Sickly ducklings

[Ducktown]

Here's the drake I incubated and behind it, the once weak duckling - also drake. It's almost the same size, but has some weight related issues. It is the hungriest duck I've seen and doesn't have stop switch when it comes to eating. He improved a lot and now walks almost completely OK. He's a bit slower and lazy than other ducks, and he sometimes have a mind of his own and leaves the feeding ground a minute after other ducks had left. Then he runs like hell!

I've heard and read that Indian runners can't fly. I noticed how much they would like that anyway. The large drake often takes off, jumps and flies like 1 meter into the air and flies a few meters. First couple of times, he crash landed, but it seems like he is starting to master the landing technique as well. Extremely funny, seeing him flap the wings like crazy just to get a meter or so into the air. And the sound when he crashed..

 

[Kiki to Nana]

Happy to see they are doing okay!!

 

[Ducktown]

They are more than OK: The large drake is like a terminator. He is watching over his flock all the time. I even noticed he walks around them and watches the surrounding when I feed them. He doesn't even touch the food while they are eating ferociously. I have a feeling he eats less now that he is getting maturer.

The fat one, that was weak and sick when I got him is a lot calmer, he doesn't attack my dogs (he effectively fends them away from the flock) and hardly ever makes a sound. He doesn't even make the raspy sound anymore. I hope he won't be aggressive toward the ladies when they all mature. 2:3 ratio is not even close to ideal. If they get too aggressive, I'll try to trade him for a lady.

 

[Kiki to Nana]

They are more than OK: The large drake is like a terminator. He is watching over his flock all the time. I even noticed he walks around them and watches the surrounding when I feed them. He doesn't even touch the food while they are eating ferociously. I have a feeling he eats less now that he is getting maturer.

The fat one, that was weak and sick when I got him is a lot calmer, he doesn't attack my dogs (he effectively fends them away from the flock) and hardly ever makes a sound. He doesn't even make the raspy sound anymore. I hope he won't be aggressive toward the ladies when they all mature. 2:3 ratio is not even close to ideal. If they get too aggressive, I'll try to trade him for a lady.

I'd hate to see you trade him!! Maybe they will be okay. Our drake is so tame it's unreal. You can always seperate them too and give each a turn to be with the ladies.

 

[Ducktown]

You can always seperate them too and give each a turn to be with the ladies.

Haha, that would make the larger drake kill himself - or kill me.

I'll see how it goes, I hope his libido doesn't get too strong. He is lazy, perhaps he will also become lazy lover. I guess I'll know soon enough.

Do you think hens could start laying this year, or will they need some more time and start the next spring? They are fully feathered up and most likely the same age, around 14 weeks. I think they need another month to reach maturity, but I'm not sure if they start laying that late in the season (early October).