*~*Runner Duck Club*~*

[Becky V]

Newbie here. Just got our first runners almost 4 weeks ago. We got 3 runners and a goose. (Each of our sons got a duck and our daughter got a goose, so the running joke is -duck, duck, duck, goose! Lol) pretty sure we have 3 ducks and no drake except our goose (not sure if they are referred to as a drake as a male?) They have been in a brooder but also playing in our yard when it is nice or cuddled by the children who are in love! Lol we have a makeshift pen and runner outaide this week to begin to acclimate them to outside life. I did mad crazy research when we brought hem home spontaneously (went crazy first time mom lol) finally feel comfortable with their feed and brewers yeast. But I do have 2 questions. 1st how big of a duck house should we make. Planned for a 4x3 usuing pallets as the base and plywood to enclose & covering floor with a vinyl remnant to make cleaning easy. Definitely would consider getting more as they really are so stinking cute and we are hooked! Runner room we have is about 100 sq ft but dont want to make the duck house too small. 2nd do we need to get a male for our girls if we want eggs. planned to do more research b/c I would love to have eggs for eating. But figure I would ask advice here first. I know we have a little bit till then so wanted to focus on the house and runner first. Absolutely LOVE this site! It literally saved my sanity when I was panicking over caring for these babies when we first got them! [GALLERY=][GALLERY=][/GALLERY][/GALLERY]View attachment 552587 View attachment 552587

 

[ChampionAlex]

Anyone in this thread good at telling a sex of a fawn n white runner duck at 3days old ? Thank you

 

[Widlast]

To sex a duck that young you would need to be able to (had training in) sexing young ducks. It is not overly complicated but requires some skill, I do not have that skill.
You would need to take the duckling to someone who does.

 

[MrsHudson221B]

Let the ducklings out to stretch their legs while I sprayed down their stinky stinky brooder. They're a group of nine two-week olds and five one-week olds. The size difference at this age totally cracks me up!

It looks like rain today and maybe tomorrow, so we may not make much progress on their new house. But, we did draw up plans and make a list of materials. Small steps...

 

[Leave a LightOn]

Their favorite toy is a water heater drain pan ($9.98 Home Depot), it's a durable "kiddie pool", just deep enough for them to do whatever they want and not need a ton of water.

Let the ducklings out to stretch their legs while I sprayed down their stinky stinky brooder. They're a group of nine two-week olds and five one-week olds. The size difference at this age totally cracks me up!

Is this a water heater drain pan as mentioned by @Widlast? Looks effective!

 

[MrsHudson221B]

Newbie here. Just got our first runners almost 4 weeks ago. We got 3 runners and a goose. (Each of our sons got a duck and our daughter got a goose, so the running joke is -duck, duck, duck, goose! Lol) pretty sure we have 3 ducks and no drake except our goose (not sure if they are referred to as a drake as a male?) They have been in a brooder but also playing in our yard when it is nice or cuddled by the children who are in love! Lol we have a makeshift pen and runner outaide this week to begin to acclimate them to outside life. I did mad crazy research when we brought hem home spontaneously (went crazy first time mom lol) finally feel comfortable with their feed and brewers yeast. But I do have 2 questions. 1st how big of a duck house should we make. Planned for a 4x3 usuing pallets as the base and plywood to enclose & covering floor with a vinyl remnant to make cleaning easy. Definitely would consider getting more as they really are so stinking cute and we are hooked! Runner room we have is about 100 sq ft but dont want to make the duck house too small. 2nd do we need to get a male for our girls if we want eggs. planned to do more research b/c I would love to have eggs for eating. But figure I would ask advice here first. I know we have a little bit till then so wanted to focus on the house and runner first. Absolutely LOVE this site! It literally saved my sanity when I was panicking over caring for these babies when we first got them! [GALLERY=][GALLERY=][/GALLERY][/GALLERY]View attachment 552587 View attachment 552587

Hi! I'm new to ducks, too, so I can't offer any expert advice on your pen. But, I've been keeping chickens for a few years. You don't need a drake for your girls to lay eggs for you to eat, only if you want the eggs to be fertile for hatching. And, you may get surprised down the line as to the sex of your birds. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell until they mature.

Your babies are super cute! Good luck getting your new pen built!

 

[MrsHudson221B]

No, it's an old feed bucket I used to use to feed my horses. It is pretty heavy, and seems to be a good size for little ducklings. They are able to get in and out easily. I think you can find them at feed stores, like Tractor Supply.

(Hubby just found one on Amazon for $10, as I was typing this...)

 

[Leave a LightOn]

No, it's an old feed bucket I used to use to feed my horses. It is pretty heavy, and seems to be a good size for little ducklings. They are able to get in and out easily. I think you can find them at feed stores, like Tractor Supply.

(Hubby just found one on Amazon for $10, as I was typing this...)

Oh, I see now how deep it is. I thought the rim was the whole depth and it was set on a large rock. Time for new glasses!

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[MrsHudson221B]

Oh, I see now how deep it is. I thought the rim was the whole depth and it was set on a large rock. Time for new glasses!

Thanks for clarifying.

Haha! I can totally tell how you were seeing it-- doesn't help that the outside of the pan is caked with dried on mud.... oops!

 

[MrsHudson221B]

Be sure to share it all with us during and after. Gives others ideas. .

Here's what we got done on the house this weekend. (By we I mean hubby and kids... credit where credit is due. I did help with design and held a board for maybe 3 minutes)

We built off of a wall of the chicken coop to cut down on materials. Will move cinder blocks to outside wall when everything is together for digging prevention. Also, I think we're gonna use plywood on the back wall, and hog panel wrapped with chicken wire for the other two sides. Door for people on front side, duck door to run on other side. And, I'm gonna level out the floor and cover with a layer of pea gravel. If the weather cooperates, we should be able to finish the house portion next weekend, and then on to the run!