To make a long story short(er):
At my feed store I saw a pekin duckling with a broken leg (04/01/09). I talked to the owner and he said he would dispose of it later. Since he knows what a sucker I am he asked if I wanted it. As I was about to leave another employee asked if I would be interested in taking an (americana?) chick too since all her tail feathers are picked out. Well, I left the store with both babies.
I put them in my spare bathroom, covered the floor with doggie wee pads and fed them starter food (the one that both can eat) and of course plenty of fresh water and very tiny bits of lettuce.
Now, 6 weeks later with a nightmare for a bathroom, I moved both outside into a dog kennel (8'x4'). We put plywood on the top and north/west side for sun/rain protection. I put half of a large dog house (up-side-down) filled with hay in the kennel and a flat plastic container filled with water and one stepping stone for texture to get in and out. I'm feeding both on a tupperware lid and they have a waterer as well.
Two days ago I went back to the feed store to ask what else we need for food and I purchased chicken scratch, some more starter and the oyster grit (powder). I am currently mixing the scratch with the starter but both prefer the starter feed. I have not started using the oyster stuff since I wasn't sure if that is safe for the duck?
The first night when both were outside the chicken perched on a broom handle but since then she just cuddles up with the duck. I would like to expand the area they can go to but am affraid the chicken will fly out without a top on the area.
I am completely new to this (and hubby isn't too thrilled about it either). I never owned a feathered critter (I'm usually into dogs, cats and horses). So keep in mind that you are talking to chicken/duck illiterate person
.
I just want them to have a happy life here. An occational egg would be nice but no dinner plans for these babies
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Here are some pics of when they came (btw the duck is completely healed and uses the leg 100%) I have to take new ones.
At my feed store I saw a pekin duckling with a broken leg (04/01/09). I talked to the owner and he said he would dispose of it later. Since he knows what a sucker I am he asked if I wanted it. As I was about to leave another employee asked if I would be interested in taking an (americana?) chick too since all her tail feathers are picked out. Well, I left the store with both babies.
I put them in my spare bathroom, covered the floor with doggie wee pads and fed them starter food (the one that both can eat) and of course plenty of fresh water and very tiny bits of lettuce.
Now, 6 weeks later with a nightmare for a bathroom, I moved both outside into a dog kennel (8'x4'). We put plywood on the top and north/west side for sun/rain protection. I put half of a large dog house (up-side-down) filled with hay in the kennel and a flat plastic container filled with water and one stepping stone for texture to get in and out. I'm feeding both on a tupperware lid and they have a waterer as well.
Two days ago I went back to the feed store to ask what else we need for food and I purchased chicken scratch, some more starter and the oyster grit (powder). I am currently mixing the scratch with the starter but both prefer the starter feed. I have not started using the oyster stuff since I wasn't sure if that is safe for the duck?
The first night when both were outside the chicken perched on a broom handle but since then she just cuddles up with the duck. I would like to expand the area they can go to but am affraid the chicken will fly out without a top on the area.
I am completely new to this (and hubby isn't too thrilled about it either). I never owned a feathered critter (I'm usually into dogs, cats and horses). So keep in mind that you are talking to chicken/duck illiterate person
I just want them to have a happy life here. An occational egg would be nice but no dinner plans for these babies
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Here are some pics of when they came (btw the duck is completely healed and uses the leg 100%) I have to take new ones.
