Just got 2 ducklings. Any advice?

[happy duck]

Ok nice. Even in a city?

Yeah! They will get used to sounds of cars and things. Make sure you have a pen for them to go in if you don’t have a fenced yard.

 

[wtusa1718]

Yeah! They will get used to sounds of cars and things. Make sure you have a pen for them to go in if you don’t have a fenced yard.

I live in a suburb so I have a big fenced in back yard. I’m still going to build them a nice secure enclosure. Are these guys easy to keep alive? I want them to live and grow up so bad and I don’t want to lose them. Any things I should or shouldn’t do to keep them alive?

 

[Angileen]

I live in a suburb so I have a big fenced in back yard. I’m still going to build them a nice secure enclosure. Are these guys easy to keep alive? I want them to live and grow up so bad and I don’t want to lose them. Any things I should or shouldn’t do to keep them alive?

yes, ducks are easy to raise. They have few health or disease problems.

 

[happy duck]

I live in a suburb so I have a big fenced in back yard. I’m still going to build them a nice secure enclosure. Are these guys easy to keep alive? I want them to live and grow up so bad and I don’t want to lose them. Any things I should or shouldn’t do to keep them alive?

For sure build an enclosure. Ducks are easy to keep alive. I have had 4 ducks for 2 years and haven’t lost one. The only major issue I had was bumble foot which is easily treatable so all went well. If they are kept safe, given the right kind of food, and have LOTS of water then they should be good. You sound like you are doing a great job!

 

[wtusa1718]

For sure build an enclosure. Ducks are easy to keep alive. I have had 4 ducks for 2 years and haven’t lost one. The only major issue I had was bumble foot which is easily treatable so all went well. If they are kept safe, given the right kind of food, and have LOTS of water then they should be good. You sound like you are doing a great job!

Ok good. I’ve heard people say hawks, cats, dogs and a duck choking on a leaf have killed ducklings. How could I prevent these from happening?

 

[happy duck]

Ok good. I’ve heard people say hawks, cats, dogs and a duck choking on a leaf have killed ducklings. How could I prevent these from happening?

I have 5 cats and 1 dog and all the ducks love the other animals but we can’t always assume this happen so just prepare for them to not each other. For my run I used 1 inch welded wire so that nothing could get in and then put chicken wire around the edge of the run(on the ground) so nothing could dig under. I used poultry netting for the roof and takcked it to the wood frame and welded wire. Here is a link to my blog were I talk about how I built my run and coop. Hopefully it is some help. The happiestduck.wordpress.com. About the leaf just make sure they don’t go out until they are fully feathered. By then they should no wha is good and what is not.

 

[wtusa1718]

I have 5 cats and 1 dog and all the ducks love the other animals but we can’t always assume this happen so just prepare for them to not each other. For my run I used 1 inch welded wire so that nothing could get in and then put chicken wire around the edge of the run(on the ground) so nothing could dig under. I used poultry netting for the roof and takcked it to the wood frame and welded wire. Here is a link to my blog were I talk about how I built my run and coop. Hopefully it is some help. The happiestduck.wordpress.com. About the leaf just make sure they don’t go out until they are fully feathered. By then they should no wha is good and what is not.

Ok so just watch them carefully and make sure their enclosure is secure and I should be fine?

 

[happy duck]

Ok so just watch them carefully and make sure their enclosure is secure and I should be fine?

Yeah that’s about it! And because you have a fenced yard( I think you said that) you should be good!

 

[wtusa1718]

Yeah that’s about it! And because you have a fenced yard( I think you said that) you should be good!

Ok I do. Should I worry about hawks or anything and how do I stop them from hunting my ducks?

 

[happy duck]

Ok I do. Should I worry about hawks or anything and how do I stop them from hunting my ducks?

I was very worried about hawks when I started letting my ducks free range(out of there pen) but I haven't had any problems with them...not to say but they do happen...especially eagles! For the pen make sure there is poultry netting on the top so that no hawks can get in. When they free range I wouldn't worry that much because you are in the city. But if there are hawks there isn't really anything you can do. The only thing I think of is to be outside with them when they free range but if you are going to let them out of there pen all day that is prob not an option for you. I used to be outside with mine the whole time but they are really are okay and I looked out the window every once in a while to check on them. What is your ducks breed? Bigger ducks won't be much of a target. I have a pekin and 3 buffs. I have seen hawks and some have swooped down but the ducks whenever feel threatened stand really still or run in the pen where they know they have safety. I don't know if the link I sent up top worked here is a link to my article on BYC of my run so you can get some ideas of what to use for netting: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/happy-ducks-coop-and-run.74198/