I rescued ducks and I don't know anything!

[tiki]

Hi there. I am new posting here, but I have lurked many times and found great information when I was new at chicken-keeping. We have 6 hens. I have been dreaming of getting a few ducks for a year now, but just have not done it. A few days ago, a friend rescued two young mallard ducks from a stupid college student who had them living in his bathtub. She had to get rid of them asap, so I took them. We have a chicken coop, and are hoping to keep them in the coop at night and free range during the day (as the chickens do), although we could build them something else if we have to. We do go out of town and leave the chickens alone occasionally - so I wonder if I will be able to leave them in a coop all day for a weekend or so with the chickens? Before that, however, I have some immediate questions. I know nothing about keeping chickens. I don't know how old they are, but they do have their feathers.

They both have droopy wings, meaning that the wings are not neatly tucked into their body as duck wings usually are. What is this and is it a problem? My friend thought that they were not getting a proper diet.

Should I be feeding them something other than just duck food?

I am going to go out and buy them a pool tomorrow. How do I drain it? I want to drain it into the garden with a hose. Is there some kind of suction thing that I can use to draw the water into the hose?

Are they hard to catch at night to take into the coop? Are there any tricks?

Is there anything else that I should know? I would normally do a lot of research and figure this stuff out beforehand, but it is too late for that now. I have them in a dog carrier in my bathroom because I didn't want to introduce them to the chickens when I got them home tonight. I am going to try that tomorrow. Any advice for introducing them to the chickens?

Any help would be really appreciated. I know nothing about ducks.

 

[HooverHenHouse]

here's my advice, take what you want, forgot about what you don't agree with. I am sort of new to ducks-Had them as a child, and now have 2 two week old ducklings.

-let them calm down, and get a little use to you before introducing them to so many new things, within days of being passed around they may get to stressed...introducing them to chickens may just add to that.
-There is some vitamins you could give them to make sure their getting all the needed nutrition, someone else may be better telling you exaclty what.
-Ducks love peas, many use those as treats at first, and a way to get them into the pen at night.
-Posting a picture would really help inditfying the wing problem, Could be an akward tenage stage, or an injury from being raised in a bath tub.
-Make sure they have a source of water they can deep their whole beak into (I use a small dog dish)
-Are they both male, female? If they have their feathers you should tell by color, if not do they both quack, or do they make more of a growl (male). Want to consider that when it comes to them breeding.
-If Mallards (and not roens common from feed stores, and look like mallards) they can fly. If their pets you may want to look into trimming wings so they can not take off.
-grit is another thing to offer, if they are on crumbles, they should be okay without this, If your giving them greens this is essential. What food do you have them on? A duck grower/starter would be your best bet. They do make feed safe for chickens and ducks.

 

[HooverHenHouse]

Another piece of advice, try putting the carrier outside near the chickens so they can have a chance to get a little acclimated. Not sure how your chickens are, my RIR is a noisy brat, who needs time to adjust to new things,and check them out. My silkies don't give much thought to anything.