New to Raising Ducks

[Richb353]

Their differing personalities are one of the endearing qualities of ducks. My two Cayugas have completely different personalities. The male will follow me around the yard and tug at my shorts. He won't sit on my lap, but he doesn't squirm when I pick him up. The female runs and quacks when I try to grab her. When I do catch her, she wiggles until I let her go. Both will eat out of my hand, but he is the social one, I guess she is shy.

Enjoy

 

[DeeEinstein]

I love watching them grow! Just in the 2 weeks we've had them, they've gotten so large. I'm excited to see just how big they'll actually get. I still am trying to figure out if they will do good being in the same coop as my hen. What do you all think?

 

[RacerWife7]

When I got my ducks last spring, I was floored by how fast they grew. ...As far as I know, there are some here who have a mixed flock of chickens & ducks. I think, if it were me, I'd just introduce them slowly and keep a close eye on everyone. Good luck!!

 

[DeeEinstein]

I think once they get a little bigger, I'll do just that. My dog and my hen love each other and they'll even drink from the same water bowl. So, maybe the ducks will acclimate in the same manner.

 

[duckman4450]

My most recent mallards loved being held, but it definitely changes from duck to duck. My old mallards hated being picked up as babies and adults, so it just depends on personality. I wish my dogs and duck got along. My duck always puts her head down and runs at the dogs so they aren't very good friends. My mallard hen though who is almost 7 months old loves being picked up and petted so you just don't know. They do grow extremely fast so don't take them for granted when they are babies! Good luck!

 

[DeeEinstein]

I'm a little confused based off everything I've been reading along with responses on this thread why when I purchased the ducks I was told to give them medicated chick starter. All that I've read states this is a huge no. So, with that being said, for the past 2 weeks that is all they have been fed. Now I'm trying to introduce scratch feed including cracked corn and they won't eat it. What should I do and does anyone feel a if this will pose a problem with the health of my ducks?

 

[Amiga]

A number of people report they have had no problems raising ducklings on medicated chick starter.

Here are my observations. There are also a number of people who report their ducklings having leg and neurological problems that are resolved by giving them niacin (ducklings need 3 times the niacin that chicks do, according to Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks), or in some cases B complex, which includes thiamine, and twice on the forum I have read that the way that the medication - amprolium - works is to block thiamine, an important B vitamin for little ducklings.

That is about all I can tell you. Starter crumbles are nutrient rich, and scratch feed is not. Stick with the starter, and add niacin (plain, not no-flush or timed release) to their water at 100 to 150 mg per gallon, or sprinkle a tablespoon of brewer's yeast on their food each day. You might also look around to find what the people using B complex are doing, I cannot recall the details.

 

[DeeEinstein]

I just spoke to my local feed store and they suggested giving them laying mash until they are a little older then start feeding them scratch feed. Everyone agree?

 

[TLWR]

I fed a crumbled flock raiser until they were close to laying age and then changed them to a chicken layer feed with 16% protein.

 

[DeeEinstein]

Now that I finally have my ducks on the proper diet.. how old were most of your ducks before you introduced them to their new homes? Currently, mine are living in my bathtub because I feel they are still too young to be taken outside. I'm not sure how much longer I should wait until I put them in their outdoor coop.