Ducky DO'S & DON'TS

[BantyChooks]

There are many different mallard based breeds, they are very diverse. Most require a regular pool of water. Muscovy are a bit different. They can breed with mallard based breeds but the offspring are sterile and called mules.

Muscovy are more mobile on ground, they roost like chickens, don't need to spend so much time in the water, and in my opinion are wonderful pest controls. Mine wander the yard at night foraging. They can fly somewhat, and will breed and brood easily. They don't quack like regular ducks and are quieter, they have a hissing speech.

I personally only keep muscovy currently.

I had mules a few years ago. Super sweet loafers. Scovies were nice too, I keep meaning to get some more eventually...
Here's my mule duckie, Starburst.

 

[MillersFarm]

Your Silver Appleyards are beautiful and you've given some great advice! I'd love to add some more ducks to my flock. Mind me asking where you got your Appleyards?

 

[BantyChooks]

Your Silver Appleyards are beautiful and you've given some great advice! I'd love to add some more ducks to my flock. Mind me asking where you got your Appleyards?

Me? I got mine from a local backyard breeder, thanks. She can't ship to down there though.

 

[MillersFarm]

Me? I got mine from a local backyard breeder, thanks. She can't ship to down there though.

Darn! Off looking i go again. Ordered some sexed ducklings from meyers thinking they were coming from ohio.. Turned out their main office was in ohio and they were coming from California Ended losing one of my welshes the first day. Thanks for replying though.

 

[BantyChooks]

Darn! Off looking i go again. Ordered some sexed ducklings from meyers thinking they were coming from ohio.. Turned out their main office was in ohio and they were coming from California Ended losing one of my welshes the first day. Thanks for replying though.

Sorry. Good luck with your search!

 

[CntryBoy777]

I will relate to ya my experience and if it turns into a long post....just remember, ya asked the question and ya are familiar enough with me to know how it goes.........I would suggest that ya determine your purpose for the ducks first....whether eggs, meat, both, or just entertainment and then search the breeds that best suit your desires. I can't speak to any other breeds than what I presently have....Khaki Campbells and Rouens, but there are some basics that seem to come with most ducks. The very first thing to know is they grow rapidly....sometimes overnite, literally....we didn't start with just a couple, but 12....and they outgrew the brooder I had set up within 2wks and I had planned on expansion as they grew, but by the end of 3wks they were totally out of space and the mess was horrible....we were cleaning their brooder 2 times a day and it needed 3. Fortunately we got ours the first part of June and where we live temps are not bad outside at that time, so we moved them outside to their pen which I had just finished for them. It is a 6'x8' area and it is where they reside at today. As far as there pen, coop, or structure...simpler is better and just make sure it is easily cleaned. This is a pic of their pen and yard..... ....they only have half of the bottom under the house, it is covered with 1/2" hardware cloth and the bottom is dirt and the bedding I use is hay....deep litter method. If ya are looking for egg production ya can't beat the KCs...they start between 17-20wks of age and ours have only taken a few days off when they have molted....we did have a couole that went broody at 1yo, but it is my understanding that they aren't considered a broody breed. The Rouens lay good, but slack back some this time of yr and some during molt, none have gone broody. The KCs are much more entertaining and are in the 3.5-4.5lb size....the Rouens are a bit bigger in the 5-7lb range. They both love water, but the KCs are plum crazy about it. Something else that may be of interest is the KC is a snail and slug eating machine and will even sift the dirt for their eggs....they are great in controling liver flukes for other livestock by eating all stages of slugs and snails. They are a bit skiddish, but having raised these and been around them since they were day olds they do tolerate me in their space, but are not a lovey-dovey, please hold me kind of bird. We just have them for being ducks and not pets. I would have no problem in eating either of these breeds and probably will at some point. The Rouens are really nice too, but I will always have some KCs whether I have any chickens or not....in fact, I have tried to talk my wife i to going with all ducks, but she still wants a few chickens....but, I could do without them. Something else ya should know is, when they do mature they are much easier to tend to and deal with than when they are brooding and so messy. Once they get out and about the mess gets spread out and it really isn't bad at all. Ours are true flock birds and forage and stay together, unlike the hareem-skareem of chickens. Guess that is enough for now, but ya will never regret getting some, but some breeds are much louder than others....Rouens are louder than KCs....gonna get some Runners this next Spring myself...they are hilarious.....

 

[BantyChooks]

, but are not a lovey-dovey, please hold me kind of bird.

I've had some exceptions, but yep, agree.

One thing to remember is that they have an entirely different body language set from chickens. They're really sensitive to eye contact and harsh body posture. The best way to make friends with ducks, I've found, is to ignore them and just do pickup work or something around the yard or run. They are curious creatures, they will come investigate. Repetitive movement like raking is good. Don't freeze when they get close or they will scatter. I have found forcing hugs/contact does more harm than good.

With my first welshies, I spend a lot of time with them (and I mean hours) and they were friendly enough to climb on my lap. The current ducks are not so brave but are pretty good & won't shy away from me too much.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Thanks everybody! What an overflow of 411 and experience.

@BantyChooks thx for the schoolings. Can't web feet get frostbite?


@CntryBoy777 I just read your post on b y h about 20 minutes before I started this thread here. From back awhile ago when I was talking ducks with you. This spring is when we are finally going to start. We finally have the area clear and are ready to go. I wanted to hear some horror stories before we made final preparations. I don't want to make simple mistakes that make me spend all my time stuck in correction mode instead of improvement mode. Thx for you reply. Always like hearing your incite.

Thanks everybody for replying..
What should I NOT DO?

@MillersFarm I plan to buy local. Hopefully they will be more acclimated for our local environment plus the stress from the long shipping isn't good for any animal with the US Post Office.

@ViolinPlayer123 love the pic!

 

[MillersFarm]

Thanks everybody! What an overflow of 411 and experience.

@BantyChooks

Thanks everybody for replying..
What should I NOT DO?

@MillersFarm I plan to buy local. Hopefully they will be more acclimated for our local environment plus the stress from the long shipping isn't good for any animal with the US Post Office.

If i could i'd buy from a local breeder but there aren't many around were I live besides auctions and most of the time its just people selling their junk or sick animals they don't want to take care of.

And as fro advice I don't really have much.. They only thing I would say is make sure you have more then enough hens for your drakes (If you plan on getting drakes) And maybe have another place to rotate them? I've tried fencing in my ducks but they quickly made a mess of the place so I've decided to let them free range. Oh and just like chickens ducks can be VERY addictive so make sure you have room for more then you want

 

[PirateGirl]

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Did you use a broody chicken to hatch ducks? Also I currently have chickens and I am planning on ducks in the spring. I have wondered if a broody chicken hen might be able to hatch and raise my ducklings so I don't have to deal with them in the house. Once they are grown I will likely have a totally separate enclosure for the ducks as my chicken per square feet of coop/run is maxed out at the moment.