*~*Runner Duck Club*~*

[Miss Lydia]

I am so sorry must be feeding kits. Glad you got the fence fixed and trap set. Do you not lock your ducks up at night? Here mine could never stay out over night they'd be gone in a few days.

 

[Widlast]

I am so sorry must be feeding kits. Glad you got the fence fixed and trap set. Do you not lock your ducks up at night? Here mine could never stay out over night they'd be gone in a few days.

I always lock them up, was delayed a bit yesterday and sun had set before I got around to it (about 9:30 p.m.). Never again.

 

[Duck Hill]

I hope so too, bless his heart and your doing all you can for him. Only other thing I could suggest is a vet and I know it's not always feasible or easy to find one that will see poultry.

Please keep us updated.

UPDATE on the duck that swam on his side:

So far I have tried a three-pronged approach. First I gave him 24 hours of molasses water to clean him out in case it was botulism.

Then I gave him vitamin B (50 mg morning and night) for three days. Now I am alternating 50 mg B complex or a multivitamin (including B and more) once a day.

I also figured out, after a few days, that he was really light in the hind end. Perhaps he needed ballast to swim upright? Also, if he lacked grit, he could have something stuck in his gizzard. So I supplemented his tube feeding with a small amount of grit over several feedings.

The grit seemed to help - he now swims upright and balances better (but not well) front to back while standing. The B vitamins have helped with his appetite and now he mostly eats and drinks on his own. He continues to be strong and stands (he leans on something) for long periods. However, he still falls over often when he moves and really can't walk yet.

There are no signs that what he has is infectious, so he now has a lady friend in with him. He seems much happier.

While progress is slow, I am hopeful.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am so glad he is still with you. It's wonderful that you are working so hard to get him through this. Thanks for the update and sure hope you continue to see improvement

 

[Widlast]

I dug around the net a bit to get a better understanding of proper fencing methods to thwart predators. Many suggest using electric fencing, that is not really practical for me, that and I don't like how it has a tendency to kill wild birds. What I did find that I will implement is having a foot or so of heavy wire mesh (2" x 4" hole 14 gauge or the like) pinned to the ground on the exterior of the fence to deter digging, once the grass grows through it, it is essentially immovable. My fence is already 5 foot high so that aspect is covered. Once the geese grow up they will also help patrol things, African Geese get big enough that not much will mess with them.

 

[Tlmcq]

hi

Heckyl and Jeckyl aren't these boys pretty!

 

[Ducktown]

One quick question about runners.

I have bought several Indian runner ducklings and I've noticed one has a bit shorter but wider bill, seems like a bit stronger bot shorter. The guy that sold them to me doesn't have other breeds (as far as I know) and they shouldn't be mix. It did not start making any sounds yet. It's starting to grow feathers. The one with longer bill is a girl.

I thought it could be related to duckling's sex or just genetic. Also the nostrils are more round and appear larger. The long billed girl has more oval (flattened) nostrils.

I guess it is just a phenotype, it's black, compared to mallard coloured hen

 

[Tlmcq]

One quick question about runners.

I have bought several Indian runner ducklings and I've noticed one has a bit shorter but wider bill, seems like a bit stronger bot shorter. The guy that sold them to me doesn't have other breeds (as far as I know) and they shouldn't be mix. It did not start making any sounds yet. It's starting to grow feathers. The one with longer bill is a girl.

I thought it could be related to duckling's sex or just genetic. Also the nostrils are more round and appear larger. The long billed girl has more oval (flattened) nostrils.

I guess it is just a phenotype, it's black, compared to mallard coloured hen

Hmm... interesting. I don't believe it has anything to do with sex. I have both sexes and other than color their bills are same. Quite possibly could be genetic or just from way he was positioned or something in egg development...not sure. I just love the ones that are different anyway. And having a child born differently myself, I guess, just makes me love the ones that need extra help or aren't like all the others.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Love those 2 boys Heckyl and Jeckyl !!

 

[Tlmcq]

Thank you, Miss Lydi. They grew up to be handsome young men. Just wondering if my girls are gonna start laying this year or not...they're all thru the adult feather molt and my chickens about same age started laying 3 weeks ago. So, we shall see. They are about 5 months or so.