Pekin Duck Club!

[mandycarlo]

Sure was lol they are getting so big now I will have to update a pic it's crazy how big they get every week they are so fun lol

 

[DenverDucky]

I wish they wouldn't grow so fast, I would love to have had more time with Soleil as a duckling, but I love how fun she is now. They go from so cute and tiny to such beautiful ducks!

 

[kodster]

I wish they wouldn't grow so fast, I would love to have had more time with Soleil as a duckling, but I love how fun she is now. They go from so cute and tiny to such beautiful ducks!

Yes, they do grow fast! Too fast! My hubby hasn't been around much to see them (he's a truck driver, so long hours). He helped me carry in 2 50# bags of feed for them, and practically fainted when he saw my Jumbo Pekin ducklings at 4 weeks old. Now, he says he's having nightmares (facetiously, of course)... their heads popping up through the floorboards of the house (they're in the basement), demanding food! LOL! Of course, he's the one that insisted on getting the ducklings, because he loves them. He's the one with more experience in raising birds than me, so I'm relying on his advice, as well as researching my own and chatting with folks here at BYC.

 

[I gotDucks]

could you add me Pekin duck club please?

 

[countrygirl74]

I have a Pekin that has been sitting on eggs for 2-3 weeks. She is doing great staying with them. I have had Pekins for years and others have always spent hours off the eggs so they never hatched. I candled one and it is developing. I read if they are secure, they will tend to stay with the nest. She is in a safe box that I close them in at night but leave the entrance open during the day. Has anyone been successful with hatching eggs from a Pekin sitting on them? She was raised with her adoptive parents that I put her with when she was a day old.

It will be fun to follow your adventure with your Pekin hatching babies! I haven't let mine sit on any because I have a Rouen drake. I was too worried that he would hurt or kill them and I really don't have a place, nor would I really want to, separate him while they raise they babies. So.... I currently have my white silkie laying on 7 duck eggs since they are such good mamas and roosters don't seem to mind babies around - in fact, they are quite good daddies.

This is Guy, just chillin in his pool! He's so cute! His favorite treats are whole corn, sweet feed, and bananas!
There's not a dirty or out of place feather on him.

What a pretty boy!

I went to a feed store and like I said before anyone gets mad at me i have no ducky knowledge so I really am really relying on other peoples knowledge so i ask a person who works at the feed store if I should change my ducks food and they said yes layer feed would be ok now but after reading everything they say no but they have had a whole bag of it which I'm changing back but do u think my ducks breathing thing is because of the feed I hope I didn't hurt them in anyway

No one will get mad at you - we are all on here learning from each other...

This is my personal opinion on layer feed - I don't use it at all, ever. That said, if you choose to use layer, please do not use it at all until they are at least 20 weeks old. If you've been using it recently for a short time, they should be fine but I would switch asap. They need a starter for the first few weeks and then a grower. Layer feed that is fed at a young age can be very hard on their organs and also deplete the necessary nutrients they really need. If you have any males, you should definitely never feed layer feed. Always feed a grower and give them free-choice oyster shell on the side. They know when and how much calcium they need. If you have all females, then you can choose to feed a layer feed but again, not until they are at least 20 weeks of age. They also need to have a niacin supplement. I find it easiest to get 100mg capsules and drop the powder into a gallon of water. They should have niacin for their first 10-12 weeks.
I wouldn't think that the feed would cause the breathing issue, but who knows? As I said, my jumbo Pekin "Ping" did that for a while and then seemed fine ever since - and they were never on a layer feed. She still once in a while makes the silliest grunts.

Yes, they do grow fast! Too fast! My hubby hasn't been around much to see them (he's a truck driver, so long hours). He helped me carry in 2 50# bags of feed for them, and practically fainted when he saw my Jumbo Pekin ducklings at 4 weeks old. Now, he says he's having nightmares (facetiously, of course)... their heads popping up through the floorboards of the house (they're in the basement), demanding food! LOL! Of course, he's the one that insisted on getting the ducklings, because he loves them. He's the one with more experience in raising birds than me, so I'm relying on his advice, as well as researching my own and chatting with folks here at BYC.

 

[starlingsbaby]

You dont need a pool for them to mate. Mine rarely mate in the pool, it happens when ever the male feel he wants some

ok thanks because i heard they have to have water or they will not. and at what age do they start "gettin sum" ? lol i have a male that his drake feather has jus curled about 2 weeks ago and they are both same age.

 

[mandycarlo]

New to having ducks but can anyone tell me how I can tell male from female I have four and one used to a black feather on its lower back but now it's gone so they all look alike thanks!!

 

[countrygirl74]

New to having ducks

but can anyone tell me how I can tell male from female I have four and one used to a black feather on its lower back but now it's gone so they all look alike thanks!!

Eventually, your males will get the "drake" feather on it's tail that curls up, but you will know before that by their quack. The females will have a loud quack and the males will have a raspy, whisper-like quack.

 

[mandycarlo]

Thanks for the info

 

[zzack354]

My sweeties! Trying to come up with names! I can't seem to tell them apart yet.
We are working diligently to get their home up and running. Can't wait to see it finished.