*~*Runner Duck Club*~*

[chickengirl72]

The distance varies by the breed. It would be using 1 known layer as a guide and then averaging out afterwards.

John has a very good write up, I am going to find it right now..

http://metzerfarms.blogspot.ca/2011/03/how-do-i-know-which-of-my-ducks-are.html

Thanks for the writeup, that's great! I checked a few of the ducks yesterday, and there was definitely a difference between my older duck who i know is laying and the younger ones that i'm trying to figure out. There's definitely a learning curve to this, but i'll keep working on it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 9 Runners they will be 14 weeks old Tomorrow, well they have started breeding, Not being use to any other domestic duck but Muscovy's I was surprised to see this, Now the females are going in the houses looking at potential nest sites for laying. Is this pretty normal for this age? They literally throw themselves at the drakes.

 

[Duck Hill]

any tricks for identifying which ducks are laying? i had extra eggs in the coop today, so my new runners that we hatched this spring are laying. we have a few too many ducks right now and i need to rehome some, but i'd like to keep the early layers if i can figure out who they are!

The vent changes when a duck is laying. When a duck is laying the vent is larger and more relaxed. When they are not laying it is tighter and smaller. However, this difference is not always easy to tell. Putting the duck with one friend in a separate pen for a day or two helps identify your layers in a more foolproof way.

 

[apricotvalleywf]

Miss Lydia, no, this is not common at all! We have a bunch of 14-16 week olds and the closest thing you will see is a few drakes having a squabble every now and then. I have never seen them sexually active at that young of an age.

 

[Duck Hill]

Nooooo! My white girl duckling has laryngitis!!!

That means she's.... a HE!

But I checked! Several times! She didn't have anything down there! Other ducklings did!

 

[LaPoulet]

Nooooo!  My white girl duckling has laryngitis!!!    That means she's.... a HE!  ​

But I checked!  Several times!  She didn't have anything down there! Other ducklings did!        

Awe

 

[Miss Lydia]

Miss Lydia, no, this is not common at all! We have a bunch of 14-16 week olds and the closest thing you will see is a few drakes having a squabble every now and then. I have never seen them sexually active at that young of an age.

Must be something in the water here @apricotvalleywf Not only are they mating but I have 1 Blue Runner drake chasing down the Muscovy females now.

Or maybe it's the FF they eat. I have no idea but this is 15 week old ducks. lol

 

[apricotvalleywf]

Definitely not what we have ever experienced with our youngsters! Even in the fall when they are more mature their testosterone levels are still pretty low

 

[Miss Lydia]

Definitely not what we have ever experienced with our youngsters! Even in the fall when they are more mature their testosterone levels are still pretty low

Well this is one for the record books then. They just matured fast. All seem healthy, Well maybe except one lil female she has a thing for my geese. She head bobs and flirt talks to them every time they come around.

 

[Sarkchick]

Does anyone have a picture of a Blue Fawn Runner? Or know where I can fine one?
Thanks, Linda