I'm new at duck raising

[Ally2u4me]

Hi, I'm new a raising duckling so any advice is welcome.... I need all the support i can get... I have no ideal what i'm doing

 

[Ducks4us]

Hi! They are adorable
For feed- all flock raiser crumble.
Add brewers yeast or nutrional yeast. I add about a tablespoon to each bowl of feed. So prob around 1 1/2 cups of feed
Chick grit available. I also sprinkle a bit of this in each bowl or feed. Because they dont seem to eat it when its alone in a bowl. Or you can simply give dirt from your yard. Its to help digest feed.
Water bowls deep enough for them to dip their heads all the way. They need to be able to wash their face and clean out their nose.
And a heat lamp in one area with temps of maybe around 80 for the first week.
They dont like it too hot. But need to be able to warm up if they decide.
And the other side of their area/brooder should be much cooler. 65-70 so they can cool off
And have fun.
They will be messy and stinky but they are so worth it.
I have 13!
And spend time every day with them so they arent scared of you.
I give dried meal worms and peas for treats

 

[Ally2u4me]

Hi! They are adorable
For feed- all flock raiser crumble.
Add brewers yeast or nutrional yeast. I add about a tablespoon to each bowl of feed. So prob around 1 1/2 cups of feed
Chick grit available. I also sprinkle a bit of this in each bowl or feed. Because they dont seem to eat it when its alone in a bowl. Or you can simply give dirt from your yard. Its to help digest feed.
Water bowls deep enough for them to dip their heads all the way. They need to be able to wash their face and clean out their nose.
And a heat lamp in one area with temps of maybe around 80 for the first week.
They dont like it too hot. But need to be able to warm up if they decide.
And the other side of their area/brooder should be much cooler. 65-70 so they can cool off
And have fun.
They will be messy and stinky but they are so worth it.
I have 13!
And spend time every day with them so they arent scared of you.
I give dried meal worms and peas for treats

Thank you... Is your feed bil high lol

 

[Ducks4us]

Lol they are only 2 and 3 weeks old right now.
10- female runner ducklings that are 2 weeks old toda
3- khaki campbells- unsexed - 3 weeks old today.
I bought a 40 lb bag of flock raiser the day i brought home the khakis... and its not gone yet. But i imagine it will be 30-40 $ a month when they are adults.

 

[Ducks4us]

My first ducks a couple years ago were pekins and they ate a ton!!!!
But the runner ducks are only 4 ish lbs full grown. Pekins are arouns 8-10 lbs.
so its far less feed so far!

 

[Ally2u4me]

I have one perkin and one rouen but i want 2 more of something eles tho

 

[Ducks4us]

Is the picture your ducklings? That black one looks like cayuga- or possibly black runner? Hard to tell in the watee

 

[Ally2u4me]

Is the picture your ducklings? That black one looks like cayuga- or possibly black runner? Hard to tell in the watee

Yes... They said he was a rouen but he soild black with some yellow on his chest... He didnt look like the others with yellow strips going down him... I got them from ts...

 

[Ducks4us]

Oh yes if you search on here there are countless stories of tractor supply telling someone the wrong breed
Last year They told me mine where pekins or khakis.
And i ended up with a pekin, black swedish, buff, and two indian runners. Lol.
Rouens dont come in black. So its either a cayuga or a black runner.
Runner ducks stand really tall when they walk. So you will prob be able to tell in the next week or so

 

[Ducks4us]

Also, i let mine swim once a day. But never leave unattended. They arent waterproof yet so they will soak up the water and can get chilled if in for too long. So make sure after a swim they get under the heat and dried off