Rouen Duck thread

[ducklover87]

WOW!!  I was thinking once or twice a week!!  lol 

Lol that would be nice but with messy ducks we aren't that lucky lol. If only they didn't poo in their swimming water.

 

[RouenDuck]

Well if it came from a hatchery and they didn't specify if it was a cross then it isn't. Yes they can be used as a meat duck. Lol maybe it comes with age.

Maybe.

She's almost always the first one to the water, and she drinks a lot more than other ducks.... She's more of a waterfowl then the other ducks, who prefer to sit in the shade and pant.

 

[ducklover87]

Maybe.  She's almost always the first one to the water, and she drinks a lot more than other ducks.... She's more of a waterfowl then the other ducks, who prefer to sit in the shade and pant.

Lol sounds like they need to take lessons from her.

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Well the nest seeding working so far. So I have 5 eggs saved for bator soon. I keep close eye on the nest, and the guinea nest.
Buffs seem to have penned themselves and staying content away from others today at least. Weather is cooperating tonight so far. So maybe they will huddle up and get some good rest.
Need to add a little weight to the male I think. He's only 1/2 my females size and it looks comical watching them waddle around. They seem content to ignore the rest of the world, except male buff and me. Drake likes to get all the birds going when I come around.

Hoping to get 8-10 eggs before I set them and try a hatch. I've had success with pekins we had but this is 1st time we had breeding age rouens.

Do they get broody often. Wouldn't mind letting Waddles get a reward for all her laying efforts and be Mama for awhile. WIll pen the drake if I have to to keep babies safe if that happens. If she does go broody how large of a clutch do they normally try hatching?

 

[MyHenporium]

I'm new to poultry raising. I ordered chicks and ducklings from Meyer, and now have 3 Rouens (said to be 2 females, 1 male) and 10 assorted breeds of chickens. They are now all 10 weeks old. Altho I'm lovin' all of them, I'm particularly attached to the Rouens. I'm finding lots of information on chicken development, and raising, on the internet, but not so much on ducks! I'm so glad to find this thread!

I have all of the birds in the same pen, and they seem to get along fine, and their interactions are entertaining. The ducks went in the coop at night when the weather was cooler, but now prefer to stay outside. I will be building a duck house as soon as I've got my permanent pen up, which should be in 2-3 weeks. I have a blue kiddie pool for the ducks, and they love it! At first they splashed every drop of water out within an hour of filling, but have stopped doing that, thank goodness, so I only have to change it once a day.

So, my questions of you experienced folks is: When do they get their adult coloring? Are they good layers? Are they broody? Do they make good mommies? (I've figured out, from this thread, that I have one female, for sure....she is VERY loud when she sees me outside, begging for treats! I really hope I have another female, as 2 males would be bad news for her!)






Ooops! I should have made theses photos smaller! Sorry. These are about 3 weeks ago....The ducks enjoying splashing....and my "almost completed coop)

 

[Speceider]

first pic looks to be a drake...

Clint

 

[Highcotton]

Thanks for the help. I think mine are Rouens. I bought them from Tractor Supply. They just said ducks. The Tractor Supply had Rouens on their sign so I assumed that they are Rouens do you know how to tell the difference?

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Thanks for the help. I think mine are Rouens. I bought them from Tractor Supply. They just said ducks. The Tractor Supply had Rouens on their sign so I assumed that they are Rouens do you know how to tell the difference?

Most likely they are. Tractor Supply as well as many other stores that get hatchery birds generally get Hatchery choice/breed straight run birds. Unless you special order. On Ducks/Guineas/Turkey/Bantams normally. And these normally are filled with the more general birds from a breed, and rouens are common and less exspensive than most other ducks. Pekin is also another common breed in the choice but they are pure white.
Rarer breeds are mostly saved for specific orders or "Rare Breed Specials" since they get more profit from them. You could get a rare bird in a hatchery choice but its not likely.

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Manly little drake I have.

1st he chases the buffs away from his girl. Today he was chasing the dominate guinea away and then he chases my big BA roo away. He's like 1/3 his size and the roo is running away like a little school girl. Man hormones are working wonders on this little guy. And when I got him he came from the bottom of the order at the old owners house. Go figure what a little tail will do.

 

[brklync]

What kind of enclosures do you have for your Rouens? I am building one for my two ducklings any suggestions?