New Duck Owner

[jordynmartin]

I got two ducks from Orchlen's on Saturday and am now keeping them in my room. They are my SAE project for FFA so I can't keep them in there forever, especially when they get bigger. I was planning on getting a chicken house that sits on the ground and put 24x13 garden liners around a 10'x13' section right out back with a kiddie pool. I know for sure that the yellow duckling is a Mallord. but I'm not sure what the little black one is. He's about 2/3 the size of the yellow. Any suggestions on how to keep them would be great! I live in a subdivisions so nothing too large.

 

[Rosie42892]

Congrats on the new ducklings! If you could take a closer picture then we may be able to help identify them.
I was in FFA in high school, and did chickens for my SAE! I do remember needing to show a profit, though. What are your plans for these two?

For just the two of them, you would not need a huge coop. The main concern would be keeping everything else out! The kiddie pool sounds great as long as you have room to dump it! They are messy birds!

All the best, ducklings are fun!

 

[jordynmartin]

I was thinking about showing them if I can find a place to do so. Since I don't know the sex of either one I guess I'll just leave room to expand!

 

[Rosie42892]

It looks to me that the little black and yellow one may be a mallard! The markings are about right. The yellow one could be a variety of things, from Pekin, Jumbo Pekin, Buff, etc. Hmm, maybe a close up of that one too? Cute babies. I am not sure where you are located, but I used to show my chickens at local fairs in New England. I certainly wasn't a serious compeditor, but I met some great people along the way Have you considered adding a few more to your flock? Certain breeds lay a decent number of eggs.

Don't feel bad about the ducks currently being in your room, my goslings cried so much last night that they ended up in my bedroom too!

 

[jordynmartin]

I'm in Kentucky. And I'd love to get some more, but my mother wasnt very happy about these! When I get a pin set up maybe she'll let me get some more! Would I need to completely inclose the area or will they not be able to fly out?

This is Daisy The other was Quackmire

 

[Rosie42892]

Very cute! With the faint marking by the eye, Daisy resembles my Buff duckling! As for fencing, your mallard will have full flight capabilities, so a top to your fenced in area would be needed to contain it, unless you choose to wing clip. Even the heavier breeds such as the Pekin can fly for short distances/heights. Regardless, cute babies! How is it going with feed/water/heat etc?

 

[jordynmartin]

They get a lot of food in the bottom of the waterer even though they're on opposite sides of the box. They seem scared of the heat lamp but will sleep under it at night.

 

[cosbackyard]

Getting the duck pen set up is by far the most difficult part of owning ducks. That said - there are ways to make it easier. Repurposing sheds, dog houses, etc rather than building new.

You don't have to worry about them flying away. They're probably not able to and they wouldn't want to if they could.

The place they sleep at night needs to be predator-proof. Latch all doors and use locks or carabiners on them. Raccoons can open simple doors and latches. Chicken wire is insufficient to protect them at night. I've made that mistake. I only use hardware cloth or heavier material now over any openings. Consider what's underneath, too. Many animals can dig.

There will need to be some openings for ventilation. Preferably up high rather than at duck level. Those openings will also need to be covered with a hardware cloth-type material.

During the day they'll need some room to roam. Either a fenced-in backyard or a duck-run. Some people let them free-range on larger, unfenced property but if that's your situation you may have to find them to herd them inside in the evenings. Not all ducks naturally put themselves in at night. And from my experience - if they're not in at dusk they're dead.

Don't mean to sound so serious. I've lost many ducks over the years because of inadequately protected shelter or not getting them in early enough at night. The cost and effort of making them safe is totally worth it, though

 

[jordynmartin]

I was thinking about getting a house like this one... http://m.rakuten.com/product/240561923
Then fencing off an area around if for them to be during the day. We don't have any raccoons or roaming dogs around here..

 

[Rosie42892]

Getting the duck pen set up is by far the most difficult part of owning ducks. That said - there are ways to make it easier. Repurposing sheds, dog houses, etc rather than building new.

You don't have to worry about them flying away. They're probably not able to and they wouldn't want to if they could.

The place they sleep at night needs to be predator-proof. Latch all doors and use locks or carabiners on them. Raccoons can open simple doors and latches. Chicken wire is insufficient to protect them at night. I've made that mistake. I only use hardware cloth or heavier material now over any openings. Consider what's underneath, too. Many animals can dig.

There will need to be some openings for ventilation. Preferably up high rather than at duck level. Those openings will also need to be covered with a hardware cloth-type material.

During the day they'll need some room to roam. Either a fenced-in backyard or a duck-run. Some people let them free-range on larger, unfenced property but if that's your situation you may have to find them to herd them inside in the evenings. Not all ducks naturally put themselves in at night. And from my experience - if they're not in at dusk they're dead.

Don't mean to sound so serious. I've lost many ducks over the years because of inadequately protected shelter or not getting them in early enough at night. The cost and effort of making them safe is totally worth it, though

I was under the impression that a mallard, if it was that type, was able to fly easily when grown? About what comes from underneith the shelter, I had some barn rats eat through my plywood floor and drag away a chicken in the past! Yuck!