Hello new duck owner from Bulverde, Texas

[talkinboutchickens]

Hi and

 

[Honeybunny_3]

If you aren't inclined to build, consider a large chain link kennel. Cover it with hardware cloth top to bottom, even the roof. The door will require some reinforcement too, to keep things from squeezing through. You can build or place a coop inside the kennel and still have eating areas and a small pool. Another thing to think about is your male: female ratio. Too many males per females is dangerous, so make a plan for a second area to separate them if needed.

Thank you so much for the reply!!! What should the ratio be please? I didn't know this.

I'm considering a walkin 2" x 2" welded wire coop from TSC. I'm afraid snakes will get in a dog kennel.

 

[N F C]

Good luck with your ducklings.

 

[janiedoe]

Thank you so much for the reply!!! What should the ratio be please? I didn't know this.

I'm considering a walkin 2" x 2" welded wire coop from TSC. I'm afraid snakes will get in a dog kennel.

That's why you would need to cover the kennel with 1/2" hardware cloth.
2"×2" holes are too large, weezles, snakes, and rodents can breech that. Be sure and consider the space around the door also.
I don't have ducks, so I can't say what your ratio needs to be. Im sure it varies with differentduck breeds. @Jenbirdee can probably help you with that

 

[SilverBirds]

I put them in the same set up they had in the store. The food they sold me is Dumor 20% Chick Starter Grower but it doesn't have any vitamin content listed on the bag. I have no idea if the niacin content is enough and now that concerns me. I ordered 2 different brands of brewer's yeast and 2 different nutritional yeast last night on Amazon Prime. It will come in tomorrow. I also will go and get grit.

The brand you bought it fine, I've used plenty of times for my own babies. Four different bags of yeast seems a little excessive, don't you think? You don't need both brewers and nutritional yeast, so if you can, you could cancel/send some back. Or just keep them all and they'll eventually eat it.

Oh wow, I didn't know about the ratio, what should it be? I have no idea what sex they are yet. How do I tell? I have no idea of the breed either because TSC didn't know. They told me they are a mix of breeds. Is that OK? Or do I need to be concerned? I bought all the ducklings they had so I can't go buy more of a certain breed.

Are you talking about the male to female ratio? If so, the general rule of thumb is 1 male : 3 females, but this number can really vary greatly. If you have multiple drakes you'll more likely need a ratio of 1:5-6, to prevent the ladies from being over mated.

Mixing breeds is perfectly fine, but from the picture all of yours appear to be Pekins.

Once ducklings are around 4 weeks old their voices start to change. Females are loud and make the distinctive Quack Quack! call. Males are quiter and have a raspy voice that sounds more like a whap whap.

As for the pen. I'm considering this at TSC. A chain links holes are too big and my 22vyear old son said he is worried about snakes getting them too so I found this but they have so many others I van choose I just want something safe to put them in 24/7. I read on Google that they don't go in coops at night like chickens. We use to have chickens in a coop years and years ago but something got in there and killed 18 of them in one night. Nothing will be going in that coop for a while until I can secure it a lot more and it's built with 2 x4's drilled into a concrete wall so I'm still trying to figure out what got in there and killed them, bad memory. I'm starting from scratch for the ducks. That coop can't fit a pond anyway and it's long and narrow for chickens. This is what I'm considering. This is what my son built when I'm outside with them until the coop comes in. It is completely covered with wire when they are in it so nothing can get in. They got in the water for the first time about 5 days ago for a quick warm bath but haven't been in it since as the weather has been cold and rainy. Today will be nice so I will put them in there today and watch them. I still have them in the house under a heat lamp but they do seem to get too hot so I turn it off. Thanks so much for your help too!

