Khaki Campbell

[Nsampsel]

I just got a crested kahki, a black runner, a b&w magpie & a blue swedish to go with my 2 mallards. The mallies are about 8 weeks old & the rest maybe a week. My mallies have been outside since about 4 weeks old. I put them in with my 1/2 grown chickens 1st to make sure they were warm enuf at night. The ducks took 1 nest box & the chicks took the other 5. There really wasn't any fussing or anything cuz they had all been around each other quite a bit before I put them in together. Of course, they were the only ones I had to go lift into the coop at night (they didn't care for the ramp) & they were the first out in the morning when the coop hatch was opened (had no problem going down the ramp). Once I completed my duck pen, 1 side of which is connected to the chicken coop, they did just fine going in & out of their duck box at ground level on their own. They have been perfectly warm & cozy & our weather here in Ohio is just as crazy as the weather up there. We have had everything from close to 80F clear down to 30's since they went out. As long as they are mostly feathered & you have adequate shelter they will do fine.

 

[GrannyCarol]

I still have two of the three I got from Holderreads some 8 years ago. They are still beautiful and healthy. I like the breed, though I have others that I like better (mostly because of fancier colors!). Enjoy!

 

[Willem81]

Mine is very pretty and very smart. She doesn't like to be caught or held but will sit quietly if you give her peas.

I have a cattle dog too. She's being a pain in the ***** around the ducklings.

I have a cattle dog as well. Just got my first two ducklings. The cattle dog is great for pushing the chickens around the yard and keeping them in line, but anything small he tries to put his mouth around. Once they are bigger, Kodie tends to just push and move, not snack.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

We love our Khakis, as adults the flock free ranges all day long and returns to their house at night. The entire property is fenced in as well so they don't wonder off of what is ours. Excellent buggers, wonderful layers, out performing chickens. Not a lap duck, but will come running when a feed bucket is in hand or shaken.

 

[uchytil]

I have a cattle dog as well. Just got my first two ducklings. The cattle dog is great for pushing the chickens around the yard and keeping them in line, but anything small he tries to put his mouth around. Once they are bigger, Kodie tends to just push and move, not snack.

A tad off subject, but back on in a sec...My ACD is a rescue. She was abandoned at a National Park area that we put in to Kayak a river. Anyway, to make a long story short a guy I met called me and said he'd tied her to a tree and left a note with my name saying I'd pick her up. Whoa, so I go back there and she's growly snarly until I kick a teniis ball by her, after that she was my dog (oh no!). She's was estimated to be just under a year old. Now on to the duck. I don't free range my chickens and other ducks for various reasons. My new batch of RIR layers and one KC duck are planned to free range. I had the duck on my floor today for some bonding and all was well until the duck decides to get a little faster scooting around. That's all the ACD needed to get in action. Mt voice command kept her from doing anything "bad" and all was well. I hope I can get the ACD to learn not to damage chickens and ducks. I do know she has killed a squirrel, or two. Usually when turkeys, or deer, come into the field she only chases what she can see, after movement is gone she stops. Turkeys fly into trees, deer are gone before she even gets to the treeline. I have my work cut out I guess? So, beside duck ideas how about ACD ideas?

Thanks, John

 

[wildpeas]

My ACD was a Craigslist dog. Turns out she has seizures. She is 2 years now. Her main issue is she loves to chase birds. Any kind of bird. She also chases airplanes. The biggest problem right now is she gets too focused on the ducklings when they are outside and ignores her back off command. She tries to keep them all together when we are walking from the house to the yard but sometimes she tries to take them in a direction I dont want them to go. There hasn't been any biting but I dont quite trust her so either she is locked out of the yard or is right by my side all the time that the ducks are out. I think she will get better about it but I dont trust her enough to let my ducks free range. We are going to fence in the orchard for them.

 

[uchytil]

My ACD has OCD, ha ha. She does the spinning thing quite a bit but mostly if I start talking to soemone else. I hope I can teach her to mellow just a TAD.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

We have two Khaki Campbells Ducklings. They are about 3 weeks old now. When we first got them, they didn't mind being held and handled. Now...3 weeks later...everything is at arms length. That is only thing about them that I would describe as a negative.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Course they have been pretty good at showing the Buff Chicks where to find the best grubbs in the yard. Here they are at 3 weeks of age, they are about 4x's the size of the chicks.

 

[uchytil]

Wow, they are big for three weeks! One thing I was told is if you have more than one duck they will bond with each other rather than a human. But, my Mom and Dad had a pair that followed tham all over the yeard. They would come running when my Dad got home from work to greet him in the driveway, only his car. They were a pair that bonded with my folks. My Pekins never wanted to be held but would eat peas from my hand. No love from them except when it's dinner time. I hoping the KC will bond but if not that's fine as long as he sticks to his own general property.