So I'm new to this duck thing.....HELP!

[taraann81]

Did all the eggs look the same? Same size ? same color? My guess would be that the same duck layed all three eggs( I think you described where you found them). I would assume that the duck that layed the eggs was a female mallard and that the duck that fathered 2 of those eggs was a male mallard. Now the third one I think is probably a mallard cross. Probably crossed with some other mallard derived breed. If it was crossed with a scovy it would not have hatched at the same time as the other 2. Of course this is just a theory. They are very cute!

 

[tdkmom]

The black one is adorable just in it's uniqueness. I love it. Definitely not full blooded mallard though. Mallards look alike for a very long time w/ their voice being the only thing to distinguish them for a while. And they will fly away. The ones I had when I graduated high school lived there all summer but in the fall flew to the neighbors pond. That was fine at first since they still came home in the evenings but then we started seeing other ducks on the pond and when they left for the winter, so did mine. So if you want to keep them you will have to clip their wings.

 

[MysticalMom]

Hello All. I haven't been here in awhile. My computer was down and YES I went crazy without it. I reformatted and here I am.

The mallards are all doing great. I haven't taken any new pics, (and I promise to do that soon!) But even that unique little black one looks just like the other two now that they have their feathers. We built the duck house and pen a couple of weeks back and it's awesome. Lots of space and a great covered pen. I love it. They love it. We let them free range when we're outside (we live on a lot of property, surrounded my woods and I'm scared of wildlife) and they're so cool to watch. I swear they check out EVERYTHING!! And I love the way they dart underwater and SHOOT across their pool to the other side. They still don't like me to come too near, but they seem to know when treats are coming and get a little braver. They sure are skittish things.

Now the NEW news.... I have MORE eggs in the incubator. (I'm hooked for sure) 4 Appleyard duck eggs. 2 weeks now and everything seems to be going as it should. Boy oh Boy Appleyard eggs are HUGE!!! I bought them from someone who told me she's a member here by the name of "Duck Keeper." So Duck Keeper... if you're reading this... THANK YOU! I can't wait for my new ducks!!

 

[FenDruadin]

I only have a minute to respond, and I was only able to skim the thread, but wanted to share my recipe for (relatively) inexpensive & easy but predator-proof enclosure:

Dog kennel.

I look on craigslist and buy used chain link dog kennels for under $200 (and now I've got a resource for scratch n dent kennels for $145 for a 10 x 10 enclosure with gate). I then lay wire mesh of some sort across the area where I'm going to place the kennel. I set the kennel up on top of the wire, and secure the wire to the kennel with cable ties (cheap at home depot type stores). Then I lay more wire mesh across the top, with boards or rods or cedar sapling trunks across the top for support, and likewise secure it with cable ties (if you want to save yourself a couple bucks for cable ties, you can use wire you have lying around, but it's much more of a pain to do). Then I lay wood chips or dirt or whatever I have on top of the wire to save their feet, and straw on top of that. For shelter, I have a home-built duck house, but they never use it. In the future, I plan to use dog igloos purchased used on craigslist--much easier, and cheaper too, once you factor in the lumber and hardware for the silly house they never use.

For young ducks, and to protect from raccoons that might reach through the chain link after your ducks, you can secure hardware cloth (not really cloth at all--it's a fine-mesh wire fencing material often used for small animal cages) to the bottom couple feet of the enclosure.

Congrats on your babies. They are ADORABLE.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

They are soo cute good luck with them...

 

[rainplace]

Quote:
I am so happy you came back to give us an update! Yes, please post more pictures as soon as you can.

I lol'ed when I read "I have MORE eggs." You didn't even have to be in these here forums to be enabled! I'm so proud your little babies could enable for us.

My favorite thing is the shooting across the pool too, and when they do the laps! You shoulda seen my baby gosling do it. It was like her little rump was filled with helium. She'd shoot across the pool popping all the ducklings in her way out the side. It was hilarious.

Welcome back, musta been awful with your computer down!

 

[MysticalMom]

Quote:
We built our duck house and pen using this website as a guide and modified it a little, especially in the pen area:
http://www.newagrarian.com/2008/05/12/duck-house-and-run/

But it's funny that you should say that about the dog pen pieces, hardware mesh and Doggie Igloos, because that's EXACTLY what we used for the pen. Years ago my husband had wolf hybrids and had huge pens for them. We used those old dog pen pieces that were still hanging around and covered them with the hardware mesh etc etc. NOTHING can get in, over or under it. In one corner is their pool and in the other we have a large dog igloo. (which they use INSTEAD of the house mostly JUST like you said LOL)

I'm still afraid of wildlife when I let them free range (foxes, raccoons, hawks and Osprey) so I make sure someone can be outside with them or at least keeping an eye out while they're out. I'm a stay at home mom, so I'm here A LOT! They won't let me near them but they'll follow me, at a distance, like I'm the Momma duck.

Thanks for the congrats!!!

 

[MysticalMom]

Quote:
Thanks!

 

[MysticalMom]

Quote:
I am so happy you came back to give us an update! Yes, please post more pictures as soon as you can.

I lol'ed when I read "I have MORE eggs." You didn't even have to be in these here forums to be enabled! I'm so proud your little babies could enable for us.

My favorite thing is the shooting across the pool too, and when they do the laps! You shoulda seen my baby gosling do it. It was like her little rump was filled with helium. She'd shoot across the pool popping all the ducklings in her way out the side. It was hilarious.

Welcome back, musta been awful with your computer down!

Thanks so much. I will get pics up. I actually took a bunch today and yesterday and will get the hubby to get them on the computer for me ASAP.

It WAS awful without a computer. You don't realize how much you REALLY use it until it's gone.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... I might do Geese next! Cool idea!!! (I dont think my hubby will think so, but he knows better than to tell me no. lol)

 

[Cetawin]

Also, give them some green daily...they love it and it will certainly warm them up to you. Thawed frozen peas, spinach leaves, tomatoes....those are my ducks favorites. Oh and now spaghetti with sauce...they love that. *shaking head*