Hello I'm Felix

[feasel]

Hello I'm Felix,

My nickname comes from the fact that I have a soft spot for weasels... Felix + weasel = Feasel.

Not sure if weasels chase ducks, if so I might lose my soft spot for them?

Anyway... we have recently acquired 3 Khaki Campbell ladies, I love them but they seem rather afraid of us! They were raised on a big farm and I think our little garden is a bit of a culture shock for them. So far we have a couple of things we're working on:

1. they hate the pond we built for them and refuse to go in it, I'm trying to figure out what they don't like about it and to fix it so they can enjoy splashing about in it!

2. one of them has slightly scraggy wings and is missing some feathers, no idea of the cause of this

3. they aren't eating their layers pellets and seem much more interested in eating our grass instead! (We don't care about that but the pellets are apparently more nutritious...)

4. they have hemp bedding in their little duck house but I think they had straw before on the farm, do you think straw would make them feel more comfortable if that's what they are used to?

Here are my ducks, I feel I have so much to learn and we are really keen to make them happy and comfortable, any tips on making ducks super happy would be gratefully received!

 

[GitaBooks]

Welcome to BYC! So glad you could join us!

Those are some nice looking ducks.


Don't worry the ducks should get over their fear of the pond and start using it soon. They may just have not had a pond where they use to come from. They probably were also kept with a drake, which explains why the feathers are messy on the wings.
Yes, foraging it s great for ducks! However, if they lay eggs they will need the calcium and protein the pellets offer. You could try wetting them with some fruit juice or something, to see if you can get them to try it.

Best of luck with your new ducks!

 

[lynss94]

Hello I'm Felix,

My nickname comes from the fact that I have a soft spot for weasels... Felix + weasel = Feasel.

Not sure if weasels chase ducks, if so I might lose my soft spot for them?

Anyway... we have recently acquired 3 Khaki Campbell ladies, I love them but they seem rather afraid of us! They were raised on a big farm and I think our little garden is a bit of a culture shock for them. So far we have a couple of things we're working on:

1. they hate the pond we built for them and refuse to go in it, I'm trying to figure out what they don't like about it and to fix it so they can enjoy splashing about in it!

2. one of them has slightly scraggy wings and is missing some feathers, no idea of the cause of this

3. they aren't eating their layers pellets and seem much more interested in eating our grass instead! (We don't care about that but the pellets are apparently more nutritious...)

4. they have hemp bedding in their little duck house but I think they had straw before on the farm, do you think straw would make them feel more comfortable if that's what they are used to?

Here are my ducks, I feel I have so much to learn and we are really keen to make them happy and comfortable, any tips on making ducks super happy would be gratefully received!

Khaki's LOVE water, so I'm sure as suggested above, they're just not comfortable with their surroundings yet. Khaki's are very shy and if not raised by hand, they don't warm up to humans easy. Mine was raised by hand and she still is semi shy. One of the many advantages of ducks, they forage and eat insects out of your yard. Pest and insect control

My ducks love their kiddie pool. (Was not able to build them a pond this summer) and one of the ways I treat my spoiled girls is I will fill their kiddie pool up with fresh water and dump 2 dozen minnows in it. THEY LOVE IT. You could also try fruit as suggested or treats from like Tractor Supply or a local Farm and Garden. A small kiddie pool would give them at least some water and a chance to bathe off. How old are they may I ask?

 

[feasel]

Thanks for your encouragement and reassurance - they have a small low water tray in which they are playing until they get used to the pond... so they can wash their eyes at least, but it was seeing them playing in this little tray that inspired us to build a pond, they seem to really, really love the water! I have switched things around a bit, so there is a giant flat floor tile on one edge on which they can easily reach the water. I hope this will work for them. I like your suggestion of the minnows...I am not sure of their exact age? We just asked at the farm for ducks which are already laying. Do I need to do anything to encourage them to lay, like putting a rubber egg in their house or is that only chickens?

 

[feasel]

Thank you, I do hope the ducks gain confidence with the pond! If they don't start eating the pellets I shall try soaking them in some fruit juice as you suggest, what a good idea. Thank you!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[lynss94]

I have a rather odd system with my ducks. I will start from the beginning. I was walking through Tractor Supply and the "chick days" were going on. I heard a bunch of peeps and weeps and then I seen the ducks! I fell in love. We purchased two of our choosing, got a heat lamp, some chick food, pine shavings, and began! I had never had any luck with gold fish so I was hoping I could keep these cute little ducks alive. (HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO, not at all in a bad way

)

From day one they were spoiled. We'd snuggle and cuddle them, rub them, and play with them. I also put them in the bath tub to teach them how to swim. (yes you teach them because they can drown). After about 3 months of living inside all day, (got rather smelly) I decided they needed to go out for the day and we would bring them in at night to protect them. From then up until now they will roam outside during the day, I bring them inside at night, and put them in the bin they were raised in. I spray their bin out every single day and put fresh chips for them to sleep on and now lay on. (Their bin is now too small and they have their very own pet carrier on the way!)

Both ducks actually turned out to be, well, ducks and last Tuesday I woke up to a surprise! My first egg! They both are laying now and will lay inside in their bin right before dawn. Around 5am. I don't use any kind of encouragement methods however, I have heard the ceramic eggs work. I would wait until they build themselves a nest and lay before trying this however. You can't "make" them lay just anywhere. They have to feel that it is safe and protected. My ducks have a nest outside so if I don't see an egg in the morning, I know where to look. If they begin laying outside I plan on using the same method.

What do you plan on doing with your duck eggs? Selling, eating..?

Another thing I would suggest if you haven't already gotten it is oyster shell. It is very high in calcium and will prove for good shell production. I feed them this along with their layer food daily.

 

[drumstick diva]

Hi Felix nice to meet you. If you post photos of their pond/pool maybe we can see why they don't want to use it. If it isn't ground level they like a ramp to go in and a ramp to get out, if necessary. Ducks do love their water and splashing around and making everything else wet. And YES weasels will certainly go after ducks, chickens etc. if they have the opportunity to do so.

 

[feasel]

We did build a ledge in the pond so that it would be easy for them to get in and out, but they don't necessarily know about it - the water all looks the same from the top. I will have a think about a ladder; it would need to have a smooth end as the pond liner will be damaged by anything sharp... thanks so much for the helpful tips! I'll try with some sort of ramp and show you some photos.