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/rugged-ranch-walk-in-pen-1180262

Ducks do need a "coop" of sorts, a shelter to be protected from the weather and predators. They don't roost or sleep all through the night like chickens but is still a necessity. I haven't looked at the link you sent, but the space requirements are 4sqft per duck in the coop and 10sqft-15sqft per duck in the run, but bigger is always better, especially for ducks. You can math it and see if whatever coop you bought will be big enough for your ducks.

A pond is not required for ducks to be happy. A lot of people use kiddie pools or large bowls and clean them out daily. My ducks were happy with this bowl I got from TSC (I think it was in the goat section?).

I think some of the other members talked about how to secure your coop, but you can do a search on here and find many articles and threads on how to do that.

That is what they are temporarily in, but the set up is about a foot longer and a few inches wider. A heat lamp is above it and water and food is on one side. I did read Mommy ducks replybabout feeding so I understand what I need to do and go buy the things I need. Do I need a bigger one? I bought the biggest TSC had at the time.

Bigger what?

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and a belated welcome to BYC.

 

[Honeybunny_3]

The brand you bought it fine, I've used plenty of times for my own babies. Four different bags of yeast seems a little excessive, don't you think? You don't need both brewers and nutritional yeast, so if you can, you could cancel/send some back. Or just keep them all and they'll eventually eat it.

Are you talking about the male to female ratio? If so, the general rule of thumb is 1 male : 3 females, but this number can really vary greatly. If you have multiple drakes you'll more likely need a ratio of 1:5-6, to prevent the ladies from being over mated.

Mixing breeds is perfectly fine, but from the picture all of yours appear to be Pekins.

Once ducklings are around 4 weeks old their voices start to change. Females are loud and make the distinctive Quack Quack! call. Males are quiter and have a raspy voice that sounds more like a whap whap.

Ducks do need a "coop" of sorts, a shelter to be protected from the weather and predators. They don't roost or sleep all through the night like chickens but is still a necessity. I haven't looked at the link you sent, but the space requirements are 4sqft per duck in the coop and 10sqft-15sqft per duck in the run, but bigger is always better, especially for ducks. You can math it and see if whatever coop you bought will be big enough for your ducks.

A pond is not required for ducks to be happy. A lot of people use kiddie pools or large bowls and clean them out daily. My ducks were happy with this bowl I got from TSC (I think it was in the goat section?). View attachment 3778626

I think some of the other members talked about how to secure your coop, but you can do a search on here and find many articles and threads on how to do that.

Bigger what?

Thank you so much for the info. I will calculate how big a coop I need. I already have 3 outside ponds on my property so I can build a wire coop around one of the ponds. Thank you for telling me about the hardware cloth too.

I was asking if I need a bigger inside container, but since someone already sai they are big enough to go outside I will move them into the temporary coop my son made, but I will bring them in at dusk. At what coldest outside temps can they be out there at this age? We get down into the 40° at night and 70's° or 80's° in the day right now. I'm guessing the are 2 to 3 weeks old. I have had them a week and 1/2. Yes I bought a lot but I can use it for my dogs for flea prevention. Brewer's yeast is great for that and South Texas is plagued with flea problems. Thanks for that info too.

Good morning, and a belated welcome to BYC.

Thank you!

 

[SilverBirds]

I was asking if I need a bigger inside container, but since someone already sai they are big enough to go outside I will move them into the temporary coop my son made, but I will bring them in at dusk. At what coldest outside temps can they be out there at this age? We get down into the 40° at night and 70's° or 80's° in the day right now. I'm guessing the are 2 to 3 weeks old. I have had them a week and 1/2. Yes I bought a lot but I can use it for my dogs for flea prevention. Brewer's yeast is great for that and South Texas is plagued with flea problems. Thanks for that info too.

I wouldn't let them get colder than 40F until they've feathered out more.

 

[Honeybunny_3]

I wouldn't let them get colder than 40F until they've feathered out more.

Oh wow, I didn't think they could be out if the temps were in the 50's°, much less 40's°. Thank you so much. It's 60° now so I will put them outside in a bit. THANK YOU so much!