Ducks 101

[Aunt Angus]

Just read this whole thread. Such good info. And very sage warnings about duck math. I ordered 4, but told hubby I ordered 3 and the hatchery threw in a "packing peanut." Then, on Craigslist, I saw a Pekin that needed a new home. Then a friend had a poor hatch of her Calls, and ended up with a solo duckling. But the Call was just too tiny and cute to put with my big girls, so she needed a similar sized friend. Then someone on BYC needed to fina new home for a Hookbill. In 2 years, I went from 4 ducks to 8. And now I'm eyeing Musvovy and a couple of Ancona who need new homes.

And then there are geese. And turkeys. And guinea....

 

[Tookie]

Just read this whole thread. Such good info. And very sage warnings about duck math. I ordered 4, but told hubby I ordered 3 and the hatchery threw in a "packing peanut." Then, on Craigslist, I saw a Pekin that needed a new home. Then a friend had a poor hatch of her Calls, and ended up with a solo duckling. But the Call was just too tiny and cute to put with my big girls, so she needed a similar sized friend. Then someone on BYC needed to fina new home for a Hookbill. In 2 years, I went from 4 ducks to 8. And now I'm eyeing Musvovy and a couple of Ancona who need new homes.

And then there are geese. And turkeys. And guinea....

Yes, lots of good info!
Duck math is just as bad as chicken math I see!

 

[BabyGotQuack]

Don't make me want more ducks than I want!

It’s bound to happen

 

[Tookie]

It’s bound to happen

Uh-oh....

 

[BabyGotQuack]

That's why I love you guys. You’re such a great encouragement to me. I just never tell Hubby what I am doing until after it is done. After 30 years with me he knows he might come home to anything. Ducks in the living room for two months last winter, Ducks hatching out in the dining room, ducks quacking all hours of the night. It's called Love I guess because he tolerates me. lol

That’s how you know you got a good one me and my hubby are the same way, ain’t no big deal when he comes home to baby ducks in our laundry room

Last summer I went to get JUST feed from TSC and one thing led to another and I bought 3 more ducks. I was driving home and hubby called to make sure I got the feed ok and right on cue

*chirp chirp chirp*

He didn’t even have to ask what was going on, he just says

 

[Tookie]

That’s how you know you got a good one me and my hubby are the same way, ain’t no big deal when he comes home to baby ducks in our laundry room

Last summer I went to get JUST feed from TSC and one thing led to another and I bought 3 more ducks. I was driving home and hubby called to make sure I got the feed ok and right on cue

*chirp chirp chirp*

He didn’t even have to ask what was going on, he just says

Hilarious.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

So I have 4 Call ducks. I lost my original babies I got. I got mine from a lady near by. Which I’m happy about cause finding Calls has been extremely hard without going to a hatchery. And all the hatchery’s I have seen only sell adult Calls. Which is what I ended up with anyway since my first babies were killed. But I wanted babies so I could bond. However I will have a chance in the spring for more. The next ones I want is Black East Indies. Those I really think I have to get as Adults. Finding those are hard. I have seen that Cackle is selling Calls soon, but just can’t find anything for Black East Indies.

So my husband and I made a duck pond. We use a pump to pump out the water when it’s time to change it and use a water tank to fill it back up. I don’t have to change it as often as I would a pool. But it does take a little more time for the clean up and refilling. I’m currently looking into plants to help or a “sucker” fish to help. I don’t know though if my ducks would eat the sucker fish but maybe if it’s big enough they won’t..

As for food, I use All flock and then add the brewers yeast and oats to help with their diet. However today I came across some duck food at a TSC but that is like a 45 min drive. But it would be worth it, might only get a bag when I go that way and just stay with All flock until then. For the babies I just used chick feed but the unmedicated one.

I know you got some great advice from others! I wasn’t able to read all of it so sorry if I repeated anyone.

 

[Tookie]

So I have 4 Call ducks. I lost my original babies I got. I got mine from a lady near by. Which I’m happy about cause finding Calls has been extremely hard without going to a hatchery. And all the hatchery’s I have seen only sell adult Calls. Which is what I ended up with anyway since my first babies were killed. But I wanted babies so I could bond. However I will have a chance in the spring for more. The next ones I want is Black East Indies. Those I really think I have to get as Adults. Finding those are hard. I have seen that Cackle is selling Calls soon, but just can’t find anything for Black East Indies.

So my husband and I made a duck pond. We use a pump to pump out the water when it’s time to change it and use a water tank to fill it back up. I don’t have to change it as often as I would a pool. But it does take a little more time for the clean up and refilling. I’m currently looking into plants to help or a “sucker” fish to help. I don’t know though if my ducks would eat the sucker fish but maybe if it’s big enough they won’t..

As for food, I use All flock and then add the brewers yeast and oats to help with their diet. However today I came across some duck food at a TSC but that is like a 45 min drive. But it would be worth it, might only get a bag when I go that way and just stay with All flock until then. For the babies I just used chick feed but the unmedicated one.

I know you got some great advice from others! I wasn’t able to read all of it so sorry if I repeated anyone.

Thanks for the info!
How many gallons is your pool?

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Adding pictures. I am going to be adding more fabric to the ramp but ran out of material at the time. Now I have it and it’s just too cold the last couple days as you can see in the pictures…

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Thanks for the info!
How many gallons is your pool?

It is about 450 gallons.