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Hello! I'm new.

Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by MummyToTwins, Dec 12, 2011.

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  1. Dec 12, 2011 #1
    MummyToTwins

    MummyToTwins Out Of The Brooder

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    Dec 12, 2011
    Marblehead MA
    Hi Fellow Duck Lovers!

    I’m a newbie to the board and have some questions.

    But first, my back story.

    Six and a half years ago while my husband were doing IVF (which wasn’t working) I had a very Freudian urge to hatch something…anything!

    Strange but true…I’m afraid of chickens.

    Crazy huh? So I bought some duck eggs and a cheap incubator on eBay and out of the three eggs we got one duckling. In fact Pete hatched the day we found out we were pregnant with twins! And how we loved our pet duck Pete. But due to complications with the pregnancy I had to give him up as I could no longer care for him. It was very sad.

    However my twins, now aged almost five, and I are ready to be duck-keepers again in the spring.

    I’m most interested in a breed that makes for a calm, quiet pet that will also give eggs.

    Would a mix of Jumbo Pekins and Khaki Campbells get along together?
    I’m thinking all females as I don’t want to hatch again. Is this okay or should I get a male too?
    Our garden is fully enclosed by a fence but we do have coyotes in the area so we’d have to have a pen that closes. Is there a model coop that people can recommend?
    At what age to the ducks start laying?
    Do we need to clip wings or will the ducks stay were the food is?
    We’re north of Boston MA so it can get very cold. Do people just use a heat lamp or bring the ducks in at night in the winter?

    Any other advice would be much appreciated.

    Cheers!
     
  3. Dec 12, 2011 #2
    Yay Chicks!

    Yay Chicks! Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Apr 15, 2010
    Forest Grove, OR
    [​IMG] Glad you joined us.

    I'm not a duck person. If you don't get the answers you need on the new member intro thread, you can post them under the "Ducks" thread. (Go to Index, scroll down under "Other Backyard Poultry).
    Good Luck [​IMG]
     
  5. Dec 12, 2011 #3
    S&N Livestock

    S&N Livestock Chillin' With My Peeps

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    southern ohio
    [​IMG] from Ohio
     
  7. Dec 12, 2011 #4
    OldGuy43

    OldGuy43 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Oct 3, 2011
    Rainbow Bridge Ranch - Travis County, Texas
    Howdy from Austin, Texas. No help here either. Did you know that there is only one non-man made lake in all of Texas? [​IMG]
     
  9. Dec 12, 2011 #5
    CheerioLounge

    CheerioLounge Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Apr 10, 2011
    California High Desert
    [​IMG] from Twentynine Palms in the California high desert! Sorry no help here either.... someone will come along... try posting in the ducks section!! Good Luck!!


    Warning: BYC can become seriously addicting!! [​IMG]
     
  11. Dec 12, 2011 #6
    weimarmama

    weimarmama Overrun With Chickens

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    Jun 4, 2010
    Alabama
    My Coop
    [​IMG] & [​IMG] from Alabama. Glad you joined us. You might want to check out the Ducks section for more info.
    But just to answer a few of your questions:

    Keeping Khaki Campbells and Jumbo Pekins together is perfectly fine. We have Khaki Campbells, 3 Jumbo Pekins, and Pekins, along with Indian Runners and Rouens, and they all run together. Jumbo Pekins do tend to put on weight very easily and can develop arthritis, so you might want to watch out for that.

    You don't have to keep a drake, but if you do make sure to not have too many males or too few females.

    When they start laying eggs, is really something that depends on each individual bird or breed. Some Pekins are seasonal layers & some aren't. Our youngest Jumbo, hatched this summer, hasn't started laying, yet, and our older one, named Grandma, stopped completely at the end of summer. But when she was laying, the eggs were the largest duck eggs I've seen. Our Khakis, hatched in June, also haven't started, yet.

    Pekins, in particular, are a heavier breed, so it's more difficult for them to fly, especially the Jumbos. I've never seen our Jumbos even come close to getting off the ground. None of our ducks' wings are clipped, and they stay around their enclosure and are always ready to go up for the night (of course, we always put a little food out then so that helps).

    No clue about really cold weather. [​IMG]

    As for duck houses and enclosures, there's are a couple of great threads in the duck section with pictures of duck houses, enclosures, pools, and ponds that might give you some ideas:
    https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=178796
    https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=320654

    Hope I helped you out and good luck with your future ducks [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2011
  13. Dec 12, 2011 #7
    benjoycei

    benjoycei Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mar 4, 2011
    Wilmington
    Hi from NC [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  15. Dec 12, 2011 #8
    Kevin565

    Kevin565 Chicken Obsessed Premium Member

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    Dec 22, 2009
    [​IMG]
     
  17. Dec 12, 2011 #9
    GoldenSparrow

    GoldenSparrow Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mar 11, 2011
    Welcome and [​IMG]
     
  19. Dec 12, 2011 #10
    Blonde

    Blonde Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Aug 12, 2011
    Narnia
    Howdy! [​IMG]
     
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