Duck Article Brainstorm Session!

[PirateGirl]

I've lost 3 chickens to 3 different illnesses in the last 2 years, plus had a mite infestation in the chicken coop, and had another respiratory thing go through the chicken flock (they all survived), but have not lost a single duck in the same time and only treated one duckling that was shaky with extra niacin and exercise (now totally fine). The chickens are also more sensitive when it comes to cold/snow/wind while the ducks rarely seem bothered at all. Perhaps it's just my flock and dumb luck though, who knows.

 

[Jpat]

You've been unlucky that way and I wonder if you might have one of the nastier duck diseases in your flock.

i dunno theve been great for awhile now. nibbler pooping green was minor. One of them died cause the door fell on him not disease or sickness, Thats somehow a good thing

Like most things i ignore it and carry on as if iam normal

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think one thing water fowl have going for them is their body temperature is so high it helps keep some diseases at bay.

 

[Jpat]

I think one thing water fowl have going for them is their body temperature is so high it helps keep some diseases at bay. @Jpat do you still have your ducks?

Yeah i never thaught of the high temps. Like cats

And yes of course, Nibbler the SA is a happy stud and the kahki lays eggs everyday

My cayuga i traded for 2 quails and i sold my muscovie to someone with muscovies

I have 1 single Kahki-Apple egg in the bator cooking up nicely

 

[PirateGirl]

I think one thing water fowl have going for them is their body temperature is so high it helps keep some diseases at bay.

Hmm... higher than chickens? Perhaps this is another reason they tolerate the cold better.

Maybe I will write about ducks and cold climates instead.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I read waterfowl body temp is 107

 

[Tevyes Dad]

I theorize it could also be that prehistoric chickens (Jungle Fowl) spent most of their time in beautiful forests and fields eating insects, berries and seeds. While prehistoric ducks were pooping in their drinking water and dabbling in mucky swamps for grubs or stagnant pools for mosquito larvae. The ducks that didn't have super strong immune systems would have died out quickly.

 

[Conan]

Hmm... higher than chickens? Perhaps this is another reason they tolerate the cold better.

Maybe I will write about ducks and cold climates instead.

I like this idea. My ducks also do really well in cold and wet winter conditions. Chickens? Not so much.
I also have the same experience with ducks and chickens in regards to health. I have never lost a duck or duckling to disease or illness. I have lost chickens to reproductive issues (cancer, egg binding, etc.) as well as losing chicks for various reasons. Ducks just seem so much hardier overall.

 

[Conan]

Why is it that coccidiosis is less common in ducks than chickens?

Another cool potential topic. Maybe a comparative study on the overall hardiness (and awesomeness) of ducks over chickens?

 

[Texag87]

As a dirty old man putting in his 2 cents, the duck erotica topic sounds the best. Seriously, I don’t think most first time duck owners have a clue about it and what we should and should not do. Last week the KC drake on top of the Pekin hen followed by the runner drake on the Pekin hen followed by the KC hen on top of the Pekin hen was an eye opener. I was sorta prepared for this but what worries me is if they reverse this. I don’t know if the KC hen could handle it.