Deb's Flock - new ducklings March 2016 (pic heavy)

[room onthebroom]

@Tevyes Dad I'm assuming from other threads that you have Swedish & Runners. Roughly how much taller are the Runners than the Swedes?

 

[Julie Birb]

I just have one Swedish Blue named Mako (rhymes with taco.) She loves my chickens & is bonded with my dark Brahma, but I worry about her not being around other ducks. I was hoping to sneak a duckling in with our next batch of chicks (no DH, that's not a duck, thats just really, REALLY big chick that likes to play in the sink.) but I realized she'd be introduced to the Big Girls way before the chicks would & be all by herself. I'm figuring now the best idea is to get two for newbie support & tell DH they're both giant chickens.

I'd like a Cayuga (Cricket Jr.) & a Runner. I hear those Runners are hysterical pets, but I don't if they can crouch down low enough to fit in the pop door.

You are hilarious. a big chick that likes to play in the sink.

 

[room onthebroom]

...Nevermind. I think Amigas videos just dampened my ability to have Runners. Seeing them on video finally puts a picture to all of the "high strung", "amped up", "intense forager" comments I've been reading. They are definitely hysterical & I love the shape, but they'd probably give my tiny flock of ultra mellow girls a heart attack. I better stick with Swedes & Hissing Crickets.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

@Tevyes Dad I'm assuming from other threads that you have Swedish & Runners. Roughly how much taller are the Runners than the Swedes?

All my Runners and Swedish are girls. I point this out because based on pictures I have seen, Runner drakes are quite a bit taller than the ducks. Runners are smaller birds than Swedish. Say 4.25 lbs vs 5.75 lbs. Runners are a bit thinner in build than the Swedish, but otherwise are proportionate. So an upright standing Swedish is taller than an upright standing Runner and a horizontal bodied Swedish is still taller than a horizontal bodied Runner. The difference is that runners legs are slightly more to the rear of their torso, so their "comfortable relaxed stance" is somewhat more upright that most ducks. So the answer really is "somewhat" I would guess on average a Runner's head is about 1/2" to 1-1/2" higher than a Swedish, but it is hard to say because it varies so much.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

...Nevermind. I think Amigas videos just dampened my ability to have Runners. Seeing them on video finally puts a picture to all of the "high strung", "amped up", "intense forager" comments I've been reading. They are definitely hysterical & I love the shape, but they'd probably give my tiny flock of ultra mellow girls a heart attack. I better stick with Swedes & Hissing Crickets.

Keep in mind, most of Amiga's videos are where she lets them in or out of a garden or location. All my ducks when they get out of the house or find something of interest make a racket. Most of the day though they lie in the sun or the shade or sit on the pool and doze quietly. That includes the runners. Now that is not to say that the runners aren't more chatty than the rest, they are, but they aren't non-stop noise all day. They don't bother the rest of my flock in the least and some of the friendships would surprise you (my black runner Noir was best friends with my former 11lb Pekin Snow.) They even get along with Tevye and Rhiannon which walk around with lead in their butts all day.

 

[casportpony]

Quote:

Metzer's is about 400 miles from San Diego.

Nice pics DF

they are getting that tell-tale patterning in their fluff that says, "the feathers are coming..." Such big beautiful girls already. They are lucky they get to go outside earlier in life than mine. Hopefully after this weekend we will be set up so that I can comfortably leave mine outside for the day even when I am working. They love the extra stimulation. (and the free choice pool.)

The're about 90 minutes south of me!

-Kathy

 

[room onthebroom]

The're about 90 minutes south of me!

-Kathy

Ahhh you are so lucky! You can pick up fluffy feathers whenever you want AND get all the good garlic products too.

Thanks Tevyes Dad for all the good info, both here & on other threads. I really value your insight!

 

[casportpony]

Quote: We live a few miles from Gilroy Foods, where I think they process lots of garlic. When the wind blows this direction you can really smell it!

-Kathy

 

[Julie Birb]

Keep in mind, most of Amiga's videos are where she lets them in or out of a garden or location.  All my ducks when they get out of the house or find something of interest make a racket.  Most of the day though they lie in the sun or the shade or sit on the pool and doze quietly.  That includes the runners.  Now that is not to say that the runners aren't more chatty than the rest, they are, but they aren't non-stop noise all day.  They don't bother the rest of my flock in the least and some of the friendships would surprise you (my black runner Noir was best friends with my former 11lb Pekin Snow.) They even get along with Tevye and Rhiannon which walk around with lead in their butts all day.

Tony, they pancake.

 

[Amiga]

Keep in mind, most of Amiga's videos are where she lets them in or out of a garden or location. All my ducks when they get out of the house or find something of interest make a racket. Most of the day though they lie in the sun or the shade or sit on the pool and doze quietly. That includes the runners. Now that is not to say that the runners aren't more chatty than the rest, they are, but they aren't non-stop noise all day. They don't bother the rest of my flock in the least and some of the friendships would surprise you (my black runner Noir was best friends with my former 11lb Pekin Snow.) They even get along with Tevye and Rhiannon which walk around with lead in their butts all day.

Yes, that's true, Tevye's Dad - I find that filming the Runners when they are walking around quietly (most of the time) just doesn't make for eggciting cinema.

Here are the Runners when they were very small.

Let me upload a fairly recent, fairly typical scene from the dockyard....