Rouen Duck thread

[jtalking]

In what order of food (starter/grower, finisher, laying pellets) do y'all feed your rouen ducklings judging by so many weeks old? My 2 hens are almost getting too big for my grow out pen and was wondering when i could put them in with my drake who is a year old and is eating pellets.

 

[ducklover87]

In what order of food (starter/grower, finisher, laying pellets) do y'all feed your rouen ducklings judging by so many weeks old? My 2 hens are almost getting too big for my grow out pen and was wondering when i could put them in with my drake who is a year old and is eating pellets.

I start off with a starter/grower switch to a grower/finisher then use a layer pellet. Idk bout the weeks I just go by the back of the bag. Is your drake eating a layer pellet or just a pellet feed? If you only have the older drake he doesn't need to be on a layer pellet but if its just a pelleted food then they would be fine with that just make sure the drake doesn't hurt them.

 

[3acres]

ducklover87 - I don't mind a bit that you used that photo!!! I'm all for anything that helps Rouen owners on their way! When I was wanting Mallards, then found out there is such thing as a Rouen, and they might be better for want I was wanting, it would of been nice to get on a thread like this....and I'm glad you started one!

Yep, I have pics on the Pekin thread....

. Hard to keep the ducks seperated for each thread sometimes...lol. Very silly ducks! Scared of everything! ...but such a blast to have and watch!!! That bull paid them no mind and was like "What's thier deal"...ha.

I bet I have 7 drakes and 4 ducks then going by beak color as you say....Thanks! After you mentioned that, I really studied them and they are really changing their beak color. I tried to take better pics yesterday of their beak differences, but it was cloudy all day and hard to see much in the pics.

This guy has a started green beak and I was able to tell for sure yesterday that he was making the drake raspy noice....



From the other day. Maybe still hard to tell....but this one's got the greenish color.

 

[starlingsbaby]

thanks for all tge help. i will post pics when the get a lil older to see if yall can help sex them.

 

[ducklover87]

ducklover87 - I don't mind a bit that you used that photo!!! I'm all for anything that helps Rouen owners on their way! When I was wanting Mallards, then found out there is such thing as a Rouen, and they might be better for want I was wanting, it would of been nice to get on a thread like this....and I'm glad you started one! Yep, I have pics on the Pekin thread.... . Hard to keep the ducks seperated for each thread sometimes...lol. Very silly ducks! Scared of everything! ...but such a blast to have and watch!!! That bull paid them no mind and was like "What's thier deal"...ha. I bet I have 7 drakes and 4 ducks then going by beak color as you say....Thanks! After you mentioned that, I really studied them and they are really changing their beak color. I tried to take better pics yesterday of their beak differences, but it was cloudy all day and hard to see much in the pics. This guy has a started green beak and I was able to tell for sure yesterday that he was making the drake raspy noice.... From the other day. Maybe still hard to tell....but this one's got the greenish color.

I like the rouens over the mallards because you don't have to clip wings and I know to some that may sound dumb but I just don't like it. I know if done right it doesn't hurt them either but idk its not something I'd be able to do which is why I like rouens. Mallard coloring but they can't fly so no wing clipping. Yup I think that's where I saw them was the Pekin thread. Some females might have a greenish bill too so try to voice sex them when you look. I know that seems impossible but what you could do is maybe get some sort of band and band boys and girls after voice sexing them. That way you don't lose count and it will be easier to see your drake to hen ratio. Thankfully I have a bunch of breeds so it easy to keep track of who is what lol.

 

[Highcotton]

I have found that colored electrical ties work well. Be sure not to pull them tight and clip the excess off close and square. they are cheap and easy to apply. They help me to Identify each of my Rouens and chickens of the same color. They are available at many stores. HArbor Freight and Home Depot are 2 of my favorite sources. Most Auto Parts stores also carry them.

 

[Highcotton]

For problems with birds moving their nests.

Try leaving a fake nest egg of some sort and she may not move the nest. That's why nest eggs were used.

 

[3acres]

I like the rouens over the mallards because you don't have to clip wings and I know to some that may sound dumb but I just don't like it. I know if done right it doesn't hurt them either but idk its not something I'd be able to do which is why I like rouens. Mallard coloring but they can't fly so no wing clipping. Yup I think that's where I saw them was the Pekin thread. Some females might have a greenish bill too so try to voice sex them when you look. I know that seems impossible but what you could do is maybe get some sort of band and band boys and girls after voice sexing them. That way you don't lose count and it will be easier to see your drake to hen ratio. Thankfully I have a bunch of breeds so it easy to keep track of who is what lol.

You bet, I think that is nice also on the no need to clip a wing thing and they stay at home and don't just fly off one day. Still vulnerable to predators, but with me wanting to free range them, I read their bigger size might be better also for that. I seen what looked like some super obese ones on google images...that was only only thing I questioned...lol. They looked like pot bellied pigs. I think I read on Metzer's site that there are show and non show Rouens....the show Rouens get the belly. Not sure on any of that. If mine get rolly pollly, I'd still love them all the same now though..ha...and might even think it's funny now....

.

I think I was typing beaks, when I meant bills in my last post.....oooops. It'll be interesting when I know for sure who is what. I'll keep trying to figure it out. Seems the green billed ones also have wider necks when viewed from the side??? ...but I'll keep in mind the green billed ones may not be for sure drakes. I may seperate my Pekins and Rouens for breeding. May have another pen of drake Rouens beside the breeding pen of Rouens...lol. I'll figure something out as time goes....lol.

 

[3acres]

April 3...the day they came...



first food and water...


first bath...


random pics as youngsters....

 

[ducklover87]

You bet, I think that is nice also on the no need to clip a wing thing and they stay at home and don't just fly off one day.  Still vulnerable to predators, but with me wanting to free range them, I read their bigger size might be better also for that.  I seen what looked like some super obese ones on google images...that was only only thing I questioned...lol.  They looked like pot bellied pigs.  I think I read on Metzer's site that there are show and non show Rouens....the show Rouens get the belly.  Not sure on any of that.  If mine get rolly pollly, I'd still love them all the same now though..ha...and might even think it's funny now.... . 

I think I was typing beaks, when I meant bills in my last post.....oooops.  It'll be interesting when I know for sure who is what.  I'll keep trying to figure it out.  Seems the green billed ones also have wider necks when viewed from the side???  ...but I'll keep in mind the green billed ones may not be for sure drakes.  I may seperate my Pekins and Rouens for breeding.  May have another pen of drake Rouens beside the breeding pen of Rouens...lol.  I'll figure something out as time goes....

Yes they do get the belly? Not sure what the correct word for it is. I think it happens as they get older but I'm not sure. Lol its funny you say they remind you of pot belly pigs. I think that's a perfect discribtion. Hmm not sure about the neck thing I will have to look. Now that mines coloring in its easy to tell who's who lol. well hope you figure it out. I love throwback baby pics! They were sooooo cute! They are cute now too but babies are always cuter.

Edited to fix my bad spelling.