WoodsmanA
In the Brooder
- Apr 2, 2016
- 19
- 2
- 34
Hi All,
First I want to thank everyone on here for the endless source of information that helped me gain so much knowledge before attempting my hand at raising ducks. I've learned so much. Thank you.
This is my first go at raising ducks, or any poultry for that matter. I think had I had the space to do it in years past I certainly would have already jumped into it. But, last September I bought my homestead in the middle of no where and finally have the space to do the things I've always wanted to do. Honey bees, an insanely huge garden, mill my own lumber, and yes ... Ducks!
I have an unhealthy obsession with wild fowl. Thus, chickens weren't going to cut it for me. I had to start with ducks. Placed an order with a farm out west for six Rouens back in January. Selected their March 28th hatch. Yes... Rouens because they look like mallards. But also, I thought they'd be a great start given everything I had read about all the different species of domestics.
Things got off to a rocky start, though. The ducks were suppose to arrive this past Wednesday on March 30th. In the excitement and anticipation of the ducklings arrival I barely slept the night before. 5 AM rolled in and I shortly expected a call from the post office that the birds had arrived. Well, no call. So I called them... "Nope, no birds came in on the 5 o'clock truck. We'll call you if they come in on the 7 AM truck." Of course, no birds on the 7 o'clock truck and, as if I wasn't already worried enough about the ducklings, no birds came in on the 11 o'clock express truck either. Great... I was completely bummed out. Thought for sure the birds would perish. Called the farm and they told me to wait until Thursday. If they showed up and there would losses, theyd replace the birds with their next hatching. Shutting off the brooder lamp over an empty bin that night was really depressing.
Got up at 4 AM the following morning and turned the lamp back on, hoping and praying the birds would arrive. 5:23 AM and the phone rings. The birds made it in. Rushed down to the post office, picked up the birds which were still alive (I was shocked) and rushed them back home. Right out of the box the birds started drinking and chowing down on crumbles. But one wasn't looking too good. One of the males. He was acting as though he was drunk. Couldn't find his balance. Two hours later he died in the corner of the bin. That was a bummer but hey, that's life. The farm through in an extra unsexed bird so I still have my 6. Four are females, one is a male and one is a mystery at this point. All are doing well.
I've got a million questions but I'll reserve those for when of if I need help or the birds are doing something that doesn't seem right. Was hoping to share a couple pictures of the little guys but how the heck do I do that?
In the meantime, thanks again to everyone on here. Looking forward to learning more and more as time goes on here.
First I want to thank everyone on here for the endless source of information that helped me gain so much knowledge before attempting my hand at raising ducks. I've learned so much. Thank you.
This is my first go at raising ducks, or any poultry for that matter. I think had I had the space to do it in years past I certainly would have already jumped into it. But, last September I bought my homestead in the middle of no where and finally have the space to do the things I've always wanted to do. Honey bees, an insanely huge garden, mill my own lumber, and yes ... Ducks!
I have an unhealthy obsession with wild fowl. Thus, chickens weren't going to cut it for me. I had to start with ducks. Placed an order with a farm out west for six Rouens back in January. Selected their March 28th hatch. Yes... Rouens because they look like mallards. But also, I thought they'd be a great start given everything I had read about all the different species of domestics.
Things got off to a rocky start, though. The ducks were suppose to arrive this past Wednesday on March 30th. In the excitement and anticipation of the ducklings arrival I barely slept the night before. 5 AM rolled in and I shortly expected a call from the post office that the birds had arrived. Well, no call. So I called them... "Nope, no birds came in on the 5 o'clock truck. We'll call you if they come in on the 7 AM truck." Of course, no birds on the 7 o'clock truck and, as if I wasn't already worried enough about the ducklings, no birds came in on the 11 o'clock express truck either. Great... I was completely bummed out. Thought for sure the birds would perish. Called the farm and they told me to wait until Thursday. If they showed up and there would losses, theyd replace the birds with their next hatching. Shutting off the brooder lamp over an empty bin that night was really depressing.
Got up at 4 AM the following morning and turned the lamp back on, hoping and praying the birds would arrive. 5:23 AM and the phone rings. The birds made it in. Rushed down to the post office, picked up the birds which were still alive (I was shocked) and rushed them back home. Right out of the box the birds started drinking and chowing down on crumbles. But one wasn't looking too good. One of the males. He was acting as though he was drunk. Couldn't find his balance. Two hours later he died in the corner of the bin. That was a bummer but hey, that's life. The farm through in an extra unsexed bird so I still have my 6. Four are females, one is a male and one is a mystery at this point. All are doing well.
I've got a million questions but I'll reserve those for when of if I need help or the birds are doing something that doesn't seem right. Was hoping to share a couple pictures of the little guys but how the heck do I do that?
In the meantime, thanks again to everyone on here. Looking forward to learning more and more as time goes on here.
