"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[kuntrygirl]

In order to eat/bake with duck eggs, do I need to provide a coop, nest box and pool?  A run?  I can let them free range, just want to be able to find the eggs.   How often do all of you duck owners change the pool water?     

I change the pool water every day!!!

It is always good to provide them with a coop, run, nest box and pool. They will use it IF they want to. Mine just sleep on the ground. A very few of them go into the chicken coop to sleep on the ground and the other few actually fly on the roost and roost with the chickens. They do lay their eggs in the nesting box or on the ground or on the roof or in the feed storage area or in the pool or in a hole in the ground.......get my drift?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Grambysfarm, I PM'd you about the ducklings. We are in Deridder and so an hour from you. I can come down to you anytime in the evening Tuesday through Friday this week or anytime on Saturday. What day works best for you? I need to run by Sam's and let the kids eat Chik-Fil-A so we were heading to Lake Charles sometime this week anyway. We have VBS until noon all week but other than that we have no plans.

I need to go get some kiddie pools!!!!

Sprinkles, here's what I have:

These are my oldest group that hatched in March. They are about 3 months old. They are the same size as their parents now. They should be laying in another 2 - 3 months. It's a feeding frenzy!  BTW, the ducks ATTACK food. Just thought I'd let you know so that you're not startled when they CHARGE at the food.  I have 11 in this group but only 5 are available. I'm sure that I could pick out 3 females out of this group. Sorry about the glare.




My next group is about 4 weeks younger and are able to easily use the small kiddie pools. In fact, they are bullies around the pool and chase off my geese and smaller ducks.  They have not yet completely feathered out. If you'll look at their wings you'll notice that the wing feathers are still developing. These ducks are a couple months old. I only have 5 this size. I'm not sure of their gender but I am pretty sure that if their are 3 females I should be able to pick them out.




In the next group, I have several. I think about 8. They are not yet able to get in the kiddie pools but it won't be long. They are able to drink out of the pool as long as the water doesn't go down too low. I don't know if I can determine their sex yet. I haven't spent a lot of time with them listening to see if they "quack" yet. With Peking ducks, the females do all the "talking" -- well, at least they do the loudest talking and the males have a soft quack. I think that the males are saying "yes ma'am".  Sorry guys!       These ducklings still have lots of white down. It'll be a few weeks yet before they get all of their feathers.




The youngest ducklings I have are only a few weeks old. I only have 3 of them and would not be able to determine their gender until they were older. The pic is kinda blurry because they were running around this morning and wouldn't keep still for a pic. They were quite happy to be let out of their cage. 

NICE!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Grambysfarm, I PM'd you about the ducklings. We are in Deridder and so an hour from you. I can come down to you anytime in the evening Tuesday through Friday this week or anytime on Saturday. What day works best for you? I need to run by Sam's and let the kids eat Chik-Fil-A so we were heading to Lake Charles sometime this week anyway. We have VBS until noon all week but other than that we have no plans.

I need to go get some kiddie pools!!!!

I think Sparkles needs some coronations, too! (proud member of *STEED* -- Society To Encourage Enabling Ducks)

LOL @ STEED

 

[kuntrygirl]

I'm feeding them the nonmedicated chick starter. I wouldn't give the ducks high protein feed because a lot of what I've read claims that too much protein in their diet causes some wing disorders. Ducks/geese grow too fast and the development of the wings can't keep up with their growth. With my geese this season, I'm trying to minimize the feed while giving the goslings lots of access to fresh grass. I'm watching to see if it helps their wings grow stronger for when the big blood feathers start filling in. In nature, ducks/geese don't have nearly the problems as they do when farm raised. I'm convinced that we, while being well intentioned, often times overfeed them. Perhaps, Mike and Gracie would share their experience with this. Where the heck is Mike anyway???

Well good I'll stick with the chick starter!! Thanks!!

 

[NonnasBabies]

Did Peeps tag that photo? She is THE guinea expert!

Yep she sure did!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Did Peeps tag that photo? She is THE guinea expert!

Yep she sure did!!

She is a genius! You're in great hands with PEEPS!

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Not yet Terri, but I do see them investigating the nest regularly though I also just removed them from the presence of their pestering brothers too, so now they can concentrate a little better. They are in with an older NH male but he is a gentleman compared to those 2 guys, they are very hormonal right now

LOL

I have 10 other Horstman RIR pullets too Terri these I did get straight form Chris, and 6 boys one of the best pullet to rooster ratios I ever have stumbled across for sure. I'm smiling big right now gonna be reds everywhere next year at this time along with Barred Rocks, New Hampshires and a brand new strain(mine) of Delawares if all goes as planned. Yee-haw!

Jeff

LOL at your hormonal guys -- mine tried to make a pass at one of my older hens yesterday & she knocked him flying across the yard - it was hilarious!

OK you lucky dog -- Horstman RIRs - I've been known to drool over his stock -- I'll be hitting you up for some hatching eggs next year for sure!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Terri, I forgot to mention to you that after 2 days, the little pea chic didn't need the heating lamp anymore. I have it inside in a large box and it was under the heat lamp for the first 2 days but after that, I let it out to roam inside the house (Missi, don't scream. I know, I know. ) and it has not been under a heat lamp since. My house remains cool all day long because of the incubator that is running and I do not leave the heat lamp on when I am gone. Go figure.

 

[catdaddyfro]

LOL at your hormonal guys -- mine tried to make a pass at one of my older hens yesterday & she knocked him flying across the yard - it was hilarious!

OK you lucky dog -- Horstman RIRs - I've been known to drool over his stock -- I'll be hitting you up for some hatching eggs next year for sure!!

Well you'll surely be more than welcome there young lady, I shall fix you right up fo'sho'

Missy I will post up pics but I have to go through about 2 more breeding steps before I get pure Delawares. Mrs. Kathy(kathyinmo) whom I got my F1 starter stock from, has had some success so far and is on me to get my project up and going as she needs help as it takes numerous amounts of eggs to get the Del pattern to come out in the F2s. It is a ratio game and of course the Silver-columbian and Barred- columbian are the least to likely show up.


G'nite all
Jeff

 

[Sprinkles212]

Grambyfarm, I attempted a post earlier but I must not have hit "submit ". I think ducks are going to be too labor intensive for me. I didn't realize they would need a pool to be refilled every day. Do you sell duck eggs? We will be in Lake Charles tomorrow afternoon. . Maybe I can convince my soon-to-be new neighbors that they need a few ducks for their pond! Your ducks are too cute!