new ducks like new pond! phew!!

[Luciesbuddys]

i have a thing for misfits too. We got a duckling that had a chick water set on him when he was 2 days old. (The feed store did it) He ended up having a broken leg that he has now re-broken twice. He limps all over the place but he can keep up with my girls as long as they don't decide to run. I dont have to worry about getting ducklings since he can't get "it" done in pond due to his leg.

 

[wackwack]

no! I am just saying she, because i just dont know. could a drake be a drake without curly tail? s/he was the first one in the pond, the first out, is more independant than any of the others, and leads them all everywhere. is that normal for a she? i thought the drake was the leader....
am, i was just reading another thread about feed, what should i be feeding them?
they have lots of grass and spend more and more time each day eating bugs, they stand staring at the netting waiting for flies, so funny,
i have been giving them layers pellets, (tho still trying to get the amount right......) and they get some corn/barley mix at bed time, tho not a huge amount maybe 2 small handfuls, as i was told it would make them too fat, but they LOVE it.....
i was also told if they have good ground to forage i dont need grit???
but now i am reading about oyster shell????????????????????????????????????? does the layer pellets not have everything they need?

also, is there any signs to watch for that they may get close to maybe possibly laying an egg.....if yours are laying surely mins should be, how long would it take them to settle in a new place?
breeder didnt actually know who was laying, he was still getting some duck eggs, but had a lot of ducks, but told me they wouldnt lay until nov and feb...............

 

[wackwack]

Quote:
ya sonya does fine really, after a very crazy run, she does seem to find a stone to rest her wonky leg on, as if it is shorter and more comfortable on a stone....most of the time she behaves just like the others, doesnt seem bothered by it...
i did also notice on the longer grass she did trip over a few times, but she didnt actually get let behind, was well able to keep up with the others....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
hard to say when they may lay because of the time of year, with daylight getting less and less each week, I guess it's the same there?.They may not lay till next spring.

But I think most of us put out oyster shell because some may need more than what they get in the layer ration, They will only eat what they need of it. Do they have a quite place in their duck house where they could go to lay an egg, mine usually just lay in their house on the bedding. You might even find them outside or in the pond, it takes awhile for them to get it right. I keep feed out all day long for mine to nibble on. and they all free range, corn will make themm fat, but in the winter months they need a little excess fat to see them through. if they have acsess to dirt and small stones they probably don't need grit, but if you get alot of snow in the winter they may need some then.

 

[wackwack]

cool! thanks! phew!
i will look into the oyster shell, didnt notice it in either feed store but i will ask now! the far shop where i get the horse feed is very good, they are now selling as much hen/duck stuff as horse stuff as word got out they had it so they now also have lots of other stuff like vits and herbal wormer pellets etc.
i will get in some grit too before the snow.
on the house front, am, no, the drake has decided the extra bit meant as a nest area, is his area........... they all seem to shuffle about and to be honest i want a bigger house. i was told this was suitable for up to 8 but i'm thinking, no way i would even put 5 in there. i have a shed that i pretty much dont use so i am going to dismantle it and put it in their run as soon as i can, but i will need a full day to do that, as i am going to join the two together!!! so they still use the same door to go in and out and have a big extension at the back!!

glad you let them ad-lib food, i started that then got worried as the seem to eat as much as they could, maybe if i keep at it they will learn its still there and they dont have to gobble it so quick..... i think i'll gradually increase it again and see what happens.

oh boy do they love the corn! love love love!

Thanks for your help! I'd be lost without it! i am learning so much since i found this lovely duck village a few days ago!!!!!

I put my web site on my profile and theres lots of pics on there of all the horses and the farm, must update it with more duck pics tho!!

 

[FarmrGirl]

Quote:
It's not unusual for the female duck to be the leader. Ancona's are typically the leader but very subtly. Check out "The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times" By Carol Deppe. She has some really interesting observations of ducks that I'm sure you'll love reading about.

 

[craftymama86]

Great job on the pond! I think they like it, lol.

 

[wackwack]

oh well. they have no interest in the new pond...ya really...if i basically chase them in they go but dont stay long, they prefer their tiny blue paddling pools and stay around them all day long bathing and preening. i give up!!