grannys gone and done it

[katbriar]

Am I allowed to say- give it to someone? That's the only way I'd know how to "take care" of it! I know nothing about ducks; sorry I'm not more help!

 

[Granny Hatchet]

LOL, but i just got it home ! bout all i know too. hope they eat chicken food

 

[enola]

Ducks are disgusting!

NO. DUCKS. HERE!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

any one know how to take care of a duck ? (sigh)

What did you go and do now?!

I had ducks as a kid. They were great. Of course I was young and didn't pay attention to the disgusting stinky mess they made.

I think all flock crumbles is fine for ducks. I do know you have to keep a deep water dish for them, deep enough to submerge most of their head so they can keep the nares clean. The best thing about ducks is the little pat-pat sound they make when walking on concrete and watching them swim. Worst thing is the mating. It's pretty brutal (and we bred horses, so I wasn't exactly squeamish about that stuff). What kind did you get? How many? WHY?!

Oh, they like to dabble, so will get their feed all wet going back and forth from food dish to waterer. Small portions are best to prevent mold. They're piggies though, and eat fast.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I dont know what kind. what is nares ? its a girl and its white. I put it with the laying hens . gave it a 7 gallon thing of water where it just fits in there to take a bath. Can they eat from the feeder ? the galvanized thing that drops food down. ? wonder if her bill goes in there or she needs something flat. right now she is eating chicken and dumplins from the ground. can they roost ? She dont seem messy ? I have wanted a duck for a long time. I wont get a boy . just her.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Oh, Granny - I knew I should have gone to the swap if only to keep you from doing it again, lol. J/K - since this is something you've wanted for a while I am glad you finally have your duck.
We had ducks for a few years after moving out here - I was probably a *bad* duck owner as I simply fenced off a part of the yard (we have a large, stocked pond in the front of the house so I fenced off the yard that is around that), gave them a little house to go into when they wanted and used one of those black rubber pans for their feed (though they really enjoyed swiping the food we tossed out for the fish)....oh, and in the winter when the pond froze I had a plug in dog bowl for drinking water for them. Beyond that - they just lived out there.
Our white duck, Judy, was a Pekin - I bet if you take a picture of your duck we can get it ID'd for you. She started it all and came to us as a bit of an unplanned favor for someone who couldn't keep her - she was VERY friendly at that point because she didn't know she was a duck (had been raised as a backyard pet and seemed to think of herself more as a person or a dog than a duck) - we ended up getting her two duck friends because she was SO needy, she figured out how to be a duck and was way less people friendly, but did seem happier. Your duck won't be so lonely because you have other birds for her.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

well, i didnt know there were different kinds. and yes, you should of went with me because that aint all i did. so can they eat from the chicken thing or do they need something bigger ? this is why yr supposed to do the homework first.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

All my friends are duck haters !!! hahaaaa I never seen them mate ? probably never will..... Little boy at the swap w/ 8 baby chicks. no one is paying him any mind. no one wants to even look. I am such a sucker .... a dollar each. JG crosses. i gave him a little extra. the smile was worth it. I got my 2 polish soo cute and one baby maran. thats it ! i promise.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

oh ya, hahaaa i get home and a car pulls up. 2 people , said the amish sent them. looking for a broody. any bantam will do. I gave them one of those i got for a dollar this past winter and they gave me ten dollars ! soo, the duck was free..... they said they were missionary's ? something about bumble bees

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I think it's nice you got a duck. Nares are the nostrils, which for health reasons, they need to be able to submerge them in water. If you have a tub set up for her to splash in, that will do it. Unless she is a muscovy, she will not roost. (Muscovies have those red fleshy bumpy faces.)

I think it would be best to get her a separate food dish. Ducks will take a bite of food, go over to the water and dabble, then go back to the food dish with a wet bill, and repeat the process. You would have to watch for mold if she gets the chickens' feeder wet. Her own pan for water might be good too. People say that ducks will empty a waterer out pretty quick by playing (dabbling) in it. Yours, of course, might be perfectly behaved.

Did you name her?