Indian Runners

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
Well, what do you think a "pet duck" is? Runners are pretty flightly too, they don't fly that is one big difference, but my madarins go about their business in the aviary much better than the runners when I have to go in there. As long as I don't chase them that is...

Fermale ducks quack and when they do - they are loud. So if you just want some pets, get two males. Problem solved.

 

[Dances with Ducks]

I have three Runners in suburban setting, two males and one female. I wasn't sure how loud they would be but took a chance. The female quacked a lot more when she was younger, now she very rarely does, like if I separate another duck overnight, she runs out of her house the next morning, looks around and quacks until I produce the one that was missing. I've learned it's best to let her out last. Her quacking is louder than my other hens, who are different breeds. In fact I named her after a famous singer who has a song about demanding respect! She does make some really cute cackeling sorts of noises like when she finds food, either something in the grass or her pellets in the bowl. She isn't as friendly to me as the males, she's harder to pick up and usually doesn't get to close to me out in the yard.

The males are another story! No loud noises at all. They are really curious and follow me around pretty closely, and one loves to kinda peck me on the back of my leg. It doesn't hurt, but I was told some ducks give little nips that way. My guys are pretty easy to pick up and sometimes rest their head against me as I carry them. If you just want pets and no eggs you should get males.

I didn't warn most of my adjacent neighbors before I got them, hoping they wouldn't notice. Well, Duh! Two different families came up to us and told us they LOVE our ducks. Another said she thought she heard them but couldn't tell where the noise was comiing from, she had tried having chickens many years before but when her rooster crowed she had to get rid of them. I was lucky, all these people grew up on farms, and we are not in some expensive convenant community.

15 square feet per duck for a duck yard is probably OK according to Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, although free ranging a Runner Duck is best because they really do love to run and also to forage.

 

[sandspoultry]

I just listed some on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320318720504&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=011

Thanks,
S and S Poultry
Sharon

 

[Roosterboy]

Quote:
Well, what do you think a "pet duck" is? Runners are pretty flightly too, they don't fly that is one big difference, but my madarins go about their business in the aviary much better than the runners when I have to go in there. As long as I don't chase them that is...

Fermale ducks quack and when they do - they are loud. So if you just want some pets, get two males. Problem solved.

Can i keep two males in with chicken hens?

 

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
Well, what do you think a "pet duck" is? Runners are pretty flightly too, they don't fly that is one big difference, but my madarins go about their business in the aviary much better than the runners when I have to go in there. As long as I don't chase them that is...

Fermale ducks quack and when they do - they are loud. So if you just want some pets, get two males. Problem solved.

Can i keep two males in with chicken hens?

Well I only have one chicken right now and she just sits up on a post and does a whole lot of nothing, so I don't see why not. Mine is actually in the barn with the geese and donkeys and not the ducks, but she doesn't really interact with them - just watches from her post.

Edit to say - soem people have trouble with their drakes trying to mate with the chickens - but I don't have that trouble.

 

[Roosterboy]

Quote:
Can i keep two males in with chicken hens?

Well I only have one chicken right now and she just sits up on a post and does a whole lot of nothing, so I don't see why not. Mine is actually in the barn with the geese and donkeys and not the ducks, but she doesn't really interact with them - just watches from her post.

Edit to say - soem people have trouble with their drakes trying to mate with the chickens - but I don't have that trouble.

Do you have female runners with them though?

 

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
Well I only have one chicken right now and she just sits up on a post and does a whole lot of nothing, so I don't see why not. Mine is actually in the barn with the geese and donkeys and not the ducks, but she doesn't really interact with them - just watches from her post.

Edit to say - soem people have trouble with their drakes trying to mate with the chickens - but I don't have that trouble.

Do you have female runners with them though?

Yes, all my ducks are together in a large aviary.

 

[nettie]

i currently have two indian runners, one brown, one fawn and white. The brown onw is female and the other is supposedly male. (he's much larger but has a louder quack, but since they are both under 4 months old i don't know for sure yet.) Mine are very hysterical and love runner around and doing silly things, but they can be REALLY skittish... mine are afriad of anything big and blue (their kiddie pool, me wearing anything blue for clothing, the sky.. lo lj/k) they are easily frighten when you approach them, but once you pick them up they are quite friendly. My male will run from me, but once i get him, he likes to lie on his back and have his head pet. the best way to get them to trust you and come near you is PEAS! they just love em. I've even managed to train them some helpful tricks with peas, like holding still when i need to examine them, or sitting down when they need to go into their carrier cage. My bnrown one in quite fiesty and has been since birth, doesn'yt like to be picked up but will sit/stand on your knee if you sit by her... it seems most ducks won't do what you want them to until you make them do it, they are content ether way. i live in a town house with a small shared backyard and no one ever complains about the3 noise level, but they can get loud when they are de,manding something.

Over all it's been a great experience raising them and i can't wait til the eggs come! (i'm allerigic to chicken eggs, hence why we got the runners). I''ll admit mine are a bit spoiled, they have a kiddie pool, a nice warm shelter, plenty of bugs to eat, treats like peas and the occasional spaghetti noodle, and a whole slew of "toys" to get them busy (like ferret balls, that have bells in them, or a small hanging basket i put lettuce in, oh and the plasrtic tub i filled with dirt that i stock with worms for dabbing.) they keep busy and are generally really happy and lovely to have around