Mamasaurusrex2
Songster
- Jun 5, 2019
- 100
- 205
- 111
Hello everyone. I am new here and I have a question (probably a few really).
So my house backs up to a 55 acre nature park with 5 ponds and a couple creeks that are filled with ducks and geese. 2 weeks ago 5 ducklings showed up playing in the water next to my house. Judging by their feather development I guess they were about 4 weeks old when they showed up, no Mama in sight. We bought some duck food from a farm supply store and fed them a bit. That evening they came straight up to me for food and thus started th duckling adventure we've been on.
Two showed up with injured legs after the first week and could barely climb in and out of the creek or walk, so we took them to the bird rescue here where we were told these ducks are ok on their own, despite not being able to fly. They know me and come out of the creek if I whistle for them but run from others. They are very sweet. As per the farm supply store we have been feeding them unmedicated chick crumbs and I have mixed in oats to lower the protein content a bit. The first few days after they showed though, we gave then All Flock which has a higher protein. Anyway, I know they eat on their own and not just what we give them, but I want to make sure their wings are developing properly and that I am not contributing to angle wing or something. I have never given anything other than All Flock (the first few days), chick crumbs and oats, no bread or anything like that. How would I know if their wings are no developing correctly? I am guessing they are now about 6 weeks old? Does that look corrects? They have started quacking a bit and I can see some quills on the wings, which was why I was wondering if they are coming in right.
So my house backs up to a 55 acre nature park with 5 ponds and a couple creeks that are filled with ducks and geese. 2 weeks ago 5 ducklings showed up playing in the water next to my house. Judging by their feather development I guess they were about 4 weeks old when they showed up, no Mama in sight. We bought some duck food from a farm supply store and fed them a bit. That evening they came straight up to me for food and thus started th duckling adventure we've been on.
Two showed up with injured legs after the first week and could barely climb in and out of the creek or walk, so we took them to the bird rescue here where we were told these ducks are ok on their own, despite not being able to fly. They know me and come out of the creek if I whistle for them but run from others. They are very sweet. As per the farm supply store we have been feeding them unmedicated chick crumbs and I have mixed in oats to lower the protein content a bit. The first few days after they showed though, we gave then All Flock which has a higher protein. Anyway, I know they eat on their own and not just what we give them, but I want to make sure their wings are developing properly and that I am not contributing to angle wing or something. I have never given anything other than All Flock (the first few days), chick crumbs and oats, no bread or anything like that. How would I know if their wings are no developing correctly? I am guessing they are now about 6 weeks old? Does that look corrects? They have started quacking a bit and I can see some quills on the wings, which was why I was wondering if they are coming in right.