Duck Questions

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

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Sorry but I have to agree...


You might have to wait until spring for eggs... It really depends, Im not super familiar with Buffs, but if she feels safe where she is she should set.

 

[manybirds]

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Laying begins at 5-8 months (probably like 7 for buff orprington). she'll probably sit in the spring and again in mid summer. As for leaving her with the drake it depends on him. I have some drakes that leave them and even protect them and others who attack and harras and try and try and breed with them on the nest (Breaking eggs as the duck screams in horor and try's to fight him off. neadless to say those drakes don't stay here long)

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

With the feed ? You will get a lot of different answers. For me I split the protien % and have found a broiler feed that is 18% protien and give them egg shells on the side.

But it sounds like you have feed covered as well as water. Do you have a plan for winter? For me planning for winter flock raising is the key! Plan before you have 3 feet of snow and 30 below! I had to make several adjustments for the winter!

Also do you have a nest for them to lay in? I put boxes on the floor for the ducks and then golf balls in as well, that sort of worked

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

Thanks everyone! Trying to build them a seperate coop with a laying box and enough room for both ducks. Im thinking my ducks will be fine together but we will have to see. he does protect her and she has not even started to lay yet lol oh the duckie love

amazes me

What kinda of bedding should I get them for the winter? Right now they are in the coop with the hens laying on a nest of hay

I am soon gonna figure out how to make them a water bowl they cant climb into lol Still learning what to do for them in the winter time as i dont have the money to make them a marvelous coop with heating and air conditioning lol

I want to set their coop off the ground with a open door and a small run as they do forage most all day. But when winter comes it will be good for them to have the small run as i dont think i will let them out as much. We dont get much snow here but it does get really cold!Maybe find a solar powered heat lamp lol no find away to get a lamp plugged in out there to go in their coop

I will post pics as soon as I start to build the coop

any more suggestions are welcome. remember I am tight on money atm and need any advice that will work within my budget 500.00 a month

If ya can

 

[ChickInDelight]

What beautiful ducks!!!

I am wondering what kind of 'pond' setup you have there. It looks like a hole in the ground with a garden hose. How does that work?

(I am serious here. I am thinking of putting a drain in my kiddie pool or buying a cattle trough with drain to set into the ground. I am also about to do some digging to move dirt.)

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

Well I just ordered a pond liner 7ft X 10ft water garden pond liner from Lowe's. But as of right now yes its a hole in the ground with a hose lol. Also ordered a 50-80 GPH garden fountian pump from lowe's as well. That will hopefully make the pond cleaner and let me be able to recycle the water back into the pond. The pond itself is about 4-5 ft wide and about 3ft deep. (I dug the dang hole myself so its not perfect lol

I am not a pond expert but my ducks out grew their kiddy pool. I love to watch them go under water and splash and get crazy. LOL

So a new idea came to mind. DIG A GAINT HOLE IN THE BACK YARD!!!! Lmbo

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

And they seem to enjoy it. It gets really hot here up to 110 degrees on a daily basis almost so nice cold water in the pond is just what they like.

The water drains during the night as the dirt out here is very dry from the lack of rain. Plus the trees around the pond really enjoy drinking the water as well. So they get fresh water ever day

(Although the water looks dirty. Thats just because we ahvent gotten the liner yet.

) but soon it will be here and they will be even happier.. Although maybe not seeing as how they love nibbiling around the pond in the dirt and mud and tree roots that were exposed while digging lol

So they will probally be mad when I cover it with the liner.