Ducks that don't Die Horribly?

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

Your kidding aren't you!!!

Nope. I wish I was. My latest batch however are 3 weeks old and haven't lost one yet

 

[Jenbirdee]

In 12 years of keeping Ducks, I have never had any touched by a predator! I praise the Lord!
We’ve had a few diseases, but I still have several Ducks alive and doing well that are over 10 years old now, and one of them even laid an egg a couple days ago lol
Thank you, Jesus.

 

[KathiQuacks]

I haven’t had my birdies long enough for that, yet.

But, we just passed the 2 year mark with no tragedies! And, I’m currently working on building a new, secure duck coop. AND my eldest boy is approaching 8 years of age. So.. Good chances, I hope, in the coming years, I’ll get to see him pass naturally.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

But sometimes its a little depressing just how many posts are about ducks being torn to shreds by predators or wasting away from mystery disease.

Not that ducks are fragile creatures, but good layers - specifically - can be : indeed, these hens' body can be so exhausted by laying continually that some of the girls end up damaging their working ovary, and sometimes dying because of that...

There also have the ones that are born with unnoticeable health conditions, such as heart failure for example.
These ones are just unlucky, and can "die suddenly" - at least without any pain...

I had one that I stood on as a duckling, one killed by savage older ducks, 3 eaten by wild cats, 1 eaten by hawks - these are all ducks under 3 months old my duck hatching hasn't been good for me.

Oh I got one! The pig pulled out the plus to the heat plate and one died to death from cold. Left 3 ducklings, 2 of which drowned in the pond when they escaped as they didn't have their full waterproof feathers, and it was a rainstorm. And the last one was the one I mentioned before, at 3 months old kkilled by savage older ducks.

There!

Woooow...
...I am so happy to not be you...!

I had :
• some ducklings that had accidentally been crushed to death by the chicken hens that had hatched their eggs;
• one duckling that had died from fright during a storm;
• one duckling killed by what I had assumed to be a rat... but that I am now wondering more and more if it is not actually his chicken mom that is guilty...?

Every one of these deaths has badly affected me, but God do I feel lucky compared to you...!

Waiting for eggs from the hen but I'm also still debated on if I should just eat them both.

Khaki Campbell are the best layers ever, so you could want to keep yours for their eggs?

► My one-year-old Khaki Campbell duck hen is born in 2024, but has started laying eggs end of January...
...she has then stopped laying end of October...
...but has started AGAIN mid-November, after a 3-weeks pause!

And she is STILL laying now...!

I honestly was not expecting my KC girl to lay so many eggs, even if the hens are renowed to lay more than 300 eggs per year...

 

[Miss Lydia]

I haven't had ducks for very long, in fact I only have a m/f pair of khakis I raised this summer. I'm not surprised most posts are about them falling prey to wild animals. Health wise mine have been perfectly fine thus far.

From what I've seen they are stupid, incredibly so. My young hen thinks it is a great idea to "play" with the cat who can easily chomp on her neck if he wanted to. They are also too dumb to stay away from the turkeys so they often get pecked at as they run around in a circle trying to stay out of pecking range, yet they continue to follow them around and hang out with them. They can barely fly and running fast is simply not possible. An easy meal should any bold predator try to snatch them as they free range the yard. Luckily they have plenty of cover here and I trap the night time critters when possible.

They are certainly amusing though and love to play in the hose, less destructive to the lawn and flower beds than the chickens too. Waiting for eggs from the hen but I'm also still debated on if I should just eat them both. They are so messy and our deck to the backyard has now become the "poop deck" as they love to take their afternoon naps right by the sliding door...

They are so messy and our deck to the backyard has now become the "poop deck" as they love to take their afternoon naps right by the sliding door...

That's what the hoses were made for or at least here. lol

 

[ruthhope]

They are so messy and our deck to the backyard has now become the "poop deck" as they love to take their afternoon naps right by the sliding door...

