Kentucky people

[shelleyd2008]

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[Mojo Chick'n]

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Ok, but puppy pads are ok? I got lots of puppy pads, went out and bought the BIG bag.

do ducks need grit?

My winter mix for the laying hens (well, every chicken that is outside) is chicken mash mixed with cracked corn mixed with a couple scoops (per 100 lbs.) of soybean meal (for higher protein) - do ducks have a problem with soybean meal? I'll look that up, if ya don't know. I need to get a book on ducks - and geese, too.


eta - just checked soybean meal is usually in duck starter - so it would be ok for them

 

[FrChuckW]

For a temporary pond, why not get one of those kiddie wading pools with the ramp built in to it if you can find one. That will hold them over for a while until the pond is dug. Then when you get the pond dug and the floating nest built, just cut the ramp out of the pool and attach it to the nest platform.

Much as I like the second pair of bantams, I can't have any roos at the moment.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I'm not sure about the soybean meal. Yes they do need grit, and they can't have seeds. They can have corn though, cracked or whole, doesn't matter. My outside ducks are getting nothing but corn right now, all this rain is washing their flock raiser away!
Is the mash layer mash? The ducks don't start laying till they are about 6 months old, so I don't think chicken mash would be good for them. Once they get to laying age they can eat layer all you want to give them. In the spring and summer they probably won't eat much if any of the feed you give them, if they have access to bugs, small fish, slugs, and things like that. I fed my outside ducks flock raiser from the time I got them, and they were about 3 or 4 weeks old. They are fine, If they get too much protein it can mess up their wings, causing them to grow too fast. I think they need about 24-28% protein as babies. Mine get about 20%. It's either that or medicated game bird starter, cause I can't find unmedicated anywhere. Oh yeah, and the brewer's yeast is probably not in the grocery section, it is a vitamin, so it would be in the pharmacy. I would think the pharmacies would have it, but I don't know if they would carry the flakes. But you can get a pill crusher for $3 at walmart that works pretty good.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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yeah, I may get a kiddie pool, would be easier for them to get in and out of than the water trough.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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I got some heavy reading to do on ducks before they come to live here

I got to go for a bit - need to go pick Jon up at work.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Oh, and the puppy pads are definitely okay!! I also bought the big bag, then went and bought another big bag!! The first is half gone already!! But since I put the milk jug waterer in there they don't make as near a mess. Mostly it is just their poo.

 

[shelleyd2008]

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You would still have to put them in something that is easy to clean. When they eat and drink, the stuff just flies everywhere! And God forbid they poo near the side!

You would definitely need something to catch that!

 

[cthrash1]

The guy I got mine from had some about 24 to 30X36ishX20H one end had the tub set down in a frame and the other end had the nest box and doors. He said they had to be in them during breeding season so the drakes could catch the ducks easier. Course my Khaki didn't have any problem the other day.

 

[shelleyd2008]

You haven't given any updates on 'the chicken formerly known as Dumpling' (

) is she still in the house? Oh, and does she think she is a superstar with THAT name?

(you know, like 'the artist formerly known as Prince', who was Prince, then wasn't, and now (as far as I know) is again?)