INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Indyshent]

Question: will ducks adopt other ducklings? I've been taking the Muscovy duckling out or the"play pen" I'm the yard, and as soon as o do the female goes wild! She is of breeding age, barely, but could she just want some babies that nap, or if she sees they aren't Perkins she'll kill them?

Umm, in my experience, ducks are perhaps the easiest acceptors of babies into their midst--even if they don't adopt them. For the most part, ducks prefer the company of ANY other duck to being alone. She might just be excited to see other ducks. Mallard-derived breeds like Pekins may have the Call Duck Effect, so to speak. Call ducks were bred to be tiny and make baby duck noises, pretty much, and they were extremely effective at luring other ducks (wild mallards) to them that their use in hunting is illegal pretty much everywhere now. If the baby is alone or making a distress call, it'll likely summon other ducks to it (that's the purpose of the call). While ducks can be bullies to each other, you most likely have nothing to worry about it. Drakes are far, far more likely to pose a problem through bullying, rape and/or drowning other birds.

Chickens and turkeys are far more likely to kill strange babies or harass them within an inch of their lives than ducks, who as a rule, recognize that they don't have sharp beaks or teeth. Bad mother ducks will allow their babies to die, and drakes might drown or rape ducks or juvenile birds, but otherwise, I've never seen ducks do more than tug on some feathers and make noise. So long as you don't have too many boys, you're already 98% okay regarding violent ducks.

I have seen the presence of ducklings incite a rash of broodiness among ducks, who may not adopt the ones they're given but will likely try to hatch their own.

 

[Leahs Mom]

She looks like she may have some EE in the mix?

 

[Lengerich Farms]

Umm, in my experience, ducks are perhaps the easiest acceptors of babies into their midst--even if they don't adopt them. For the most part, ducks prefer the company of ANY other duck to being alone. She might just be excited to see other ducks. Mallard-derived breeds like Pekins may have the Call Duck Effect, so to speak. Call ducks were bred to be tiny and make baby duck noises, pretty much, and they were extremely effective at luring other ducks (wild mallards) to them that their use in hunting is illegal pretty much everywhere now. If the baby is alone or making a distress call, it'll likely summon other ducks to it (that's the purpose of the call). While ducks can be bullies to each other, you most likely have nothing to worry about it. Drakes are far, far more likely to pose a problem through bullying, rape and/or drowning other birds. 

Chickens and turkeys are far more likely to kill strange babies or harass them within an inch of their lives than ducks, who as a rule, recognize that they don't have sharp beaks or teeth. Bad mother ducks will allow their babies to die, and drakes might drown or rape ducks or juvenile birds, but otherwise, I've never seen ducks do more than tug on some feathers and make noise. So long as you don't have too many boys, you're already 98% okay regarding violent ducks. 

I have seen the presence of ducklings incite a rash of broodiness among ducks, who may not adopt the ones they're given but will likely try to hatch their own. 

I tried the female by herself first and she wasn't having it because she wanted to Boo haha. So I built a small pen using the last of my chicken wire and put it around the kiddie pool I had originally set up for the Pekins before they decided they liked the pond one block over and six houses down better

The male is actually the one that matches them all to the water to bathe. It was kinda cute, with "mama" following behind. I'm thinking my ducklings are split 2/2 m/f so I may have to find a third female for the drake, hopefully same age range 2.5-3 weeks now, but that's down the road a ways until we can figure it out. The Pekins are going to my cousin in ft. Wayne, but they've finally served a purpose here besides novelty and intrusion alarm

 

[Lengerich Farms]

forgot to post the feeder I made for the "kids". Opening was going to be smaller but the blade ran away on me LOL. @Indyshent
If I notice any mist treatment from the Drake to the ducklings he will quickly become dinner. He was originally supposed to be Thanksgiving dinner in the first place but then I'll just be giving thanks that he's no longer hurting my baby ducks

 

[Lengerich Farms]

Wis I could post a video..... All six ducks are Much happier, and quieter, since being put in together

 

[pbirdhaven]

Wow--I haven't been on all summer. The frequent rains have kept me busy moving pens and rescuing birds from the mud. Here in Jennings county the ground is nothing but hard clay and doesn't drain off easily. I've moved pens so much that my back yard area is bare ground except for pigweed; the grass doesn't want to return in the clay.
Which brings me to a question--has anyone tried pea gravel in the outside pens? I know that several have used wood chips successfully, but with the way the ground holds water, I worry about mold.
Last weekend I had sent in my entries for the shows in Bath NY, but Friday morning went out to check damage from the Thursday night storms and found carnage in my pen of golden comets--3 dead and 2 more mortally wounded. I assumed raccoons and figured my collie who usually protects everything was cowering in the shed because of the thunder. Moved the survivors and set a trap. The next night lost a Cochin cockerel in a coop not 100 feet from the deck and a motion light--tore off his head through the bars. The 3rd night 2 Marians pullets through the chain link fence. Nothing in the trap or the marshmallows eaten.
The 4th night the varmint erred and pulled a loose chain-link gate over on himself. He is now resting quietly at Utopia Wildlife

Refuge. It was dark, so doesn't show up well--a great horned.

