I WANT DUCKS!- Total Newbie *EDIT GOT SOME DUCKLINGS!Yay!*

[snowhorse]

I like the idea of imprinting....and it seems like they would be more likely to stick around then having to train them as adults.

 

[snowhorse]

Also,

How big does the building the get kept in at night need to be? Is it the same as chickens or less, because they spend alot less time in there?

I am considering 6 ducks, a pair of each kind.

 

[duckling 1234]

I like to give my ducks as much space as possible. Just build the biggest pen you can. Also, include ventilation.... Ducks have got to be the messiest creatures on earth.

 

[Wokawidget]

Runners a good layers, as are Campbells.
My white campbell has only missed 3 days in 6 months...come snow, shine or malting. Egg everyday before 7:30am...like clockwork.
She's also very friendly.

I am getting a runner so that my campbell has a friend and so I can laugh anytime I look into the garden.

Woka

 

[snowhorse]

Did anybody see this thread on banning Muscovies??

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=304055

looks like it will be Runners and Cayuga's for me

I really liked the chocolate Scovies too

What color do Campbells come in?

 

[Wokawidget]

Campbells come in white, kahki and brown I think.

Woka

 

[dieselgrl48]

If you want a basic duck Pekin's or Rouen.Other standard's like muscovie's,Standard crested's swede's, buff are great.I really wouldn't recommend call's if you have other large wild duck's etc.I cut my entire flock last summer to 2 standard drake's will trying to introduce the call duck's because they will try to mate them and can possibly kill a smaller hen.My call's were very tame would fly a little but Always went back to their area at night.I had toulouse geese adult's but they were raised as gosling's with the duck's but never had any wild geese or duck's allowed to mix with my tame flock and they alway's slept same large 2 pen area but open for free range at night and never had any problems.If you plan to totaly free range and not pen your duck's domesticated mallard's are colorful and can fly away somewhat from predator's.Im loving the 2 my brother gifted me in early Nov. They are friendly and very smart and everyone says they are handsome looking drakes.

 

[duckling 1234]

You can still get muscovies.... Just get them before March 31st and don't tell anyone your hatching them.... What are they gonna do?

 

[snowhorse]

So I did it!

I bought 3 adorable Khaki Campbells at a swap this weekend. I think I went over 6 times before I finally just bought them and I couldn't be happier.

They are down right hilarious. I am starting to think they are more entertaining than my chickens!

I will take pictures tomorrow. They are young, not sure how old, but they don't have feathers yet just fluff.

Question:

Can they live in the same brooder with my chicks?

Only thing is, my chicks are on medicated crumbles right now, and I bought game crumbles for the ducks......I don't know if they can all eat the same stuff or not...

Right now I have them separated by chickenwire so they have their own half of the brooder, own feed and own water.

 

[snowhorse]

Oh and also

how soon are you able to tell whether or not they are drakes or females?

And if I find scovies will they all get along okay?