Need tips on raising ducks!

[RedfogsFlock]

Ok first of all I've never really cared for ducks since I was little and ours would chase me and bite me! So with that said I have chickens, and my hubby loves ducks. I came across two ducks the other day that needed a new home. They were about to be turned out at a park! So I brought them home, my hubby made them a pen and I went to researching on the web! I found out that they are chocolate indian running ducks. They can't really fly due to their bodies being so big.
I did read that if we didn't have anything to feed them we could give them our chicken layena. Now they do drink, but have no interest in eating! We've tried bugs, scratch, bread (yes we know it isn't good for them), and layena, no luck!
We did find out they were abused by the kids of the previous owner and is the real reason they wanted to get rid of the ducks. We figured that we would never be able to approach them cuz of this.
They won't use the bed we made them, but they do seem to like the wet mooshy box we brought them home in. The only thing we can get them to do is go into the pool we have for them. If we even approach the pen to feed them they go absolutely nuts, and try flying out, squawking, and flappin their wings!
So I guess what i'm wondering is EVERYTHING!
How can we get them to settle down, and not stress out so much?
How to get them to eat, and what is a good thing to feed them right now?
Oh and if we free range them with our chickens will they go back to their coop at night like the chickens? Or is it find me if you can? We have 5 acres so if it's a duck hunting we will have to do then NO WAY! lol
I have read they can do a lot of damage, but since our property has never been touched yet I think we would be okay.
Do hawks like to eat ducks like chickens? We have plenty of them here!
Are they good at knowing when danger is afoot?

We don't worry about the hawks, for one we have an excellent roo & big red who seem to know the hawks are there before even we do! They have lots to hide under, and we have dogs too. Along with phantom flying cd's we've been pretty lucky up to this point!
Our big concern is wild dogs here! We have more of a time with them trying to dig into our yard than anything! Even the coyotes stay abay.
So our ducks need to know when to run like the chickens do. Or are they "dumb" enough not to know?

We have the ducks in a pen that is 10 feet long by 6 foot wide, and 6 foot tall is this big enough? They have a HUGE 25 gallon plastic drum with hay in it to sleep in, and their own pool. What more could a duck possible want?
Thanks everyone for bearing with me to read this super long post!!! The internet is not much help!

 

[my1stchicks]

Congrats on the ducks! I'm not an expert but I think they'll settle down a bit in time. Just move and talk quietly around them for a bit, just like you would your chickens. Runners are skittish anyways and probably won't be as friendly as your chicks. As for food, ducks like almost anything, all of them seem to like peas alot, not canned though, and alot of people use peas to make their ducks friendlier.
My ducks will put themselves to bed at night but it may be because I kept them in their run for a couple months at first. Your run sounds big enough. Ducks sleep out in the open most times so I wouldn't worry about them not sleeping in the bed you made them. Yes hawks will and can get them, are they smart enough to run and hide, well it depends on the duck.

Edited for spelling

 

[Duck_feeder]

I love runners. We have one chocolate runner and she is super sweet (but only to the people she loves... fortunately I eventually earned her love

)

They probably aren't eating because they are very stressed out from moving. Ducks hate change (then again it seems all birds do) and need time to adjust.

You can try feeding them some other foods that ducks are known to like. Here are the top ones in my experience:
- peas - the kind you get in the freezer section of the grocery store. Defrost them first

- corn - they tend to love corn in all forms but again the frozen kind seems to be their favorite
- tomatoes - dice them up first
- tender leafy vegetables. Our ducks will climb into the mouth of a lion for butter lettuce. They love iceberg lettuce too, but that isn't very nutritious so should be used as a last resort.
- feeder fish. Buy some minnows or small goldfish from the pet store and put it in a bucket for them.

Nettie compiled a list of duck treats if you need more ideas:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=242460

Once they start feeling comfortable in their new home and associate you with bringing food, they'll probably start being a lot more friendly.

Indian Runners can ran decently fast (I have to jog to keep up) but they are nowhere near fast enough to escape a dog.
Hawks will go after ducks. Fortunately ducks have good eyesight and are constantly on the look out for birds of prey and will take cover if the spot one (they'll stare at airplanes going overhead just in case it comes down to eat them!). But again, they aren't fast enough to escape if caught off guard.

a 10x6x6 pen should be enough for two ducks. I've read horror stories here on how dogs got over tall walls, so you might want to consider giving them a roof that can support the weight of a dog.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

Thank you SSSOOOO much for the help! My husband made their coop with a sturdy plywood roof supported by 2X4's. I have all them veges in the fridge and already canned (I canned em) for my chickens, so I'm off to try and gain their trust! A little each and every day, and maybe someday fingers crossed!
The minnows thing is an excellent idea, why not we buy our chickens mealworms on feed day. Believe me the girls know when we hitch up the trailer what day it is! lol

 

[Amiga]

Thank you for rescuing those runners!

I have decided to get ducks again, after many years of not having them, and ordered 10 runners. They need all the help they can get to be protected from predators, but they are lovely animals. I first decided to get runners because of their reputation for slug eating. Eggs would be nice, too! And, really, I think they are cute. Messy, but cute.

 

[Birdcrazy]

Those poor ducks

thats horrible way to be treated by kids. Ducks are pretty good at sensing danger and mine come back to their pen at night, like chooks, but maybe not let them out til they treat the pen as their home? When you get your ducks eating, maybe go with them when they forage around at your block. I help mine collect slaters/grass hoppers and everytime they see me with something they come running, but usually they just stick with me if I'm helping them forage. Basically they treat me as a duck

You could try things like setting up a chair and reading a book in the pen so they become accustomed to your pressence? I reckon offering food, kindess, and soft words is the best way to tame a duck. They will need to settle down in their new home, too.
Good luck with the ducks, its a great thing you doing looking after them!

 

[Miss Dottie]

My ducks go crazy for rice. Just make sure its good and soft. I also gave them spagetti noodles one time and they liked it and were hilarious to watch. They also like yogurt.

My ducks are pretty good at sensing danger. We have hawks here but we never have a problem with them and our free ranging birds. The birds are with the horses and that might be why the hawks don't bother them.

Good luck with your duckies!