I went to the store for more chicks, came back with ducks

[BallsEleven]

Long story short, I had been wanting ducks for a while but then my sister had an unexpected hatch of 15 chicks so we took in 8 of them. 4 ended up being male so I’ll get rid of them.

So went to the store for more chicks and now have 3 pekin ducklings because I couldn’t resist.

I’ve got the same heating pad under the brooder I used for the chicks. No medicated chick crumble.

The pen and coop should work for them. 4x8 coop with 8x8 pen running off. Lower to the ground so they won’t have to walk up a steep ramp.

Anything else I should be thinking about.

I can already tell I like the ducks more. I can hold them much more on day 1 than I have ever with the chicks (6 weeks old now).

They are goofy as all hell.Like standing in the water for no apparent reason. And nibbling at my hands like they a certain there is a treat in there somewhere.

 

[CindyinSD]

Congrats on your new ducklings! Be advised you will need lots of bedding! (I just hatched 13 Ancona & mixed about a month ago. So cute!)

 

[BallsEleven]

Idk! So far they seem to poop less than the chicks.

Of course that could be because the the chicks out number the ducks 3-1 haha

 

[Texag87]

Long story short, I had been wanting ducks for a while but then my sister had an unexpected hatch of 15 chicks so we took in 8 of them. 4 ended up being male so I’ll get rid of them.

So went to the store for more chicks and now have 3 pekin ducklings because I couldn’t resist.

I’ve got the same heating pad under the brooder I used for the chicks. No medicated chick crumble.

The pen and coop should work for them. 4x8 coop with 8x8 pen running off. Lower to the ground so they won’t have to walk up a steep ramp.

Anything else I should be thinking about.

I can already tell I like the ducks more. I can hold them much more on day 1 than I have ever with the chicks (6 weeks old now).

They are goofy as all hell.Like standing in the water for no apparent reason. And nibbling at my hands like they a certain there is a treat in there somewhere.

Pictures ?

 

[BallsEleven]

Pictures ?

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are precious

Some good information here https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ducks-sticky-topics-index.256233/

and since you have pekins this is especially important
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

 

[Ashmt51]

Ugh I wish my TSC would order more ducklings I wanted to get more but every hatchery has a min of like 10-15 and I only want 6 more tops... plus my husband might kill me if I order 15 ducks lol

 

[DuckyDonna]

@Miss Lydia sent you good links. Be sure to pick up the B-complex. It's very important for pekins to start on when they are young.

They are so cute! You will soon find out what a mess they make in their pen with their water. If you need pictures of waterers and feeders and other ideas to keep the mess down just let us know and we will send them to you. Also, a kiddle pool is a great brooder. Using puppy pads on top of pine shavings also makes for easy cleanup.

 

[BallsEleven]

They are precious

Some good information here https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ducks-sticky-topics-index.256233/

and since you have pekins this is especially important
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

Thanks for the heads up on the b complex. I’ll grab some today.

I’m assuming it’s for use with chickens too.

Pics of the chickens. Rhode Island RedxWhite Leghorn mix.

 

[Krobin8710]

Long story short, I had been wanting ducks for a while but then my sister had an unexpected hatch of 15 chicks so we took in 8 of them. 4 ended up being male so I’ll get rid of them.

So went to the store for more chicks and now have 3 pekin ducklings because I couldn’t resist.

I’ve got the same heating pad under the brooder I used for the chicks. No medicated chick crumble.

The pen and coop should work for them. 4x8 coop with 8x8 pen running off. Lower to the ground so they won’t have to walk up a steep ramp.

Anything else I should be thinking about.

I can already tell I like the ducks more. I can hold them much more on day 1 than I have ever with the chicks (6 weeks old now).

They are goofy as all hell.Like standing in the water for no apparent reason. And nibbling at my hands like they a certain there is a treat in there somewhere.

So agree with you about goofy ness of ducks. Sent son out for chicks came back with ducks. Gertrude, Howard, Panic and Run. Last two are aptly named.