Pekin Duck Club!

[kodster]

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They do like it! But it is work. But I love the idea of using up the crumbs that are left in their feeders, and the bag. I just felt bad when I went 2 days w/o food. I couldn't force them to eat it. When I still have half a bag of feed of theirs to finish. Should I let it go further next time I trug it w/ them?

They get hungry enough, they'll eat. It's a war of wills, yours and theirs. You lost the first time around. As I suggested, try sprinkling some scratch feed on top of the fermented feed when you give it to them. That will encourage them to eat it. I don't add the scratch to my fermented feed bucket because it's harder for the whole grains in it to break down, so I just sprinkle it on top of it in the feeding pan, as a treat. My ducks used to stay at the opposite side of the pen when I was in it, but now, when I bring their feed pans in, they're right behind me, waiting impatiently for me to put them down. They don't jump on me when I'm putting down their pans, but they sure give me the word!

 

[kodster]

Also, I've been reading a lot about bumblefeet and I'm afraid my little man has it

he's about 2 months old and I really don't want to cut into his skin. Any other suggestions on how to treat it? He walks and swims fine and is in no pain but I heard bumble foot can get worse. Help!!!

countrygirl1974 has posted a treatment for the bumblefoot, earlier in this thread. I did basically the same thing, but used tea tree oil instead, and only had to apply it once for it to heal up. Buddy had a bit of problem walking afterwards, because the wounds hurt when he walked, and he was trying to walk off-kilter to avoid the pain, and it caused him to be unbalanced. But it's all cleared up, and he's walking normally now. When he was in recovery, he would end up falling over on his side when he was running, and then trying to straighten himself up, but couldn't get upright. I'd have to go in and get him back on his feet, and encourage him to slow down. Once he got the idea, though, he recovered very quickly. Now he's the one that lets me pick him up, because he realized that I wasn't trying to cause him harm, but helping him recover his dignity! LOL!

 

[kodster]

Quote:

Thank you Kodstwr for your information. I believe I must still be an idiot as I can't tell the difference when Jäger and Meister are talking, which they do a lot. They are not loud ever and just simply quack and rasp away, but never really loud. I do get the tail feather flip from lots of pictures I see, but don't understand the green feather thing. I noticed recently that one of them has a thicker next and the neck feathers are more fluffy and wispy. Shoot, this is driving me crazy cause I really want the same sex in both; preferably girls for eggs, but I don't think I can handle if one is always trying to mate and wearing the hen down! Dang boys!!!

. Also, you said 23-25 weeks for eggs... omg, I may be malnourished by then! Lol
I am trying to post pictures of my two so perhaps one of you experts could identify what I have, but I and am not having any luck. I am using a first generation Ipad, so how do I do this from my albums stored on the IPad. Thank you very much!

Liquorqueen, I'm sorry I confused you on the green feathers! Pekins don't have green feathers. But Rouens do, which are domesticated versions of the wild Mallard. Their bodies are like the Pekins (heavy keel), but Rouens have the coloring of the wild Mallards. That's where the green feathers came in... the drake Rouens, like the wild Mallards, have green heads as adults. I have 4 Jumbo Pekins, 1 drake, 3 hens (with 2 more ducklings, 1 male, 1 female, arriving in 2 weeks (YAY!)), and 6 Rouens (2 drakes, 4 hens).

How old are Jäger and Meister again? I think you said 12 weeks? If they haven't developed their drake feather by now, you'll likely have 2 hens. But to be sure, why don't you separate them, and listen to their quacking/rasping as they try to find each other (take one out of sight of the other, so they try to speak loudly to find each other). If they quack loudly, then you have hens. If they are raspy/quieter, then drakes. I can tell who is who in my flock, gender-wise, because my hens are definitely very verbal. I can even hear them from their pen, while in my upstairs bedroom, in the morning, they're so loud. And if they know that I'm outside, but they can't see me, they definitely quack to me, looking for me. Especially if they think I might have food, or treats. I have dandelions in abundance in my yard (

) but they get the flower heads, and love them. Either myself, or my granddaughter and daughter-in-law, will pick the flowers and then feed the flowers to the ducks, through the pen fence. They come to you to get them.

 

[stephanie c]

countrygirl1974 has posted a treatment for the bumblefoot, earlier in this thread.  I did basically the same thing, but used tea tree oil instead, and only had to apply it once for it to heal up.  Buddy had a bit of problem walking afterwards, because the wounds hurt when he walked, and he was trying to walk off-kilter to avoid the pain, and it caused him to be unbalanced.  But it's all cleared up, and he's walking normally now.  When he was in recovery, he would end up falling over on his side when he was running, and then trying to straighten himself up, but couldn't get upright.  I'd have to go in and get him back on his feet, and encourage him to slow down.  Once he got the idea, though, he recovered very quickly.  Now he's the one that lets me pick him up, because he realized that I wasn't trying to cause him harm, but helping him recover his dignity!  LOL!

Thank you! But how do I find her previous post on this issue without going through 50 pages ? Lol so I wouldn't have to cut into his foot?

 

[kodster]

What is fermented feed? Should I consider this with my ducks, they are only on Layer pellets.

Kinda stumped by the fermented feed too. Giving my duckies flock raiser right now. And grapes, romaine, meal worms and sometimes even some minnows.
Meanwhile they're all outside residing in Duck Central and enjoying the sun and water splashing before it is Nite Nite around 9.30pm and lock in.

Here's the link to the article that contains the instructions, as well as a video, on how to make fermented feed. You use the dry feed you have now, hot water, and an apple cider vinegar, WITH the mother, such as Braggs (I found it in the health food section of my local grocery store). It's really easy to make, just takes 3 days to get it truly fermenting (if you're familiar with a sourdough starter, it's the same concept), and then just scoop what you would normally feed to your birds (good for both chickens and ducks) daily to feed your birds, then add more dry feed and hot water, give it a good stir, and let it sit until the next day, repeat! Once you add the apple cider vinegar (ACV) the first time, you don't have to add it again.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/no-strain-hot-water-easy-fermented-feed-method-w-video

The idea behind the fermented feed (or FF) is that by fermenting it, you're starting the digestive process for the birds. The process breaks down the feed so that the birds are able to digest more of it, gaining a faster metabolism, and less waste, putting on weight better, egg production is better, feathers are shinier, more healthy birds.

 

[chickery-do]

Kinda stumped by the fermented feed too. Giving my duckies flock raiser right now. And grapes, romaine, meal worms and sometimes even some minnows.
Meanwhile they're all outside residing in Duck Central and enjoying the sun and water splashing before it is Nite Nite around 9.30pm and lock in.

I'm giving it 2 my flock and they love it! What do you need to know?

 

[The Howards]

Thank you! But how do I find her previous post on this issue without going through 50 pages ? Lol so I wouldn't have to cut into his foot?

i think the one you want is page 118 post 1175

 

[Laci7210]

Heres my ducks eating their peas!



Pool Time!

 

[ashswag14]

I don't have any ducks, but I hatch some for a guy who breeds them. I'm thinking about keeping two, after reading some of these posts. My question is, what genders do I need to get? 2 boys, 2 girls, or a boy and a girl? Will two of the same gender fight or is anything fine?

 

[kbh82310]

I don't have any ducks, but I hatch some for a guy who breeds them. I'm thinking about keeping two, after reading some of these posts. My question is, what genders do I need to get? 2 boys, 2 girls, or a boy and a girl? Will two of the same gender fight or is anything fine?  

2 girls would be your best bet esp if you have hens. 2 boys would be ok if there isn't any females around (hens included) they might fight once in awhile but not near as much if there is girls around. But I would def try and get 2 girls..