Khaki camble ducks

[1st time]

I have 4 females and 1 male. We did have 2 males but for an unknown reason he was found upside down in their pool (dead) about an hour after seeing what i thought was sleeping in the kiddie pool. The 1 male who died was the alpha male and never seen the 2 males fight or agressive to each other. I am new to raising ducks and am very excited about getting eggs. They were hatched about may 1st. Do they need a layer type of food like chickens? My ducks share a coop with 8 hens who are the same age and i dont have sggs at all. They all roam freely from sun up to sundown in the woods and also have a very small pond/creek made from a natural spring. Is there anything I need to give them food etc or is it too early to start seeing eggs?

 

[Carcajou]

Welcome to BYC!

They should start laying at 18-20 weeks.

I suggest a duck pellet ration for them. Purina FlockRaiser or equivalent can be used for both the ducks and chickens. You must be careful with giving ducks too much calcium like would be found in a chicken layer ration and also no medicated feed.

Check out the "stickys" on the duck forum header. There is also a The khaki-Campbell duck Thread !!!!!!!! you might want to check out.

Good luck!

 

[1st time]

Thank you much. Any info is good as I am a first timer.

 

[Carcajou]

We all were once first timers. You will learn as you go! Keep us posted and we all like to see photos!

 

[1st time]

Thanks for the advise. I will have to check out the layer I got. As the starter / grower I got was for both. I guess I will learn as I go.

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[1st time]

 

[1st time]

Carcajou, I just went out to check on my flock and put their food up. The brand I have is dunmor layer. On the back it says it's for chicken, duck, geese, quail and a couple others I can't remember. Do you know if this brand is ok as long as it states it covers both? I got the crumble. Is it better to have pellets instead of crumble? I have 2 feeders that I set out for them all day. I had my husband to build me a hut for their food to sit under.

 

[Carcajou]

Nice looking flock! And I like the feeder hutch too! It will help keep the food dry in rainy weather.

Layer feed is not good for ducks, it has too much calcium in it which can lead to health issues for them. Not at all good for their kidneys. I have mixed layer feed with regular duck pellets but at a ratio of 3 parts duck pellets to one part layer feed. But only when they needed a little extra calcium when eggshells were a little soft. Calcium level for laying ducks should be no more than 2.5-3%. I prefer pellets for adult ducks - it doesn't tend to clog their nostrils like crumble can but crumble is okay also. In either case they need plenty of drinking water. Ducks must drink alot when they are feeding.

What part of Virginia are you from? My mother's family all live near Crewe and Blackstone with some in Richmond.

 

[1st time]

Thank you. My husband built it. I told him i wanted it 4 ft by 4 ft and 3 ft high. I am in chesterfield about an hour from crewe. Ok the feed makes me concerned. We had 1 made duck to die. At about 6:45 am he appeared to be sleeping in the kiddie pool maybe 6 inches deep and an hour later he was found upside down dead. We were clueless. As we hade 2 but they never were agressive to each other. I have a natural spring and it has made a creek like stream that leads to another creek that feed a large pond. But don't think they have found the pond. The feed I currently use I'd dunmor layer and it says it is for chickens ducks geese etc so I thought it would be ok. I don't seporate them. They have been together since day 3. In the same coop etc. They roam all day. The funny thing is if the ducks walk off the chickens are right behind them. I think they have plenty of water supply.

 

[Carcajou]

Great that you have a natural spring, always fresh water for them. You might try Purina FlockRaiser or the Dumor equivalent (I think Purina makes the Dumor feed for Tractor Supply) and put out some ground oyster shell so the chickens can get the needed extra calcium. Birds don't usually eat any more oyster shell than they need, they seem to have a knack for that. If the Dumor layer ration is less than 3% calcium then you are okay. Often feeds will list a number of birds that can eat it but the calcium is important for ducks not to get too much of.

I am familiar with Chesterfield. My dad lives in Midlothian (Mom passed at Easter this year). I remember when I was a kid that area was all farmland. I also remember the days when Crewe had a huge Norfolk and Western rail yard. Used to watch those trains by the hour. I also vaguely remember the roundhouse where the steam locomotives were turned which means I am dating myself!

Have a great day!