Well, this isn't my first rodeo, but it's been half a lifetime ago. My first batch of ducks were very young when they were butchered by my mom's boyfriend's savage mutt. I didn't get much experience with my first batch of ducks. So, even with the reading I have done, I still have some questions.
1) I have 4 hatchery quality blue Swedes and 4 Pekins. At what age do they get their drake curls? I read that they usually get it by 12wks - they are almost 4 months old. Was that wrong? Of the 8 duck we have, 6 were straight run ducklings. There is no way we got lucky enough to have all girls. Two are not quacking, but doing more of a quiet peep/quack. I am pretty sure they are the boys, but no sign of a drake curl yet.
2) Two of my girls were already laying when they came. I read they can start laying as early as 16wks. Can I expect that from my Swedes and Pekins? Sadly, we have no laying chickens at the moment and we are living off of the duck eggs. I have another month or two before my pullets start laying...
3) I just got goslings. I plan on putting them in with the ducks when they are old enough to hold their own. Is that such a good idea? When I had my others they stayed away from the geese, but they also had 10 acres to roam with a fresh running creek. They only have a 40x200+ run right... pond to be dug soon. I hope. Kiddie pools for now!
Thanks in advance for the help!
1) I have 4 hatchery quality blue Swedes and 4 Pekins. At what age do they get their drake curls? I read that they usually get it by 12wks - they are almost 4 months old. Was that wrong? Of the 8 duck we have, 6 were straight run ducklings. There is no way we got lucky enough to have all girls. Two are not quacking, but doing more of a quiet peep/quack. I am pretty sure they are the boys, but no sign of a drake curl yet.
2) Two of my girls were already laying when they came. I read they can start laying as early as 16wks. Can I expect that from my Swedes and Pekins? Sadly, we have no laying chickens at the moment and we are living off of the duck eggs. I have another month or two before my pullets start laying...
3) I just got goslings. I plan on putting them in with the ducks when they are old enough to hold their own. Is that such a good idea? When I had my others they stayed away from the geese, but they also had 10 acres to roam with a fresh running creek. They only have a 40x200+ run right... pond to be dug soon. I hope. Kiddie pools for now!
Thanks in advance for the help!
