new to ducks

[gregnlinda]

Hi chickwannab! Sounds like your making good use of some kennels. What did you use for your duckie door?

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
Hubby cut a whole right in the kennel wall, small ramp in the inside, slightly longer ramp outside so they can get up and over. It's about 8" from the ground.
He used to hunt wild ducks when he was younger, so has a fondness for Labradors. The ones he has now don't hunt with him tho as he can't take the cold due to diabetus. He is down to 2 old ones now, both rescues.
I hope to go to Chickenstock 2011 and get some already old enuf to start laying before winter.
How about we get a few DUCK and other winged creatures in the "smilies"???

 

[Stormy Autumn]

I only skimmed the other replies, so someone might have said this already... You might want to start them out on gamebird (turkey) starter when they're young instead of chick starter. It has more of the vitamins that ducks need, and more protein.

 

[tdgill]

Regular (not "flush free" or time release) Niacin tablets 100 mg. Generic brand at grocery store. CHEAP. One tablet per gallon of water. Drop it in, it will disolve then stir. I used to keep a couple soda 2 liter bottles filled with water then put half tablet in each for refilling their big waterer. I fed the Dumor chick starter 20% (with duckling pictured on bag with chick) and have fed Purina flock raiser also 20%. They LOVE frozen peas! Thawed in a glass of hot water first. I imagine a brain freeze otherwise... lol. I also pick dandelions and cut up into small pieces with scissors and float them in a shallow dish of water. They gobble that up. They eat as much as I can pick. lol. Love my welsh harlequins and so glad to hear that you ordered more girls! GOOD GOOD decision.

a couple pics of my welshies

and one of my blue swedish hens...

welcome to duckdom!

 

[gregnlinda]

Oh my gosh, how cute! What does the niacin do for them? Just picked up flock raiser. That should be fun floating dandelions! One more week of anticipating their arrival!

 

[Oneacre Homestead]

Sounds like our waterfowl are arriving the same week gregnlinda! We can compare!

 

[gregnlinda]

Sure we can compare! I should say, share our enthusiasm about our new arrivals! I have no idea how to post pictures. I only use my phone for accessing the web. And I'm still learning how to use that!

 

[gregnlinda]

Hi chikwannaB! Oh, I was picturing something like a doggie door. We have three dogs. A mini Australian shepherd, Boston terrier and a rescue Pomeranian who is blind. My husband hunts deer. Don't know if he'd want to try bird hunting. Think I'll ask him. My ducks should be here next week. Chickens are doing well, have some waiting time for eggs though. Looking forward to seeing ducklings swim! Keep in touch!

 

[tdgill]

Niacin is very important in the proper development of ducky legs. It's a must have. You'll need to cut the dandelion greens (or other tender greens) into very small pieces while they are young. I hate weeding but when its for the babies, its so much easier. lol. I offered them several times daily in their water bowl. The sound they made gobbling them up is hilarious. I used small bowls for water and worked up to large ones with a jar sitting inside (also filled with water) so they couldn't climb in the bowl. Here's an example pic

ps their legs are outstretched because they were a tad warm at the moment.

its important to NEVER let your ducks go without water. They must have it to wash their food down and to keep their nostrils and eyes clean. The bowl worked well but I was home to keep an eye on the water level and seemed to always be adding water or freshening it. By about three weeks of age I had two large dog bowls with spaghetti sauce jars in the middle (filled with water to weigh them down)

 

[gregnlinda]

Got it! Thanks for all the info! I'm home all the time, too! Your baby ducks are so cute!!! Hope you'll stay in touch!