Pekin Duck Club!

[jtn42248]

Also, and there was a thread recently about this, some weeds in ponds have sharp edges that can actually cut the ducks. So do your best to either clean/dredge the pond or keep your ducks away from it and let them have the pleasure of their pool. I have two kiddie pools for 16 Cayugas and that works fine. You will need to clean and change the water every day but it only takes a few minutes and it is worth it seeing them splash and play in their clean pool.

WARNING!! Ducks can/will turn their play area into a lunar landscape with the digging they do looking for grubs. So, prepare yourself and your husband for that eventuality.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Also, and there was a thread recently about this, some weeds in ponds have sharp edges that can actually cut the ducks. So do your best to either clean/dredge the pond or keep your ducks away from it and let them have the pleasure of their pool. I have two kiddie pools for 16 Cayugas and that works fine. You will need to clean and change the water every day but it only takes a few minutes and it is worth it seeing them splash and play in their clean pool.

WARNING!! Ducks can/will turn their play area into a lunar landscape with the digging they do looking for grubs. So, prepare yourself and your husband for that eventuality.

I agree with Amiga and jtn42248 I'd get your boys home asap. especially if they aren't getting into the po nd and i can't blame them if it's stagnant. Makes them much more vunerable to predators also I have 4 geese that love their kiddy pool I got the biggest for them and my ducks use it too but having 4 drakes I'd go with 2 just so no one gets left out.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Hey guys,

I'm getting 4 Pekin ducklings on Wednesday! I read that female's chests are broader and male's have longer necks and heads @ super early age. Any truth to that? Hoping not to get more than one drake.

Any tips you guys have on raising them? I've read some people thinking they are way too messy and not liking it in the end.

Thanks

Here is a very nice sticky about caring for ducklings--> https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711 . It's not specific to Pekins, but you care for all ducklings in the same way.

To go ahead and answer one question though, yes, ducklings and ducks are both very messy, mostly because of the water issues with waterfowl vs non-waterfowl poultry. They're also a years-long commitment. If you're having any thoughts at all that they might require more care than you're able to give them right now, it would be best to hold off for a little while on getting them and do lots of reading in this forum so you can see what others have to say. There are a couple of animals I've thought I wanted, but reading before getting them about other peoples experiences with them changed my mind.

 

[Amiga]

I must warn you - ducks steal hearts. Instantly. Without warning. And cause the loss of the mind. I speak from experience.

and…..

They are waterfowl. Joyful in the presence of water. Ecstatic. Complete abandon.

I have had ducks this time around for over five years now. They are therapeutic, and have their own set of needs. JadeComputerGal covered quite a bit.

Here are some details about the water. Lest you think I had it all together from the gitgo - I had it about 80% together, but my setup was still more labor intensive than I would have now, now that I know more, thanks to the many good members of the Duck Forum. Love you duck people!

Okay, here are some links I have collected that cover some of the water management. By the way, before I post them, I want to tell you that it looks like I will be taking in a special needs duck - she is on the mend, but very small, and I need to meet her water needs differently than I do for the Runners and Buffs. And I am looking forward to having her in the flock. Because sometimes, a little extra work is worth it to me.

Here we go - water management links


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

post number 8 from this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959603/ducklings-getting-stuck-on-their-backs#post_14939819

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/969751/help-baby-ducklings#post_15125952

 

[eldridgebrood]

I must warn you - ducks steal hearts.  Instantly.  Without warning.  And cause the loss of the mind.  I speak from experience.

and…..

They are waterfowl.  Joyful in the presence of water.  Ecstatic.  Complete abandon.

I have had ducks this time around for over five years now.  They are therapeutic, and have their own set of needs.  JadeComputerGal covered quite a bit.

Here are some details about the water.  Lest you think I had it all together from the gitgo - I had it about 80% together, but my setup was still more labor intensive than I would have now, now that I know more, thanks to the many good members of the Duck Forum.  Love you duck people! 

Okay, here are some links I have collected that cover some of the water management.  By the way, before I post them, I want to tell you that it looks like I will be taking in a special needs duck - she is on the mend, but very small, and I need to meet her water needs differently than I do for the Runners and Buffs.  And I am looking forward to having her in the flock.  Because sometimes, a little extra work is worth it to me. 

