Rescue duck help

[heatherlaw]

Hey guys! I have been wanting to get ducks for a while now but just got hubby to agree. Long story short I ended up rescuing a black east india duck. I’m 80% sure its a male (I wanted females because I have chickens and have heard the drakes can hurt them). I know chickens pretty well but don’t have enough experience with ducks to tell gender for sure. I have a few questions and since this community is so awesome I was hoping someone could help me out.

1) drake or duck? Terrible pic I know but he/she is freaked out and thats the best I could do today.
2) its leg is, I believe, permanently indented by the string but I don’t see a limp. Is there anything I should do or just don’t worry about it?
3) should I be worried about injuries to my hens if it is a male?
4) any special tips for a chicken lady with limited duck experience?

More info:
I have a kiddie pool set up and a deep feed dish with your standard layer pellets. Sleeping quarters are in the lower section of my chicken coop with my silkies who don’t roost either. I hope that will be ok. He/she will have the run of the yard with my silkies. Predators are not an issue. I live in the middle of town and the most threatening thing I have seen in 3 years is my neighbors cat who is terrified of my chickens, and for good reason
Thats it I think. Thanks!

 

[sylviethecochin]

1. Drake, I'm almost positive. That looks very much like a curled tail feather. But on a black duck with a short, messy tail, I'm not 100% certain.
2. Remove the string. Blood flow is best when unimpeded.
3. You should probably worry about injuries to your hens, especially silkies. Get a duck to put with him and he'll almost certainly leave the hens well alone.
4. Use grower, not layer pellets. Too much calcium is bad for the kidneys of animals that are not using them. And a good rooster will keep the duck away from his hens.

Good luck. He's a pretty boy.

 

[heatherlaw]

Thank you so much! Yes, I have already removed the string but his leg is slightly twisted because of it and the toes curve slightly but he walks ok. That is a curled tail feather you saw, which was why I was thinking male, also because his head is a bright green. I’ll try to get him a duck as soon as possible. Wish I could have a rooster but city code only allows hens. Thanks again for the swift reply!

 

[Angela young]

Hi! Where did you rescue this duck!? We just lost one just like him!!! We have been so worried!

 

[heatherlaw]

A lady listed 12 on craiglist. Said she got them and decided she didn’t want ducks. I asked if she had a female and this is the one she brought. I was sure it was a male but took it anyway because she obviously wasn’t caring for him properly because his leg had 3’ of string wraped around it. I’m in northern CA near Roseville

 

[Angela young]

A lady listed 12 on craiglist. Said she got them and decided she didn’t want ducks. I asked if she had a female and this is the one she brought. I was sure it was a male but took it anyway because she obviously wasn’t caring for him properly because his leg had 3’ of string wraped around it. I’m in northern CA near Roseville

Ahhh ok nvm. Im in PA. Our missing duck is a blue indian runner. And has similar coloring to the one you posted. Hes been missing since last night.

 

[heatherlaw]

I’m so sorry. Thats so stressful. Hope you find your missing duck soon!

 

[Angela young]

I’m so sorry. Thats so stressful. Hope you find your missing duck soon!

Thank you SO much! I keep hoping he turns up!

 

[Ravynscroft]

1. Drake, I'm almost positive. That looks very much like a curled tail feather. But on a black duck with a short, messy tail, I'm not 100% certain.
2. Remove the string. Blood flow is best when unimpeded.
3. You should probably worry about injuries to your hens, especially silkies. Get a duck to put with him and he'll almost certainly leave the hens well alone.
4. Use grower, not layer pellets. Too much calcium is bad for the kidneys of animals that are not using them. And a good rooster will keep the duck away from his hens.

Good luck. He's a pretty boy.

X2!

100% drake... only drakes will have green heads like that too, where it is a hood...

Also, how big is he? Looks awful big for a BEI, I would suspect Cayuga actually...

 

[heatherlaw]

X2!

100% drake... only drakes will have green heads like that too, where it is a hood...

Also, how big is he? Looks awful big for a BEI, I would suspect Cayuga actually...

Looking up more info on the breed I think you are right. His color is all wrong and he is the size of the mallards I had when I was a kid. He is mostly black with a beetle green head and green bars on his wings. He also has a white spot on his chest and while his feet are mostly black, there is some orange in them. Probably a mix I would think. I don’t care all that much. I don’t plan on breeding, just wanted ducks because they are fun and the slugs are destroying my garden. The chickens take care of everything else but they won’t touch slugs because “eeeewwww! They’re slimy”