*~*Runner Duck Club*~*

[nbutlin]

I meant to post this in the Runner Club - but got confused between Post Reply and New Thread, so it ended up in general 'Duck' forum!! Can you tell I'm new? I'll post it here too since all of you are experienced with Runners!

Getting a pair of Runners this Friday (from Fabulous Feathers Hatchery) - I have some questions for y'all. I don't know anyone personally who has Runners, which I know are different from other ducks. In the past I've only had a Pekin, and he was disabled, so it wasn't a typical 'duck' life.

1. I've been told that Runners are 'skittish' and 'high energy' - is this your experience? We want to be able to interact with them, love on them, and establish a good bond with them. Do you find this to be possible with your Runners?
2. I can either get two girls, or a boy/girl pair. I've been warned that perhaps a drake will become aggressive when his 'girl' starts to lay, but the breeder told me this isn't true with his runners. Do you find your drakes get aggressive when the girl matures?
3. I also heard the drakes are aggressive maters and it's too much for the girl to be paired one-on-one with a drake - breeder recommended two girls to a drake, but that's getting to be too many for us. Do you find that one girl to one boy works fine, or is it to much for the girl?
4. Most important decision for now: If we're only going to have 2 runners, should it be 2 girls or boy/girl pair?

We live in a normal-sized yard in the middle of Austin, Tx and we have a big coop with 15 chickens. We love our birds and we fell in love with ducks with our Pekin. We just want a happy, fun environment with the ducks too. Any advice you have specific to Runners would be appreciated!

Just joined today - this is my first post!!
Nancy

 

[fowlman01]

I meant to post this in the Runner Club - but got confused between Post Reply and New Thread, so it ended up in general 'Duck' forum!! Can you tell I'm new? I'll post it here too since all of you are experienced with Runners!

Getting a pair of Runners this Friday (from Fabulous Feathers Hatchery) - I have some questions for y'all. I don't know anyone personally who has Runners, which I know are different from other ducks. In the past I've only had a Pekin, and he was disabled, so it wasn't a typical 'duck' life.

1. I've been told that Runners are 'skittish' and 'high energy' - is this your experience? We want to be able to interact with them, love on them, and establish a good bond with them. Do you find this to be possible with your Runners?
2. I can either get two girls, or a boy/girl pair. I've been warned that perhaps a drake will become aggressive when his 'girl' starts to lay, but the breeder told me this isn't true with his runners. Do you find your drakes get aggressive when the girl matures?
3. I also heard the drakes are aggressive maters and it's too much for the girl to be paired one-on-one with a drake - breeder recommended two girls to a drake, but that's getting to be too many for us. Do you find that one girl to one boy works fine, or is it to much for the girl?
4. Most important decision for now: If we're only going to have 2 runners, should it be 2 girls or boy/girl pair?

We live in a normal-sized yard in the middle of Austin, Tx and we have a big coop with 15 chickens. We love our birds and we fell in love with ducks with our Pekin. We just want a happy, fun environment with the ducks too. Any advice you have specific to Runners would be appreciated!

Just joined today - this is my first post!!
Nancy

Runners can be very nervous. Mine are, but some hatchery Runners are not too bad. My Runner males are sexually aggressive all year, but particularly during the Spring and early Summer. Female ducks can be a bit noisy, but the males are pretty quite. The demeanor of the birds is dependent on the breeding behind them. I have plenty of females, but even then some females are bred too often. I wouldn't pick a Runner if I wanted a pet duck, but that is just me based on my style of Runners. Mine don't look like some posted there so maybe input from other will be different.




Walt

 

[CandQ]

I meant to post this in the Runner Club - but got confused between Post Reply and New Thread, so it ended up in general 'Duck' forum!!  Can you tell I'm new?  I'll post it here too since all of you are experienced with Runners!

Getting a pair of Runners this Friday (from Fabulous Feathers Hatchery) - I have some questions for y'all. I don't know anyone personally who has Runners, which I know are different from other ducks. In the past I've only had a Pekin, and he was disabled, so it wasn't a typical 'duck' life.

1. I've been told that Runners are 'skittish' and 'high energy' - is this your experience? We want to be able to interact with them, love on them, and establish a good bond with them. Do you find this to be possible with your Runners?
2. I can either get two girls, or a boy/girl pair. I've been warned that perhaps a drake will become aggressive when his 'girl' starts to lay, but the breeder told me this isn't true with his runners. Do you find your drakes get aggressive when the girl matures?
3. I also heard the drakes are aggressive maters and it's too much for the girl to be paired one-on-one with a drake - breeder recommended two girls to a drake, but that's getting to be too many for us. Do you find that one girl to one boy works fine, or is it to much for the girl?
4. Most important decision for now: If we're only going to have 2 runners, should it be 2 girls or boy/girl pair?

We live in a normal-sized yard in the middle of Austin, Tx and we have a big coop with 15 chickens. We love our birds and we fell in love with ducks with our Pekin. We just want a happy, fun environment with the ducks too. Any advice you have specific to Runners would be appreciated!

