New duck mom

[Barredrockmama1]

Hello everyone,
We have 10 full grown barred rocks and just recently bought 3 baby ducks, I'm a new duck mom and would like to know any advice, of things I should know about raising baby ducks, I'm thinking it's pretty straight forwards or similar to chicks, but not sure when we will need to add a little pond for them in our run once they get bigger.... Also I would like to know if anyone has any experience mixing barred rocks with ducks, I am hoping that they get along once they are fully grown... I also would like to know if there's a way to sex the babies to know what they are, we just got straight run as that's all they had, I wouldn't mind having a whole flock but would like to know their sex to pick out names and such .. any advice or information would be helpful and is greatly appreciated.

 

[cmobley]

You can vent sex the ducks and I wouldn’t keep ducks with chickens. The drakes will kill chicken hens mating because their sex organs do not work the same way and a drake can be pretty fierce when breeding. As far as a pond everybody does things different I usually give my ducks a plastic pool at around a month old or so. Make sure the ducks have a high niacin feed Purina duck feed is good. They can have leg issues without it. Ducks are very nasty and will keep any water they have muddy. Personally I wouldn’t keep ducks with chickens and I don’t I keep mine in separate pens they do mingle in the yard at times under supervision to keep and eye on drakes attacking hens.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Vent sexing can be dangerous it’s not something I would even attempt
But if you know somebody experienced they could try
Ducks need water deep enough to dunk their heads to keep nares and eyes cleaned. Using plastic containers and cutting holes in the lid so they baby can’t jump in and get wet/cold
I start bathing mine at day 3 in warm water then use paper towel to dry them off then back to the heat source they immediately start to preen and use the oil gland
For outside pools once they are feathered in and it’s warm out
Not all but some ducks get niacin issues doing preventive with all makes things easier
1tbs nutritional yeast to 1cup feed till 12 weeks
Treats should be no more then 10% of the diet. Providing grit is a must when it’s anything that isn’t pellets
I don’t usually start treats till 3 weeks then I provide a separate bowl of grit
Ducks are a big joy
Provided a picture of my water dish
As they grow I go to a bigger container for height