Knowing I should wait and order some dedicated layers such as Khaki cambells I fell for some pekins at Big R and brought four of them home home a little 3 -4 weeks ago. I was planning on starting with chickens but the cold hardiness of ducks as well as their general hardiness swayed me.
I have been giving them free choice game bird feed (22%)since I brought the 4 home. I now house them them outdoorsin during the day in an exercise pen with haybail wind breaks and a tarp for shade and a brood light in case they need it. at night they come into the garage when the nightime temps fall below freezing. I started them in an intensive cardboard box then rubbermaid sized brooder them had to move them to a larger exercise pen. Yesterday I bought some 15% Family farm (manna pro)egg layer crumbles to start cutting the remaining 22% gamebird feed with to try and curtail any potential "angel wing" I read about on this forum /the web.
I have plans to build them a good predator proof house and nice outdoor run that I hope to complete before they feather out.
I am trying to get them socialized with me and my dogs (I have two Shi-tzu and the ducks are already taller and the shihtzu think the ducks are their pets, the ducklings regard them no differntly than myself.
My question are to come. I am trying to take good care of them but at the same time I want them to develop independent hardiness. I live in thhe foothills of the rockymountains, it is high elevation(5800 feet at my house) with a long cold season and not much rainfall. I am providing them with a garden pond that I plan on rigging up a drain and flush system(water for the vegtable garden).
Any challenges I should be aware of for raising ducks in a desert environment?
I have been giving them free choice game bird feed (22%)since I brought the 4 home. I now house them them outdoorsin during the day in an exercise pen with haybail wind breaks and a tarp for shade and a brood light in case they need it. at night they come into the garage when the nightime temps fall below freezing. I started them in an intensive cardboard box then rubbermaid sized brooder them had to move them to a larger exercise pen. Yesterday I bought some 15% Family farm (manna pro)egg layer crumbles to start cutting the remaining 22% gamebird feed with to try and curtail any potential "angel wing" I read about on this forum /the web.
I have plans to build them a good predator proof house and nice outdoor run that I hope to complete before they feather out.
I am trying to get them socialized with me and my dogs (I have two Shi-tzu and the ducks are already taller and the shihtzu think the ducks are their pets, the ducklings regard them no differntly than myself.
My question are to come. I am trying to take good care of them but at the same time I want them to develop independent hardiness. I live in thhe foothills of the rockymountains, it is high elevation(5800 feet at my house) with a long cold season and not much rainfall. I am providing them with a garden pond that I plan on rigging up a drain and flush system(water for the vegtable garden).
Any challenges I should be aware of for raising ducks in a desert environment?