That's what the hoses were made for or at least here. lol

For some reason it annoyed my husband to have ducks up the steps from the patio to our sliding doors. They loved to site there -- looking in at what we were doing. Husband insisted that I fence the patio -- which I did. Same husband is incapable of closing gates and doors behind him. The new patio fence has 3 gates and the ducks are quick to spot an open one. So now we have a nicely fenced patio and still have ducks up the steps peering in the sliding doors!!!

I continue to hose down at the end of every day when the ducks go to bed.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

I have had my ducks for 1.5 years. Only one passed suddenly. I have a gander who is like 4 years old. He is a MEAN SOB in spring but he is my favorite so he stays. His wife is 1.5 and is fine- just bossy.

It is very cold here with a ton of snow so the goal for the next few months is fresh water/food and shelter. Only the tough survive this time of year.

My geese like hanging out on the concrete block patio in summer and make a mess. I spray it off daily. It is annoying but I just keep it clean. The things you do for your animals.

 

[barnababy]

I love coming on here to read up on all the phenomenal information people share. But sometimes its a little depressing just how many posts are about ducks being torn to shreds by predators or wasting away from mystery disease. Just thought it would be nice to hear some stories from people who's ducks lived happily into old age.

Anyone got some?

Well, I would... if I felt like I had some happy endings. Don't get me wrong, one of my originals surpassed all who followed and got up into his 9th year. But while I had been nervous and anticipating finally having 1 duck live to die by the processes of aging alone... sadly, that was not the case. After hurricane Beryl, there was a dog attack. That guy lived another 3 days, while paralyzed and confined to a cat bed, with no electricity in all the city, and all the chaos, being just as feisty as had always been. His personality shone thru till the very end. And his death was having been to protect his ladies. He was a true little yard hero.
His daughter, is my ESA. She is now also 9, and still going.. although I'm not sure I'd say "strong". Her behavior is changing enough for me to notice and she's got some "quirks". Actually, that's why I came on here today. I was looking to find stories and details of anyone who's experienced ducky old age! I tease her all the time, about her being an old lady, and how I think she may have duck alzheimers. Lol She's tired all the time and sleeps a lot. She's more clingy than usual, wanting to stay close but then expects you to sit and not move so she can go back to sleep. But she still has all her normal self, albeit in shorter bursts. We still occasionally go on her nightine flashlighted duck walks (out front instead of the neighborhood), she still very much demands and enjoys her cat treatment ball toys filled with mealworms, she still fake bathes and storms all the bed (after getting her into her diaper which she tolerates the process of now less), and she randomly threatens or attacks the chicken or my son.
I cant imagine my life without her. She's my soulmate.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 3 Muscovy females that are age 13 and 14 yrs old. All the rest of their flock has died of old age, the oldest being 15 when she passed. They are still pretty fiesty and one even laid a few eggs last year. My other breeds Runners and Buffs are going on 10 yrs old then I have a Cayuga and 2 Runners at 7and 8, and then 5 that are a little over 2 yrs.

 

[ruthhope]

I have 3 Muscovy females that are age 13 and 14 yrs old. All the rest of their flock has died of old age, the oldest being 15 when she passed. They are still pretty fiesty and one even laid a few eggs last year. My other breeds Runners and Buffs are going on 10 yrs old then I have a Cayuga and 2 Runners at 7and 8, and then 5 that are a little over 2 yrs.

Miss Lydia, please what do you feed your muscovy?

My Daffy Duck, my original rescued muscovy duckling, died this week. He was only 4 years old and appeared to be in rude health

Daffy had his first ever big molt in September/October. He has never before lost and replaced all his feathers. He was cranky during the 2 months as he has always been when molting. But he was back to normal, biting me and demanding attention, and in his absolute resplendent best plumage. Then on Monday morning I found him sitting in the duckhouse having passed away several hours earlier. I am devastated. He was only 4. He gets duck pellets and dried worms (soldier worms and meal worms) and free ranges where he helps himself to greens and bugs.

I have had him since he was 2 days old: he should have lived into long old age. Was his diet inadequate or what?

My son and I buried him under a palm tree next to PingyWingy, Daffy's buddy who died 2 years ago. Pingy Wingy was special needs and developed a pelvic tumor. But there was no indication of anything amiss with Daffy Duck