So I have a few more questions I haven't been able to find answers to (4 week old Runner ducklings)

[lgyure85]

So I feel as though I have got a pretty good handle on this duck thing so far, lol, but I have a few questions that I can't really find good answers to. I have 5 runner ducklings that will be 4 weeks old tomorrow.

1. Can they eat too much? Their gizzards always seem so full, so I worry about whether they're OK. I take their food out at night, and they have usually emptied by morning, but still, do I need to worry? Can it get too full? This leads into question 2...

2. What kind of feeding schedule should I have? Free feed all the time? Two feedings for 5 minutes twice a day, like the Holerread book suggests? Free feed all day, only water at night? Do I leave the water in 100% of the time or take it out for periods?

3. How long can they use the chick grit? I have like 3/4 of the bag still, but it seems so small now. Also on that note, is oyster shell a good grit, or is there something else I should get next time I buy it.

4. What sorts of creatures will dig to get at my ducks? I have made a pretty darn secure tractor out of PVC pipe, and plastic hardware mesh, but, if I can avoid it, I don't want it to have a mesh covered bottom to make it easier to move (since that is the purpose of the tractor vs. a coop)

5. How enclosed does their brooder/sleep area need to be? Our yard has a 4 ft. fence, and, like I said, their tractor is pretty secure.


I work second shift (3pm-11pm) so I can't lock them up at a "normal" time before dark. They would either have to be locked up before 3 or after 11. This is why I went with a secure tractor instead of a coop. It is also movable, so they can have fresh grass/bugs often.

Thanks in advance. I know I am probably overly paranoid, but were fast getting to a point where they won't be my "little peepers" anymore, and it's a bit scary.

 

[Amiga]

Welcome to Duckdom! I do not think you are being paranoid.

So I feel as though I have got a pretty good handle on this duck thing so far, lol, but I have a few questions that I can't really find good answers to. I have 5 runner ducklings that will be 4 weeks old tomorrow.

1. Can they eat too much? Their gizzards always seem so full, so I worry about whether they're OK. I take their food out at night, and they have usually emptied by morning, but still, do I need to worry? Can it get too full? This leads into question 2...

They will overeat if they do not have food with water 24/7. While they are less than ten weeks old, they need to have food and water always available for optimum health.

2. What kind of feeding schedule should I have? Free feed all the time? Two feedings for 5 minutes twice a day, like the Holerread book suggests? Free feed all day, only water at night? Do I leave the water in 100% of the time or take it out for periods?

24/7. I recall Holderread saying two feedings is for adult ducks. Once they are adults, 8 hours without food is okay, some withdraw water but I feel that is because they have not resolved water management issues. Especially during hot weather, water is important.

3. How long can they use the chick grit? I have like 3/4 of the bag still, but it seems so small now. Also on that note, is oyster shell a good grit, or is there something else I should get next time I buy it.

If they are outdoors, I expect they are getting plenty of grit. Oyster shel is not a very good grit, it breaks down pretty quickly, but there is some benefit there. Oyster shell is for layers.

4. What sorts of creatures will dig to get at my ducks? I have made a pretty darn secure tractor out of PVC pipe, and plastic hardware mesh, but, if I can avoid it, I don't want it to have a mesh covered bottom to make it easier to move (since that is the purpose of the tractor vs. a coop)

Foxes,dogs, coyotes, cats large and small, to name a few. Raccoons don't even need much of a gap, they'll just pull pieces of the duck out by reaching under the edge of the tractor if there is a gap either there already or that they can make.

5. How enclosed does their brooder/sleep area need to be? Our yard has a 4 ft. fence, and, like I said, their tractor is pretty secure.

Their brooder/sleep area needs to be quite secure. Some predators are climbers, some fly in. Holderread recommends no gaps larger than half an inch for the night shelter.

I work second shift (3pm-11pm) so I can't lock them up at a "normal" time before dark. They would either have to be locked up before 3 or after 11. This is why I went with a secure tractor instead of a coop. It is also movable, so they can have fresh grass/bugs often.

I would give them a roomy night shelter out of the sun and put them in early, or find someone I could trust to take care of getting them in before sundown.

Thanks in advance. I know I am probably overly paranoid, but were fast getting to a point where they won't be my "little peepers" anymore, and it's a bit scary.

 

[lgyure85]

Thank you Just a kind word telling me I'm not overly concerned for my "livestock" makes me feel better. They are just so wonderful and sweet...

 

[Amiga]

I am nuts about my critters, and ducks need our protection - so many things want to eat them. I hope I was not too direct about the raccoons, but I have a friend who lost her entire little duck family to raccoons. She made some mistakes, we all do. One mistake was the one inch gap at the bottom of the pen. Another was plastic fence across the top of the pen, instead of metal fence.

Seems to me we can take our anxious energy and use it to focus on making their outdoor shelter safe. As I tell myself when I am tempted to cut corners, "Gone is gone. No bringing them back. Do what you can to protect them now."

Predators have all night to work. They are extremely motivated. They watch, they get to know routines, I think. They look for opportunities. They try again and again.

 

[lgyure85]

Oh wow. I was under the impression that the raccoons would go for my easily-accessed garbage before going for my ducks...I live in a very suburban area, and have never had a problem with raccoons or any other predatory animal getting into dog food or garbage. Now I am not so confident in my tractor...

 

[ducklover87]

Amiga gave you great advice but I live in the country and even out here just because you've never seen them doesn't mean they aren't there. A critter cam would work great to see what it is you will have to deal with at night.

 

[Amykins]

"Raccoons don't even need much of a gap, they'll just pull pieces of the duck out by reaching under the edge of the tractor if there is a gap either there already or that they can make."

^ #1 reason why I absolutely DETEST raccoons. :/ They are just...filthy little brutes!

 

[Amiga]

Oh wow. I was under the impression that the raccoons would go for my easily-accessed garbage before going for my ducks...I live in a very suburban area, and have never had a problem with raccoons or any other predatory animal getting into dog food or garbage. Now I am not so confident in my tractor...

Raccoons appear to go for ducks in a big way.

 

[Amykins]

Raccoons appear to go for ducks in a big way.

Well, if I were given the option between a poultry buffet and some stinky garbage, I know which one I'd go for.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

We live in the city and had no idea how many predators were around until we set up a critter cam in the yard... Oh, my. Four raccoons, six opossums, and two skunks... and that was one night! One raccoon is HUGE!

Just because you haven't seen predators doesn't mean your animals will be safe. If it were me, I would ditch the plastic mesh and build a secure pen for them.

I have seen a determined raccoon destroy a plastic greenhouse, fortunately the wire mesh base stopped them.