 

[Faraday40]

Wow--I haven't been on all summer. The frequent rains have kept me busy moving pens and rescuing birds from the mud. Here in Jennings county the ground is nothing but hard clay and doesn't drain off easily. I've moved pens so much that my back yard area is bare ground except for pigweed; the grass doesn't want to return in the clay.
Which brings me to a question--has anyone tried pea gravel in the outside pens? I know that several have used wood chips successfully, but with the way the ground holds water, I worry about mold.
Last weekend I had sent in my entries for the shows in Bath NY, but Friday morning went out to check damage from the Thursday night storms and found carnage in my pen of golden comets--3 dead and 2 more mortally wounded. I assumed raccoons and figured my collie who usually protects everything was cowering in the shed because of the thunder. Moved the survivors and set a trap. The next night lost a Cochin cockerel in a coop not 100 feet from the deck and a motion light--tore off his head through the bars. The 3rd night 2 Marians pullets through the chain link fence. Nothing in the trap or the marshmallows eaten.
The 4th night the varmint erred and pulled a loose chain-link gate over on himself. He is now resting quietly at Utopia Wildlife
Refuge. It was dark, so doesn't show up well--a great horned.

Very, very sad for all those losses.

However, it must have been cool to see that owl close up. I think the shadow on the back of the cage is a neat effect. Glad you were able to protect both the owl & your flock.

 

[HelloChickies]

"The pic below was supposed to be of the lav orp, but Precious thought she deserved the spotlight."





Total Photobomb! Great picture! I love it!

 

[Lengerich Farms]

Wow--I haven't been on all summer. The frequent rains have kept me busy moving pens and rescuing birds from the mud. Here in Jennings county the ground is nothing but hard clay and doesn't drain off easily. I've moved pens so much that my back yard area is bare ground except for pigweed; the grass doesn't want to return in the clay.
Which brings me to a question--has anyone tried pea gravel in the outside pens? I know that several have used wood chips successfully, but with the way the ground holds water, I worry about mold.
Last weekend I had sent in my entries for the shows in Bath NY, but Friday morning went out to check damage from the Thursday night storms and found carnage in my pen of golden comets--3 dead and 2 more mortally wounded. I assumed raccoons and figured my collie who usually protects everything was cowering in the shed because of the thunder. Moved the survivors and set a trap. The next night lost a Cochin cockerel in a coop not 100 feet from the deck and a motion light--tore off his head through the bars. The 3rd night 2 Marians pullets through the chain link fence. Nothing in the trap or the marshmallows eaten.
The 4th night the varmint erred and pulled a loose chain-link gate over on himself. He is now resting quietly at Utopia Wildlife

Refuge. It was dark, so doesn't show up well--a great horned.

Sorry about all those lost birds!
My raccoons have been taking he bait but not eating the trap. At least their
Leaving my flock alone. I'm interested I the Pea gravel too,
As
Where our coop
Is doesn't drain well,
And there is now where at the time to move it to.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Wow--I haven't been on all summer. The frequent rains have kept me busy moving pens and rescuing birds from the mud. Here in Jennings county the ground is nothing but hard clay and doesn't drain off easily. I've moved pens so much that my back yard area is bare ground except for pigweed; the grass doesn't want to return in the clay.
Which brings me to a question--has anyone tried pea gravel in the outside pens? I know that several have used wood chips successfully, but with the way the ground holds water, I worry about mold.
Last weekend I had sent in my entries for the shows in Bath NY, but Friday morning went out to check damage from the Thursday night storms and found carnage in my pen of golden comets--3 dead and 2 more mortally wounded. I assumed raccoons and figured my collie who usually protects everything was cowering in the shed because of the thunder. Moved the survivors and set a trap. The next night lost a Cochin cockerel in a coop not 100 feet from the deck and a motion light--tore off his head through the bars. The 3rd night 2 Marians pullets through the chain link fence. Nothing in the trap or the marshmallows eaten.
The 4th night the varmint erred and pulled a loose chain-link gate over on himself. He is now resting quietly at Utopia Wildlife
Refuge. It was dark, so doesn't show up well--a great horned.

We have one here, and it got a mixed cockerel friday night. I know it was an owl due to the carcass hanging from a tree limb. Great you were able to take it to a refuge! I am sorry to hear of your losses.
We are fighting mud here too. We are raising all the coops, and putting wire bottoms on. everything I have tried failed, so its our last attempt a keeping birds clean and dry..and safe!