Need quick duck help asap!!!

[sniper338]

She said they were mallards, thats what they ordered, and are getting more in tomorrow too.. They come from Ideal Poultry farms in Cameron, Texas..

 

[DUCKOBSESSED]

That is a crest. It is on some ducklings. It is a mutation. You should research about them because if you breed them it has to be done a certain way. People breed for it but if done wrong it can have the duckling die.

 

[sniper338]

Sooo that duckling is one that I should not have gotten... great... There is no way to tell male/female at this stage then I am guessing... kind of the pick of the brooder get whatcha get like most birds at a feed store...

I posted a pic of the brooder... gave them purina startena game bird feed mixed with crack corn for food, then put a pyrex dish with water in the for them to play in... They love the water...


**** Brooder wise... do I turn on the brooder and run it at the same temp as I could quail or chickens... 95ish under the heat, then getting away from the heat where it is cooler... same concept? or do they not need as much heat because they are bigger than quail babies...?? It's already warming up down here in south texas to 90's during the day and 60's at night...

 

[DUCKOBSESSED]

Not necessarily one you shouldn't have gotten it. If you breed it right they will be healthy just research. People do want Crested Ducks. I do the same as chicks for heat but i am in WI so it is still cold just watch if they start to get hot lower it a bit. Make sure they have grit with their corn. I supplement mine with brewers yeast because they need extra niacin for healthy leg growth. Just add a little to their feed.

 

[sniper338]

Not necessarily one you shouldn't have gotten it. If you breed it right they will be healthy just research. People do want Crested Ducks. I do the same as chicks for heat but i am in WI so it is still cold just watch if they start to get hot lower it a bit. Make sure they have grit with their corn. I supplement mine with brewers yeast because they need extra niacin for healthy leg growth. Just add a little to their feed.

I have regular ol granite chick grit from tractor supply I use for my quail here and there.. will that work just as well?

 

[sniper338]

If anyone knows of a good mallard ducking 101 thread please post a link!!

 

[DUCKOBSESSED]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/754458/mallard-thread-not-rouens-mallards

This is the mallard thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/418920/crested-duck-and-ducklings-thread

This is the Crested thread.

As long as the grit is tiny it should be fine. You don't want them to choke on it. I don't give mine grit because they only have starter food, but people always say to give it to them if they have other food.

 

[TLWR]

the tan spot is just a crest - it will be feathers as they grow.
No way to tell male vs female at this point unless you know how to vent sex. If you don't, don't even try. You get to just wait to figure it out in a couple of months

My 2 ducklings are on the patio with a heat lamp (just a 75w bulb). It was in the 40's here last night and they were just fine. THey just curled up under the light to snooze last night.

Crested breeding - ideally don't breed to another crested, but if those are the only 4 you have, you won't have to worry about that. Crested x Crested genetics mean lots won't hatch.

 

[sniper338]

I wish i wouldnt have gotten the crested... i like the real mallard look anyways...

im not too worried if they are healthy birds ill be fine with em.... birds a bird... just didnt know if there was anything i really needed to know jumping into it... besides i need a bigger house with a pond in the back and a few acres...

 

[sniper338]

Im guessing they wont lay a whole lot... bigger birds lay less... and take longer to mature and start laying... im big into duck hunting so i have a base knowledge on ducks... but never taken em in from a baby..