- Feb 23, 2014
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Ducks.....it had to be ducks!
We have two Mallards that we adopted from a neighbor a few months ago, and I know next to nothing about ducks. I've been spending the last year and a half learning all I can about chickens, but ducks? Nope, don't know anything really.
My neighbor had six Rhode Island Red hens that she wanted to get rid of because she didn't have the time to take care of them anymore. When my wife and I showed up....there were two Mallards with the hens, and my neighbor said: Oh yes, you'll have to take the ducks too!
I groaned because I knew my wife was going to be very excited as she really loves ducks and has wanted some for a while.
I built a small tractor run to isolate the Reds and kept the ducks in there too, providing them with a kiddy pool. After several weeks, we moved the Reds in with our chicken flock where they have thrived quite well.
The ducks, James and Bond (don't ask. My wife is the one that named them.....nor can I tell either apart!), have stayed in the crude tractor run that I made with their pool. I change out there pool almost every day (the foul it quickly), and they love it when I change the water each day. Their a bit skittish but come running when I feed them, and they make sure to splash me with water when I take the hose out after refilling. Here's a picture of them:
They seem quite happy, talking with each other quite a bit, or with us when we are out and about. I've been trying to think of what to do with them.
My wife was thinking that they'll stay as long as they have the water and we're feeding them, so they should be able to free range. Knowing that they are Mallards, I'm pretty sure that when the time comes, they'll migrate somewhere and won't be back.
I have an area about 6 times bigger than the run you see in the pic, that I was thinking I could fence in. But I would have to cover it somehow too as they can fly quite well of course. I was even thinking of putting in a 10 foot wide in ground pond for them, but then I won't be able to drain it easily to clean it out like I do the kiddy pool.
Advice anyone? I never planned to have ducks. I do like them. They're cute, fun to watch and talk to. But I hate having them cooped up like this, even though I move the tractor around.
We have two Mallards that we adopted from a neighbor a few months ago, and I know next to nothing about ducks. I've been spending the last year and a half learning all I can about chickens, but ducks? Nope, don't know anything really.
My neighbor had six Rhode Island Red hens that she wanted to get rid of because she didn't have the time to take care of them anymore. When my wife and I showed up....there were two Mallards with the hens, and my neighbor said: Oh yes, you'll have to take the ducks too!
I groaned because I knew my wife was going to be very excited as she really loves ducks and has wanted some for a while.
I built a small tractor run to isolate the Reds and kept the ducks in there too, providing them with a kiddy pool. After several weeks, we moved the Reds in with our chicken flock where they have thrived quite well.
The ducks, James and Bond (don't ask. My wife is the one that named them.....nor can I tell either apart!), have stayed in the crude tractor run that I made with their pool. I change out there pool almost every day (the foul it quickly), and they love it when I change the water each day. Their a bit skittish but come running when I feed them, and they make sure to splash me with water when I take the hose out after refilling. Here's a picture of them:
They seem quite happy, talking with each other quite a bit, or with us when we are out and about. I've been trying to think of what to do with them.
My wife was thinking that they'll stay as long as they have the water and we're feeding them, so they should be able to free range. Knowing that they are Mallards, I'm pretty sure that when the time comes, they'll migrate somewhere and won't be back.
I have an area about 6 times bigger than the run you see in the pic, that I was thinking I could fence in. But I would have to cover it somehow too as they can fly quite well of course. I was even thinking of putting in a 10 foot wide in ground pond for them, but then I won't be able to drain it easily to clean it out like I do the kiddy pool.
Advice anyone? I never planned to have ducks. I do like them. They're cute, fun to watch and talk to. But I hate having them cooped up like this, even though I move the tractor around.
