Duck rescued from area lake

[DeeAnn5]

Hi. This is Sir ThanksaLot. I believe he is a large male Pekin. I picked him up yesterday from an area lake. He was alone. Last weekend, I observed people feeding him candy. It was cold and he seemed pretty hungry. Supposed to be 4 degrees this weekend and being exposed to the elements is not good for a domestic animal. I have a lot of bird experience and have an empty 3 X 9 predator proof aviary with a slanted tin roof for temporary quarters. What I would love is for him to join my 3 hens in their run, so I wouldn't need 2 heated waters...but for now he is safe. He immediately ate a LOT (all flock pellets) and fell asleep when I got him home. My friend who has ducks can't take him, but she thinks this is a good set up. Questions:
Is 3 X 9 enough space for him? My dog would kill it if it was free range.
Does he need a girlfriend? I think I can find him one.
Would he get along with my chickens?
How much shelter does he need overnight when it's 4 degrees? Should I lock him in a box overnight for warmth?
He has 1 large lump on the bottom of each foot - like a large, nickel size marble. There is no sore. Is that bumblefoot? Can you show me what a healthy foot looks like underneath?

 

[ruthhope]

Thank you for rescuing this beautiful drake. That is enough space for short term. Don't lock him in a box -- he has that blue box for extra shelter if he wants it.

He is lucky to have found you

 

[ruthhope]

The large lumps under his feet are normal pads.

He needs either another drake for company or 3 or 4 female ducks. Best not to mix a drake -- and a big drake like him -- with chickens. The chickens would be in danger from him trying to mate with them

 

[JedJackson]

Good job! Since he is male I would not put him in with your hens. He will try to mate with them and it can seriously injure the hens. A female duck would be a good idea if you plan on keeping him.

 

[kwik-kwak]

Glad you took him home. The coop is small but for now that is enough. It is indeed not good for ducks to keep them alone, they always need another duck. If you don't want to add more than one duck, you can consider adding another drake. Two drakes generally get along well as long as there are no females around. One female is not enough for a male, then she will be overloaded during the mating season.

It is also important for ducks that they have at least a deep water bowl so that they can clean their nostrils.

I have no experience of keeping chickens mixed with ducks...

 

[DeeAnn5]

Great! Thanks everyone.

 

[DeeAnn5]

The large lumps under his feet are normal pads.

He needs either another drake for company or 3 or 4 female ducks. Best not to mix a drake -- and a big drake line him -- with chickens. The chickens would be in danger from him trying to mate with them

I don't disagree or have any reason to doubt this. But I'm wondering why the chickens don't just run away? So he would like attack them?

 

[DeeAnn5]

Glad you took him home. The coop is small but for now that is enough. It is indeed not good for ducks to keep them alone, they always need another duck. If you don't want to add more than one duck, you can consider adding another drake. Two drakes generally get along well as long as there are no females around. One female is not enough for a male, then she will be overloaded during the mating season.

It is also important for ducks that they have at least a deep water bowl so that they can clean their nostrils.

I have no experience of keeping chickens mixed with ducks...

Dang I don't think I can keep two large ones like this. He does have a tub of water but keeping it from freezing isn't going to work. I found one home but they already have so many, I'm going to look for another home.

 

[addctd2plnts]

Thank you for helping him. I loathe that people do this. Hatcheries need to offer sexed ducks. People can't rehome them and end up dumping them. It's not right! Generally, you need a separate area for ducks. I dog house with door on it would be fine for night, if bedded with a bunch of straw. A 5 gallon horse bucket that is heated will work for drinking. They are terrible mess with water so we don't give them water except during the day when they have their food.

 

[JedJackson]

I don't disagree or have any reason to doubt this. But I'm wondering why the chickens don't just run away? So he would like attack them?

Drakes, especially in late winter or spring, are extremely determined to mate. If a female duck isn't around they will turn to anything available. The hens might run away, but they can't always be on their guard, and the drake will pounce when they aren't expecting it. And then he will trample on her, trying to get the hen in position as if she was a duck, and she can be seriously injured in the process.