Runner Ducks

[DaniStani]

Hi!
I have 2 runner ducks (I think they are both runners)
They are starting to get the sprouts of mature feathers but you can't see them through all the fluff and straw feathers yet. Age guesses?
Also, I know they are still babies and can't (I guess) bite hard enough for me to know, they nibble and bite at my fingers. Is the biting something I need to nip now? I don't mind it, it doesn't hurt. And the nibbling is cute. Aggressive or as adorable as it seems? How big do you think they should be before I can let them outside during the day when I'm at work? Will they bond with my chickens? Is there anything I should stay away from feeding them? What are some things you guys feed them?

Sorry for the many questions. LOL
Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

Welcome!

Take a look here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

Do they have food with water 24/7?

My runners have never bitten me, though they have nibbled at my fingers looking for treats. Fingers look a lot like slugs, you know.

 

[DaniStani]

I have been keeping their food watered and water dish, yes.

 

[Amiga]

Good!

Mercy, I am tired. Forgive me, I failed to include the link I intended to offer. sigh. I fixed it.

Here it is again

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

 

[DaniStani]

Anyone else have any info about any of this?

 

[Amiga]

Do you paint your nails?

 

[DaniStani]

Do you paint your nails?

LMAO, at first I was all.. "What kind of question is that?" and then I remembered..
Yes. I do. But they nibble all over our hands, and my husband's too. And he doesn't paint his nails.

 

[petesgirl]

Mine are about 2 months old and it doesn't hurt when they nibble at my fingers.

I also have chickens and my ducks chase them away. The ducks do seem to tolerate some of my more mild mannered chickens. The chickens could care less about the ducks either way. It was so funny when one of my runners bit my ornery roosters behind. My rooster ran off! This is a rooster that attacks me and has no fear of me. I do want to start keeping them with the chickens eventually but right now their "pond" is not very close to the chicken run.

We free range our chickens and ducks, but we have 3 dogs that stay out protecting them and I still worry. If we are gone all day (I work from home) we lock everyone up. Is your yard fenced? Do you have lots of dogs or wild life in your area? Just consider all this to decide if you want to leave them out all day. Mine were pretty much fully feathered when we started leaving them out all day. Do your chickens free range without any problems? We have lots of neighbor dogs and coyotes, and yes even during the day! We also have lots of hawks. We do not have all of our yard fenced, we are working on it. So I am a bit paranoid

I am not sure of plants, I have looked over the list but I have forgotten. I do know they completely skip over some plants but do nibble at others. They love dandelion seeds-the puffy blooms but not the flowers.

Maybe 4 to 5 weeks? Mine are fully feathered at 2 months.

 

[Amiga]

LMAO, at first I was all.. "What kind of question is that?" and then I remembered..
Yes. I do. But they nibble all over our hands, and my husband's too. And he doesn't paint his nails.

If I wore a t-shirt with any green on them, the ducklings would nibble at the green parts. And once, Zehn tried to eat one of the two caterpillars above my eyes. She also stole a kiss once. Fresh runner duckling!

 

[DaniStani]

My yard is fenced and we don't have neighborhood dogs, but we do have hawks. I lost all of my bantams to the **** things. My chickens are fully feathered, but I feel like they aren't big enough to be out all day when I am gone. Love those ducks though! They are still pretty skiddish around us, hopefully they will warm up over time? Read they are nervous, not friendly. How would you describe yours?