now going to try California girls lol well let me go break out all the baby stuff again!!!!!!!

 

[jdywntr]

Congrats! Good for you for brooding ducklings in the winter. PHEW!!

When are they arriving?

 

[duckins]

Jan. 30th

 

[duckins]

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

 

[DuckiesAndBees]

I ordered one blue runner and one cayuga (females) from Metzer's a few years ago. I believe they always ship on Mondays and I received mine early Wednesday morning with no problems. My runner girl is my baby and she used to fall asleep on my lap when she was little. Below is a pic of her all grown up. I do think that she is a little less crazy about the water than the rest of the flock, but she still likes it. My girl was a little slower than her "sister" when it came to running and exploring. She would sit down a lot, which worried me, but I think it is just a little more difficult for runners to get their balance. She lays HUGE white eggs faithfully everday except in late fall/early winter. Have fun with the babies!!!

 

[duckins]

She looks really pretty thanks for well wishes

 

[TLWR]

I ordered 3 from Metzers 2.5 years ago. They were all happy and healthy.
I ordered 4 last spring from Metzer's and they also arrived happy and healthy. I live in coastal Alabama.