Just joined today - this is my first post!!
Nancy

Hi Nancy!

I'm very new to the duck game and the wonderful world of BYC too
My two Indian Runners are now 5weeks old. They're both boys - I didn't want to deal with breeding or with eggs. I strictly wanted pets. And yes, the girls are loud!
I received them at a few hours old and they bonded with me immediately. I haven't seen skittish behavior yet, although one is watchful. They follow me around wherever I go, and get so excited to climb up on me and cuddle for hours at a time. Even when I stand, they just get comfortable on the floor at my feet
So, in answer to #1: YES! Absolutely I also discovered that they are wobbly on their feet, more so than other breeds as babies - but at 5 weeks they're grown out of that it seems.
They grow FAST and get tall super fast!
As for the rest of your questions, I can't answer. But I'm excited for you! I did read that Runners are actually great for pets, but of course each one has its own personality like people do. I can't remember which breed was said to be the very best as pets ... But I couldn't be happier with my gorgeous Runner babies!
Sara

 

[CandQ]

Runners can be very nervous. Mine are, but some hatchery Runners are not too bad. My Runner males are sexually aggressive all year, but particularly during the Spring and early Summer. Female ducks can be a bit noisy, but the males are pretty quite. The demeanor of the birds is dependent on the breeding behind them. I have plenty of females, but even then some females are bred too often. I wouldn't pick a Runner if I wanted a pet duck, but that is just me based on my style of Runners. Mine don't look like some posted there so maybe input from other will be different. Walt

Walt - beautiful Runners!! Such lovely shape!

 

[qwackers]

I meant to post this in the Runner Club - but got confused between Post Reply and New Thread, so it ended up in general 'Duck' forum!! Can you tell I'm new? I'll post it here too since all of you are experienced with Runners!

Getting a pair of Runners this Friday (from Fabulous Feathers Hatchery) - I have some questions for y'all. I don't know anyone personally who has Runners, which I know are different from other ducks. In the past I've only had a Pekin, and he was disabled, so it wasn't a typical 'duck' life.

1. I've been told that Runners are 'skittish' and 'high energy' - is this your experience? We want to be able to interact with them, love on them, and establish a good bond with them. Do you find this to be possible with your Runners?
2. I can either get two girls, or a boy/girl pair. I've been warned that perhaps a drake will become aggressive when his 'girl' starts to lay, but the breeder told me this isn't true with his runners. Do you find your drakes get aggressive when the girl matures?
3. I also heard the drakes are aggressive maters and it's too much for the girl to be paired one-on-one with a drake - breeder recommended two girls to a drake, but that's getting to be too many for us. Do you find that one girl to one boy works fine, or is it to much for the girl?
4. Most important decision for now: If we're only going to have 2 runners, should it be 2 girls or boy/girl pair?

We live in a normal-sized yard in the middle of Austin, Tx and we have a big coop with 15 chickens. We love our birds and we fell in love with ducks with our Pekin. We just want a happy, fun environment with the ducks too. Any advice you have specific to Runners would be appreciated!

Just joined today - this is my first post!!
Nancy

I have runners we hatched which are nearly 3 weeks old now. They are so tame. They sqawk as soon as they hear me come home and keep at it until i go and say hey then they settle down. They love snuggles and swimming in the bath. I was worried they wouldnt bond with us as we have 3 adult ducks we got a few months ago and they really havent had any socialisation at all. These ducklings are the opposite! I think with anything you get out what you put in.
We're aren't totally sure what we have at the moment in terms of sex. One is definately a male when we vent sexed early on but the others - nothing popped out so am hoping they are all girls. A for the aggressive male issue, i think any breed of male duck can become aggressive when it's mating season. At the moment even the females are at it with each other and they can be rougher than the male! I think as long as you have a good male to female ratio you should be ok, e.g. spread the love around!! urgh!



Walt - beautiful runners I hope my white one looks like this when he grows up!

 

[stonykill]

Runners can be very nervous. Mine are, but some hatchery Runners are not too bad. My Runner males are sexually aggressive all year, but particularly during the Spring and early Summer. Female ducks can be a bit noisy, but the males are pretty quite. The demeanor of the birds is dependent on the breeding behind them. I have plenty of females, but even then some females are bred too often. I wouldn't pick a Runner if I wanted a pet duck, but that is just me based on my style of Runners. Mine don't look like some posted there so maybe input from other will be different.




Walt

Walt, someone on one of these Runner threads was looking for show quality Runner hatching eggs. I sent them your way. Not sure if they found you as I could only remember Walt and not fowlman01. Love your Runners.

 

[Flowerbh]

I HAVE A RUNNER!!!!!!!

 

[Sagibaro]

I HAVE A RUNNER!!!!!!!

Congratulations!

 

[stonykill]

I HAVE A RUNNER!!!!!!!

 

[cheepcheep3]

These are my new little Runners!! (6 are runners, 4 are Rouens) This is my first time every having ducks and I absolutely love them!!