Da' Cute and Cuddly Call Duck thread!

[duckncover]

I don't mind their noise. It sounds like parrots squawking almost. And I have a bunch of them. I think I'll get a male or two though because not only do I like the male duck personality but also my mom won't appreciate the added noise from the females. I've heard of people having male ducks that get along as long as they were raised together and there are no females around.
Next question. These birds will be imprinted loved house pets that will be spending a lot of time with people. Would be keeping just one wrong? Should I get two? I want the best possible bond with him but I don't want to starve him of interaction with his own species.

Quacker was a single duck but I didn't get her until she was a week old so the bond wasn't as strong. She turned out to be a he. Then he grew to 12 pounds. He tolerated the pet life for a while but decided he'd rather be with his duck buddies in a tiny hobby farm not too far from here. It's really depressing but I'm happy for him. I'm gonna make a post about it.

At least with the call ducks size I can provide an awesome enclosure for him or them and this time I will train them from babies. The main issue I had with Quacker was he was difficult to pick up. With these guys I can hold one in each arm!

And are call ducks okay with hens if raised with them?

I'm not new to incubators. I got a mix of eggs off of ebay and call ducks were including in the possibility for my homemade incubator I built from on here. I assisted what appeared to be a call duckling out of the smaller egg when I was like 15 (5 years ago). He was fulled developed but got stuck so I came to byc and got advice and he lived. But that was before I ever kept a duck as a pet. I usually just hatched and sold.

I'm sorry if I sound like I'm a completely new to this. I'm actually an experienced parrot owner and breeder and they are very complex. But I just want to get all my information straight. Thank you everyone.

 

[minihorse927]

My males get along for the most part. If they are raised together they do much better than if they are raised separately. I do have one drake that will kill other drakes if given the chance. I'd still get two, even if they are both drakes. They really are a flock animal and should have at least one other of their own kind. They do bond very well to humans. My oldest hen follows me everywhere and screams if i ignore her. She loves being picked up and sticking her bill in between my neck and shoulder and going to sleep. Mine do great with the chickens as long as the chickens are raised around ducks and know what they are. My drakes usually run the chickens off if they get nasty about things.

What color calls are you looking for? Might be able to locate someone with calls still laying for you.

 

[duckncover]

I'd love to get either grey, snowy, or white/spotted white. But honestly I'd love any color. I need to work on my incubator situation too. Will a Hovabator 1602 with a circular fan work? Should I get a turner or turn them by hand? I prefer to turn them by hand. I feel like I'm helping that way!

 

[minihorse927]

I typically incubate mine in a LG forced air. Would be very similar to your hovabator with the fan. Hand turn them. Do not use an auto Turner. The ducklings do not hatch well if you use an auto Turner.

I could possibly do 4 snowy eggs if you're interested in them. I've only got one snowy hen(and she's in with a snowy drake) laying now and that's if she continues to lay for 4 or 5 more days.

 

[duckncover]

I would love that! It's worth a shot! Does your pair mate often? No rush either.I have to ask my mom to buy the hovabator for me first. So even if I get it tonight I gotta wait for it to come in the mail. I have a computer fan hooked up to a plug. That's pretty much the same as the one they sell you right?

 

[minihorse927]

Yes, the computer fan is the same that mine has in it. I'm confirm fertility on them but I see him mate with her every other day pretty much. Just send me aPM when you'd be ready for them. I'll try to keep them laying but of course they are ducks so i can't promise anything. Lol

 

[DuckRaiser]

I want a male, I want a drake so he can have some bigger lady friends of his own

. I want to get a female call duck for him also because he may be like "She has no values to me!"

Ah, I love animals.

 

[DuckRaiser]

What should I keep away from my little call ducks? I don't want my poor babies (I mean call ducks) getting sick. I love my ducks more than I'd love my own children.

 

[minihorse927]

Just feed and water them properly. Make sure to feed a proper duck starter feed and keep them in a clean, dry brooder till they are feathered. Do not put them out with larger ducks. The larger ducks can step on and injure (or worse) the calls. I had an Ancona that was tiny running with mine for a while but he was moved once he got some size to him as he would eventually try to mate them small ducks and hurt them. Plus other breeds even as bigger babies can smother them.

 

[DuckRaiser]

Smothered sounds so disterbing

. When there are Ducklings I keep them in my house or in my room so they can run around, and I never forget to let them play in the tub with warm water!