Here we go - water management links


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

[COLOR=0047A4]http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html[/COLOR]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/259876/do-your-ducks-have-water-at-night/10#post_13568197

post number 8 from this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959603/ducklings-getting-stuck-on-their-backs#post_14939819

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/969751/help-baby-ducklings#post_15125952

We've been trying to figure out the dirty water issue too. We have a kiddie pool for swimming of coarse which gets cleaned once a day...the water can which looks like a feeder but deeper gets cleaned 2-3 times a day...which is a LOT. So my awesome husband made a waterer last night from a five gallon bucket with a lid, some pvc, and poultry water nipples...I know they can't dunk their heads in that, but we wanted a constant clean water source for drinking,since they share the pen with the chickens, we will keep the can waterer in just For dunking and they can always use the pool too if need be, but then we wont HAVE to clean the water can out as often for them to have clean drinking water.
I'll post pics of the new water system asap. So far we and our birds are loving it

 

[Nerraw23]

Also, and there was a thread recently about this, some weeds in ponds have sharp edges that can actually cut the ducks. So do your best to either clean/dredge the pond or keep your ducks away from it and let them have the pleasure of their pool. I have two kiddie pools for 16 Cayugas and that works fine. You will need to clean and change the water every day but it only takes a few minutes and it is worth it seeing them splash and play in their clean pool.

WARNING!! Ducks can/will turn their play area into a lunar landscape with the digging they do looking for grubs. So, prepare yourself and your husband for that eventuality.

Well thank you for the warning!! Haha I will definitely take into consideration where we put them now! Haha.
I did see the ducks in the pond today so that gave me some peace of mind at least until I can get them something built and fenced in. I'm still kind of sad they wouldn't come near me this afternoon, when I went to go feed them. this morning they came up to me and ate with me standing near them. But this afternoon nothing! What could I be doing wrong?

So I just left the food and went on to skimming some of the algae out of the pond. (Well attempting to skim it out) it's gotten worse since it has been so hot and not a lot of rain. I feel like such a bad duck mom. :-( here is a picture of the pond

 

[Amiga]

Well thank you for the warning!! Haha I will definitely take into consideration where we put them now! Haha.
I did see the ducks in the pond today so that gave me some peace of mind at least until I can get them something built and fenced in.

I'm still kind of sad they wouldn't come near me this afternoon, when I went to go feed them.

this morning they came up to me and ate with me standing near them. But this afternoon nothing! What could I be doing wrong?

So I just left the food and went on to skimming some of the algae out of the pond. (Well attempting to skim it out) it's gotten worse since it has been so hot and not a lot of rain. I feel like such a bad duck mom. :-( here is a picture of the pond

@Nerraw23 you may want to be sure you have molasses, Epsom salt and especially food grade activated charcoal powder on hand. It's a good idea to have a duckie emergency kit in any case. Vet wrap, and antibiotic ointment, clear iodine would be on my list as well.

 

[Nerraw23]

Well thank you for the warning!! Haha I will definitely take into consideration where we put them now! Haha.
I did see the ducks in the pond today so that gave me some peace of mind at least until I can get them something built and fenced in. I'm still kind of sad they wouldn't come near me this afternoon, when I went to go feed them. this morning they came up to me and ate with me standing near them. But this afternoon nothing! What could I be doing wrong?

So I just left the food and went on to skimming some of the algae out of the pond. (Well attempting to skim it out) it's gotten worse since it has been so hot and not a lot of rain. I feel like such a bad duck mom. :-( here is a picture of the pond

Hey I did see them in the pond today which makes me a little happier until I can get something built for them and to our house. I have been trying to skim the algae out of the pond for the time being. It's absolutely horrible. :-/ this is the pond.

 

[Nerraw23]

I agree with Amiga and jtn42248 I'd get your boys home asap. especially if they aren't getting into the po nd and i can't blame them if it's stagnant. Makes them much more vunerable to predators also  I have 4 geese that love their kiddy pool I got the biggest for them and my ducks use it too but having 4 drakes I'd go with 2 just so no one gets left out.

I meant to reply to your post but somehow replied to my own post?!? So see the above post! Lol

 

[Amiga]

Is it algae or duckweed?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemna