How long till a runner reaches it's full size?

[RareFeathers]

i have had a pair of runners from the local feedstore, and i have raised them since they were about 3 weeks, and now they are about 4 and a half months old. they looked normal size, but i recently got 6 more from a local breeder, and they were, according to the breeder, fully grown. and my original runners are roughly 3 quarters the size of the new ones. are they going to grow any more, or have i not been feeding them enough or the right food?

thanks,
james

 

[duckyfromoz]

Hi James, It could be that your " feed store" ducks arent as good a quality runner as the ones from a breeder. Different bloodlines mean that although essentially Runners- they may vary great in height and weight due to cross breeding . Your ones may always be just a little smaller. Just out of interest- are you talking about white or coloured runners?

Also - What have you been feeding them ?? I use barastock mostly - Starter- grower and pellets - but will also add some grain or seeds to it- as well as then foraging and getting fresh cut fruit and vegetables each day. Do they have constant access to food - or just a feed morning and night?

 

[RareFeathers]

All the ducks i got from the breeder were harlequins, except for 1 blue and 1 fawn. i fed my feed store runners barastock chick starter for the first 3 months, then i moved them on to golden yolk, as several people i know feed them golden yolk or darling downs layer by that age. while they were on starter, i fed them in the morning and at night when i put them in, but once i moved them onto different rations, i had moved them out, and they were given constant access to food and water. would this have affected them?

 

[duckyfromoz]

Sounds like a fairly normal feed regime to me.. I think maybe its just that your feed store runners may be of lessor quality. At 4 and a half months mine are pretty much full grown with maybe only another inch or two grown after that. Seasons and temperture can effect growth- but you have raised them over spring / summer- so that wouldnt be an issue in your case.

You dont by any chance have any photos do you?? I would love to see someone elses Harlequin Runners. Apart from my own I have only ever seen one other at a show- and photos from another breeder.- Happy to give you an email address if you would rather that way. Also happy to show you some of mine as well if you like.

 

[RareFeathers]

that would be great. could you send me a PM with your email? the few months i had them september-january were pretty cold here in tamworth (around about 19 degrees celcius to 25 degrees) would that have been it?

 

[duckyfromoz]

That is cool for a Tamworth Summer. It could account in part- but not to extent that you have said the difference is.

Pm Sent... And just because I have a heap on here already

I love my Harlequins. This is an old pic. But my girls have just about finished their molting but my boys still look a little plain- so I havent taken any of them for a while...just heps of the babies..