Pekin Duck Club!

[Rkirk]

Yeah... we were very upset when we learned there were 3 drakes. But mo, larry and curly are our babies so im pushing for an even ratio at the very least. But would like a 2/1 best.

 

[Rkirk]

That os 2 hens to each drake.

 

[Amiga]

Good, glad you are aware. Some people don't find out until someone gets hurt or killed. Heartbreaking.

So, since I am a worrywart, I'll just say one more time - she depends on you to protect her, don't feel bad if you need to separate them for a little while. Annoyed ducks are not the worst thing in the world.

 

[wildsam]

OMG the time really flies!

Sorry for not having had the time to be on, but right now I just got done reading up on all the posts on here! Yet lots has happened up North here... So here's a (somewhat) short update:

First, I (or more likely we, since he is deeply in love with my ducks, even more so than with the chickens. hehehe) added some more girls to our flock, namely 2 one year old Rouen girls (the twins) and a very special 3 yo Pekin girl we call Sheila. Evidently the owner I got her from never did anything when noticing that she wouldn't walk right when she was young so now she is already living 3 years with crippled, inward turned feet as she walks pretty much on her side knuckles. Yet she is SUCH a sweet girl and has been giving us (after the initial shock of re-homing, finding a decent pool to dive and wash in (she was pretty much black and filthy when I got her) and fattening her up considerably) she is now living the good live, huddling with all 5 of my other ones and the twins under a car topper with windows, that we stuffed with straw and 2 heat lamps to have them stay warm in these brutal NW Wisconsin windchills.
She meanwhile even answers to her name and has given us an egg after the first 2 weeks ever since!!!


Out foraging with the chickens


Front center is our pretty girl Sheila, one twin, Tony, Louie, Gunther and Susie in the back.
Brownie and the other twin were playing behind the mud pile, which is from building the pond.



Of course, they had been more than skid-dish and scared senseless when we first got them, I even had to chase them down with 2 other people and several poultry nets just to be able to catch them(!) but they meanwhile integrated into our under-femaled flock just fine and the boys are oh-so-happy now! I would say that the new ladies almost get more attention than our inital Pekin Susie and our Khaki Brownie!

Yes, everything is under deep snow and their home made pond is frozen solid now, despite the efforts of circulating pumps and all, but when we had a couple of weekends with almost 30 degree weather, we filled them their kiddy pool and... you should have seen them splash and dive!!! I couldn't even stand close by since they even showered me in all their enthusiasm! Lol. But it was SOOOO much fun to watch and see them all get clean and white again!

So right now just hoping and waiting that this winter is soon taking its leave for we can take the ice of the pond, clean it out (oh yea, that thing of course was all muddy when open for swimming season!) and fill it with fresh water, that we probably have to pump out after the bathing/splashing/rinsing cycles and fill with new water again. Can't wait to have them follow me over to the big yard to forage and weed all the upcoming dandelions too! And just sitting there, with my camera handy, and simply snapping away at all my pretty and funny lovelies, feeding them treats and enjoying their talking and chatting.

Btw, when exactly is mating season for duckies? We got pheasants too, and theirs starts in March/April so I just wanna make sure to keep an extra eye on my babies and give them all the extra stuff to treat them especially nice after this long winter, which hopefully doesn't stay as long as last years!!!

 

[Amiga]

Ours started last year (first year we had a drake) the day before Valentine's Day, I think.

 

[DaffyDuck100]

Hey,
Does anyone know where I can buy some pekin ducklings in South Australia?
I have been looking everywhere on the web and I can't find anything!

 

[Rkirk]

Mine have been at it bout 3 weeks now. Really depends on weather, diet etc.

 

[Amiga]

Hey,
Does anyone know where I can buy some pekin ducklings in South Australia?
I have been looking everywhere on the web and I can't find anything!

Have you asked over on Where Am I Where Are You? I am sure there is an Australia thread, maybe even a SA thread.

 

[JFreeman]

About how many eggs does a Pekin lay in a year?

 

[Rkirk]

I've had them lay all year long however I had them set up with a rather spoiled setup. Their enclosure was climate and light controlled but they lay one egg every day. I usually averaged about 200 to 250 a year. That's pulling eggs each day. Leaving the eggs means she will stop when she goes to set. But pekins are not good setters overall so I always incubate mine.