Help! Newcomer to raising ducks!

[Biscuitchicken]

I started out with chickens last year. I plan on adding about 6 chickens to my flock, which I will put in a brooder. I also have a broody Copper Maran hen sitting on 9 eggs in the nest box inside the coop.

I've decided that I enjoy the chickens so much that I want to add a small flock of ducks as well. I have a small pond about 30 yards from chicken coop, so initial plan is once the ducks are old enough to go outside, they can sleep in a small box or doghouse on the ground inside the chicken run.

My biggest question is the basics of raising the ducks. I have pretty much settled on how to make my brooder and plan on doing that this evening. I saw a really good post a couple days ago on here which seemed to detail everything. Brooder needs, water, feed, all the way until they are released to the coop and water! I just can't find it now!

I would appreciate if anyone is familiar with this link to point me in the right direction, or if anyone knows the basics to let me know!

Thanks!

 

[buff goose guy]

get storey's guide to raising ducks book,

 

[Going Quackers]

Here is the forums guide to raising ducklings..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

Also as said Storey's guide is a good one too.

 

[Biscuitchicken]

That's the one I was looking for, thanks! I think I will buy that book too!

 

[Amiga]

There is also The Ultimate Pet Duck Guidebook. It is targeted more toward pet ducks. The new edition has a full section on medical concerns with illustrations of the different systems of a duck's body - cardiovascular, endocrine, skeletal . . . . I have a copy. Storey's Guide got me started, though, and between that and BYC Duck Forum, really really got us off on the right foot, I feel.

 

[Biscuitchicken]

Thanks! I'll check that out! I picked up my 4 ducks and 6 chicks yesterday and they are in their new home. Still working on getting a watering solution down for the ducks. First I had a just a tray in there while I got them all set up. Then i took a plastic butter bowl and cut 2 (what I thought) small holes. I was going to use that for the water container. Well, when I checked on them this morning, they were jumping in and out of the small holes!