I can get ducks!!

[Bridger Davis]

Aww looks like you've got a female black swedish and a male Rouen...? I might be off on the male, because I don't see a white ring around the neck...

Wait no that male is definitely a khaki cambell as well.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I recommend picking up a copy of the book, Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks. It's full of great information and you'll have it to reference for years to come!

Agreed! I read it through twice before getting my ducklings the first time and I was better prepared.

 

[Bridger Davis]

Agreed! I read it through twice before getting my ducklings the first time and I was better prepared.

I'm in the library right now; I'll grab a copy!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Aww glad to hear! I have looked at Metzers website, but I am shying away from the mail order ducklings. I just talked to a lady at a local feed store and ordered four ducklings... 2 Cayuga, one Rouen, and one swedish. SO EXCITED!!! They arrive at the store next Friday!

Good choice of ducks! They are all in the same weight class, my light-weight Indian Runners are a bit afraid of the White Layer "tanks" - but hey it's their own fault, they were nasty to the new ducks first, now they get their payback…
I had Cayugas on my list too, i love their beetle-green feathers and would enjoy some black eggs, but my wife doesn't like black ducks.

Thanks for all your concerns! I can see you really care about ducks!! To answer your questions, most of the preparations have been made besides a last trip to TSC. I have talked to my friend and she agreed to watch and take care of them when I leave. And yes, they have a beautiful roomy area outside where they will be safe as soon as they outgrow their brooder. (BTW, in your experience, how many weeks until they outgrow their brooder?) I just now found a great place that has presexed the ducklings so I will guarantee that they are all 4 females. The breeds have been decided, as you'll notice in my response to casportpony. Thanks for the breed info though! I can understand your concerns about the ducklings in chain stores and everything, but I trust and personally know the employees at this local feed store that I just ordered from, and while that doesn't guarantee anything, I still know what to look for in ducklings health wise, and Ive seen how well they take care of their ducklings and chicks before. I LOVE the pictures, so thanks for sharing!! I will DEFINITELY have fun with my ducks! Thanks so much!!

Congtratulations! You may have found the only farm store in the country with caring employees. Just got back from town and saw dying turkey chicks in one of the stock tanks. Empty waterers, empty feeders and it was almost closing time.

My ducklings outgrew their kiddie pool brooder after two weeks, but that was mostly because of having 14 (fourteen) ducklings at once. I have a Google-spreadsheet in which you can see how fast the ducklings gained weight.
They spent another two weeks in the garage card-board and tarp brooder - easy to build if you need one, just look into the spring-duckling's album.
Finally they spent another 1½ weeks in a little duck-house with patio before i released them in the middle of a heavy snowfall, just at an age of 5½ weeks:

I'm sure you will have a lot of fun with your duckies. Enjoy every moment! They grow so terrible fast, before you know they quack. And please let us participate, we all love pictures and videos from sweet little ducklings…

 

[Bridger Davis]

Good choice of ducks! They are all in the same weight class, my light-weight Indian Runners are a bit afraid of the White Layer "tanks" - but hey it's their own fault, they were nasty to the new ducks first, now they get their payback…
I had Cayugas on my list too, i love their beetle-green feathers and would enjoy some black eggs, but my wife doesn't like black ducks.


Congtratulations! You may have found the only farm store in the country with caring employees. Just got back from town and saw dying turkey chicks in one of the stock tanks. Empty waterers, empty feeders and it was almost closing time.

My ducklings outgrew their kiddie pool brooder after two weeks, but that was mostly because of having 14 (fourteen) ducklings at once. I have a Google-spreadsheet in which you can see how fast the ducklings gained weight.
They spent another two weeks in the garage card-board and tarp brooder - easy to build if you need one, just look into the spring-duckling's album.
Finally they spent another 1½ weeks in a little duck-house with patio before i released them in the middle of a heavy snowfall, just at an age of 5½ weeks:

I'm sure you will have a lot of fun with your duckies. Enjoy every moment! They grow so terrible fast, before you know they quack. And please let us participate, we all love pictures and videos from sweet little ducklings…

Sorry for your bad experience with the feed stores!! Sound horrible!! Your spreadsheet is impressive as well! I suppose I'll have to see how large my ducks get and just eyeball when I will put them outside, since there's no telling 100% when they will outgrow my brooders.... Oh, and I will probably update with pictures every 15 seconds once I get them

 

[Duckworth]

We had really good luck with special ordering through our local Orscheln store. It’s the livestock manager that really matters. I hope your ducks arrive safe and sound!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Sorry for your bad experience with the feed stores!! Sound horrible!! Your spreadsheet is impressive as well! I suppose I'll have to see how large my ducks get and just eyeball when I will put them outside, since there's no telling 100% when they will outgrow my brooders.... Oh, and I will probably update with pictures every 15 seconds once I get them

Can't wait to see cute ducklings again!

 

[Bridger Davis]

Hello everyone! Just got a 30 oz bag of mealworms at TSC, and I am wondering if you are able to give day old ducklings mealworms (as treats only) ?? Thanks!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Hello everyone! Just got a 30 oz bag of mealworms at TSC, and I am wondering if you are able to give day old ducklings mealworms (as treats only) ?? Thanks!

If you want to keep all your fingers, don't even think about trying it!
Sure, they can eat mealworms but don't give them too much, if they come back out at the other end of the duckling they smell really, really bad!

 

[Bridger Davis]

If you want to keep all your fingers, don't even think about trying it!
Sure, they can eat mealworms but don't give them too much, if they come back out at the other end of the duckling they smell really, really bad!

best. Reply. Ever. thanks ! Hey I got a bathtub today for their pool!! Pictures to come!!