First time duck owner- Indian Runner Ducks

[Chick Chick 333]

Hello! I am expanding my flock (I currently have 34 free range chickens) and will be getting my Indian Runner Ducks on Friday! They will be ducklings so they will be in a brooder box for a little while before joining the free range crew.

I was just wondering if anyone has any tips for a first time duck owner. I have done a lot of research but I think it would be great to hear from some actual experiences!

Thanks for any help!

 

[Happy Quack]

One thing that really bothers people about ducks is that that they will make a mud hole out of a drop of water. I have bought a rectangle tub about 2x3 feet. Then I put a cinder block in the middle and put a screen over that to cover the whole area. I put a two gallon bucket on the screen. That way the water the duck splash out, and they will, goes through the screen into the tub. Not all over the bedding. Then you can that water outside.

Have you read Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks? If not you really should. It is a great book.

 

[Chick Chick 333]

Hello!

Luckily we have a 2 acre pond right by the coop! Hopefully that helps with that problem

I will have to check out that book! Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[Amiga]

Welcome to Duckdom!

Here are some other ideas - the Raising Ducklings sticky https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

and these ideas for water management


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

post number 8 from this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959603/ducklings-getting-stuck-on-their-backs#post_14939819

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/969751/help-baby-ducklings#post_15125952


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...for-water-for-ducks-and-chicks-in-the-brooder

Here is the watering station I use for 13 ducks in their night pen. Keeps the bedding much drier.

 

[Happy Quack]

Amiga thanks for the pics on those links it got my point across. It is way easier to see it.

 

[David Barkey]

Hello! I am expanding my flock (I currently have 34 free range chickens) and will be getting my Indian Runner Ducks on Friday! They will be ducklings so they will be in a brooder box for a little while before joining the free range crew.

I was just wondering if anyone has any tips for a first time duck owner. I have done a lot of research but I think it would be great to hear from some actual experiences!

Thanks for any help!

They grow faster than chicken and because they walk upright need a taller brooder . Water and food has to be continually raised as they grow .It is instinctive for them to try and jump in any water they find including there drinking bowl . I found taking them out of there brooder and let them have a swim in the bath tub helped with there erg to climb in the water .

 

[DuckyDonna]

Hello!

Luckily we have a 2 acre pond right by the coop! Hopefully that helps with that problem

I will have to check out that book! Thank you for the suggestion!

I hope that pond doesn't have snapping turtles in it! They will kill your babies and make a gruesome mess of your ducks even when they are grown.

 

[DuckyDonna]

There is so much I could tell you about raising them but I don't know where to begin. My last hatch in the spring started eating Purina duck pellets right from the time they hatched and they did and are still doing great on them. I did have to put the pellets in the food processor when they were very young but once they were about a week old they were able to handle eating them not processed.

I too have a rectangular tray that I put a piece of hardware cloth over and then one of those rubber shelf liners to cut down on the water mess in the brooder.

Please tell us what your setup is for the ducks. What is their night pen/brooder? What is their outside run like? Pictures would be good too.