*~*Runner Duck Club*~*

[caboodleschicks]

IView attachment 1143871 have been crazy about Runners since I was deployed to Asia and saw thousands of them working together in the rice fields.

I did over a year of research before I got them. I don't personally like getting an animal until I am confident I can take care of them properly.

We moved back to my home area in Kentucky in January and in the spring I got 4 Runner Ducks and mistakes happen and ended up with 2 Pekin.

I started the day I got them as ducklings bringing them outside with me into the garden. They slept in the house in a large kiddy pool until they could get out of it and then we built a coop. Though the runners have free access to the house during the day via a cat door in my son's bedroom. Which they use. They have access to 25 acers to free range on they mainly stay in the gardens and when it is hot they stay right by the house.

Their names are Pigget VonDrake, Sneezy the Magnificent, Sir Whatchamacallit and Runt.
The Pekins are Gusgus and Loudmouth. Those were our original 6.

I never realized what joy and blessings they would turn out to be!!!

[/QUOTE]
Very pretty! Like the names!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks @Mama Runner

Forgot I wanted to put this link up for anyone who may want to keep this on hand.

[URL]https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-provide-emergency-and-supportive-care-updated-5-14-2017.1048620/[/URL]

 

[Mama Runner]

Ok, everything I have read says ducks don't make good mom's they don't get broody, ECT.

Runt Finally laid an egg and I took it away. She was absolutely beside herself. So she has laid another. She does sit on it some. But mainly will watch over it all day, she goes in and rolls it around. She was so upset when I took her first one. Should I let her try and hatch? I really don't want to see her beside herself again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Let her collect and see what she does. @CyndiD has Runners that are broody and hatch.

I see being beside themselves so often it makes my heart hurt for them but these are my Muscovy's and they want to take over the world. None of my Runners have shown interest or my Buffs.

 

[Duck Manor]

I'm so excited, Ruby is brooding on a bunch of eggs. Some belong to Lola. As this is my first clutch I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I'm hoping mum will be a good carer xxx (so much for Runner ducks not being good brooders).

 

[Miss Lydia]

Keep us updated!!

 

[Duck Manor]

Keep us updated!!

Thanks Yes I will - no doubt I will have a thousand questions coming up when the ducklings arrive as I have no idea what so ever.

 

[Duck Manor]

Some eggs and the ducks playing in their pond

 

[Miss Lydia]

Great pic love the pool where did you get it?

As for what to do when ducklings arrive well hopefully mama will take care of everything pertaining to her ducklings. You'll probably want to keep her and babes separated from the rest for at least a week to give them time to bond real good and get their legs under them. I usually keep mine where everyone can see them but no one can harass or injure any one. Especially drakes. They can be unpredictable.

Looking at your fencing which is nice by the way but easy for tiny ducklings to accidently fall through which will make them vulnerable to preds and getting cold because most the time they can't find their way back in side. I use plastic poultry fencing to prevent that easy to put up and take down.
No access to water unless easy ways in or out they can drown .

Hope I didn't scare you but there is a lot to think about when we are getting ready for babies[ducklings]

 

[generaldsherman]

Ok, everything I have read says ducks don't make good mom's they don't get broody, ECT.

Runt Finally laid an egg and I took it away. She was absolutely beside herself. So she has laid another. She does sit on it some. But mainly will watch over it all day, she goes in and rolls it around. She was so upset when I took her first one. Should I let her try and hatch? I really don't want to see her beside herself again.

My hen raised 4 of them this spring (lost 3 after hatching but she raised the remaining 4 quite well)