*sigh* new duck owner

[cashela]

Ok I didn't want ducks but my mother seems to have some extra fertile ones and can only keep so many. We are looking for homes still and she is now keeping a better eye out for eggs and nesting ducks! These are a mixed bantam breed I would guess. I took five to give her some relief and now they are living with my turkey and my 4 chickens. 3 Black with white bibs and 1 that is white with beige and 1 that is white with darker brown and those two look kind of like Appleyards.

Any how, I don't have as nice as a set up as my mom does where her ducks have access to an indoor cage in her garage. I have an outdoor pen that I just enlarged to make room for ducks and a coop. I have to put a new roof on an old coop that I had for my chickens and turkey because they won't let the ducks in the new coop without harrassing them (they are fine when they are in the outside part of the cage). So right now they are being locked in a dog crate at night that has a tarp over it that is in the cage.

So my mom feeds hers Mazuri Waterfowl feed and she gave me some to feed the five I took. They are also eating layer pellets. I know that they can't eat medicated feed. Mazuri is kind of expensive and I'd prefer not to be feeding it to my chickens and turkey! I have been throwing a handful in the kiddie pool and they eat it right up. What else can I feed these ducks?

How often do you change the water in their pool? I have been changing it every other day because I'm trying to keep the pen some what dry but lets face it, they make it dirty pretty darn fast. The little buggers are even making the chicken/turkey water dirty!

Next question, what do I do with them in the winter? I live in NH. My turkey and chickens have been just fine, do I have to worry about these ducks? They aren't going to be able to swim in the winter because I doubt I will be able to keep their pool from freezing. What do you guys in cold climates?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[downsm75]

I feed mine undedicated chicken feed. If you put straw in their house, they should be fine. I have to change my pool every day because ducks are MESSY lol, they can only have access while free ranging. I hope this helps some

 

[veronicasmom]

Heated dog bowl for water. Put a narrow board across to keep them out of it. Set it in a larger black rubber feed tub to catch the splashing. Bird bath heater in the pool works great. Or just give them a tub to bathe in once a day with some warm water. Make sure they can get out of the elements. I give them straw to burrow into and make nests at night, plus they love to poke around in it looking for seeds. I feed Blue Seal Grower Cal pellets, add cracked corn in the winter, and of course oyster shells. I supplement with fresh chopped veggies and cabbage as a treat.
Been doing this for 10 years, seems to be working for us.

 

[zooweemama]

My ducks were on Flock Raiser for the longest time. Not only did they do well on it- they really dug the flavor. They are on Mazuri now but if they can steal a bite from the chickens bucket...they do! LOL So if you can grab some all flock feed- that would be fine and any of your birds could eat it. With ducklings you just want to be careful of the extra calcium in the layer feed.

I changed their pool daily at least. If you can separate them from the rest of your flock it might save your sanity regarding mess. Ducks are messy messy little things and it never changes. IN winter as long as they have a good shelter to protect them from the elements and access to clean water, a bucket or deep dish - deep enough that they can dip their entire head in it and clean their nares and eyes- they should be good. Also a lot of people in cold climates feed extra corn to help keep them warm. I love the above poster's idea of the a warmer for their pool!

 

[cashela]

Oh good to know about the cabbage and feed. They seem quite content at the moment. Little buggers