Getting Ducks- Need info

[NuggetTheChicken]

Finally! I have convinced my dad to get ducks . Now I need info on housing, feeding and brooding. Show me ideas for coops, brooders and tips. Help is appreciated, thank you!

 

[DiYMama540]

Congratulations!!!
Start with this article, then if you think of any specific questions we'll go from there!

 

[johntfs]

I'll probably get a bit of flak from other for noting this, but ducks are messy. They don't have saliva so they need to have food with water. The food will end up in the water and potentially rot. The water will get splashed out. And ducks poop. A lot. Keeping their living area relatively clean will be vital.

One basic tip is to make sure you have more hens than drakes - maybe three or four to one if possible. Once they mature (60 days from hatching), hormones kick in and drakes can overbreed and kill hens if there aren't plenty of hens to "share the load."

 

[NuggetTheChicken]

I'll probably get a bit of flak from other for noting this, but ducks are messy. They don't have saliva so they need to have food with water. The food will end up in the water and potentially rot. The water will get splashed out. And ducks poop. A lot. Keeping their living area relatively clean will be vital.

One basic tip is to make sure you have more hens than drakes - maybe three or four to one if possible. Once they mature (60 days from hatching), hormones kick in and drakes can overbreed and kill hens if there aren't plenty of hens to "share the load."

Already know this, I had 2 pekins a few months ago that we butchered. They were messy and loved water

 

[NuggetTheChicken]

Congratulations!!!
Start with this article, then if you think of any specific questions we'll go from there!

Thanks for that, how would I supplement niacin, brewer's yeast or nutritional, I heard nutritional is better?

 

[DuckyDonna]

Thanks for that, how would I supplement niacin, brewer's yeast or nutritional, I heard nutritional is better?

Nutritional is better. You can get it in bulk on amazon. It's kinda hard to find in stores.

 

[NuggetTheChicken]

Nutritional is better. You can get it in bulk on amazon. It's kinda hard to find in stores.

thanks

 

[NuggetTheChicken]

Anyone have ideas for duck houses, runs, etc?

 

[BjaJra826]

I got my nicain from Walmart. I got the powder loaded capsules and just sprinkled the powder on their feed every other to every third day. When my ducks were ducklings I had them on full feed. They need water to eat, but it needs to be deep enough to dip their whole head to clean their eyes/nares. Water is also important for overall hygeine. Ducks do most of their pooping in their water, so water gets dirty quick. When they are younger I changed their water 3 times a day. As ducklings, they had a dog water dish with rocks i side/outside to aid getting in and out. I gave them access to a heat lamp untill their feathers replaced fluff. As ducklings, they don't have their own oils can as such can drown/ get wet to the skin. Feed them un-medicated chick feed. Watch how much protien you feed them to avoid angel wing. Also, gave fun! Ducks are messy little balls of joy. Here are my duck hens as ducklings for your viewing pleasure.

 

[BjaJra826]

My ducks hate housing. They have access to my chicken coop with lots of bedding for overnight. I had an existing run from chickens and I have a blended flock. As long as they have somewhere to get wet, somewhere to stay dry. And some space between they are good. My run is 20ftx17ft that is big enough for me to walk in for my ease of use plus an attached coop that is 8ft×10ft, but I also have 17 chickens and 7 ducks. Ducks don't roost, so no need for roosting bars.

As ducklings they lived in a 2ftx5ft tub until they were big enough to maintain their own temp and hold their own against the chickens. They were about 7 weeks old whwn they moved outside.