Tell me everything about ducklings

[Missythechickenlady]

Definelty get a niacin supplement and brewers yeast with garlic. The foods say they are sufficient for chickens and ducks however it isn't. Ducks need 3 times the amount chickens do. Mine ended up with bow legs due to this. So get the brewers yeast with garlic amazon. Also get the natures best duckling food. Hope everything goes well. Definelty better safe than sorry.

 

[Callender Girl]

Runner ducks are GREAT! Congratulations on adding beautiful, funny, messy creatures to your world.

I, too, had a hard time finding the right kind of niacin. I supplemented my babies' diet with frozen peas. Lots of frozen peas. As adults, they will all still come running for their favorite treat. And no one had any health issues, so I must have fed them enough.

When they first went outside to their plastic baby pool, I would throw peas in the water and watch them "dive" to get their veggies. They also loved torn-up lettuce leaves.

When I move their pool to clean it out, it's a regular free-for-all as they search for the critters that were hiding underneath.

On the other hand, it's less amusing when they think the flower "bed" along the house is really a good place to lie down and smoosh the flowers. My fault -- I need more fences, clearly.

 

[chkva]

Runner ducks are GREAT! Congratulations on adding beautiful, funny, messy creatures to your world.

I, too, had a hard time finding the right kind of niacin. I supplemented my babies' diet with frozen peas. Lots of frozen peas. As adults, they will all still come running for their favorite treat. And no one had any health issues, so I must have fed them enough.

When they first went outside to their plastic baby pool, I would throw peas in the water and watch them "dive" to get their veggies. They also loved torn-up lettuce leaves.

When I move their pool to clean it out, it's a regular free-for-all as they search for the critters that were hiding underneath.

On the other hand, it's less amusing when they think the flower "bed" along the house is really a good place to lie down and smoosh the flowers. My fault -- I need more fences, clearly.

I called the farm and asked if they could get me female ducks (they order from a hatchery, not sure which one) and they had me instantly say what duck I wanted. I saw that someone ordered fawn Indian Runners earlier on their spreadsheet so I asked if they could get me 2 blue... Once I got off the phone I saw they had chocolate!!! Which is what my DH wanted but he loves the look of the blue ones and he's so excited to get them! We weren't going to do ducks, but we are expanding our fenced area from 1500 SQ FT to 3000 SQ FT in the next two weeks so why not get our dream flock.

I hear they're messy, but really good foragers! I need bug control in the fenced area since my chickens are picky they'd rather have fresh kale and scrambled eggs at dinner time for a treat.

 

[Callender Girl]

Messiness is a small price to pay for the overwhelming wonderful-ness of runners.

Mine can't wait to get out in the morning to begin bug hunting. They are great foragers. In fact, they foraged a great many of my wildflowers this spring. I'm sure my chickens would also prefer your menu, but the poor things just don't get the option!! lol.

My nine are a variety of colors, and all are adorable. Keep us posted!

 

[DuckyDonna]

I called the farm and asked if they could get me female ducks (they order from a hatchery, not sure which one) and they had me instantly say what duck I wanted. I saw that someone ordered fawn Indian Runners earlier on their spreadsheet so I asked if they could get me 2 blue... Once I got off the phone I saw they had chocolate!!! Which is what my DH wanted but he loves the look of the blue ones and he's so excited to get them! We weren't going to do ducks, but we are expanding our fenced area from 1500 SQ FT to 3000 SQ FT in the next two weeks so why not get our dream flock.

I hear they're messy, but really good foragers! I need bug control in the fenced area since my chickens are picky they'd rather have fresh kale and scrbled eggs at dinner time for a treat.

Be careful letting them go into your garden. I made that mistake my first year! As long as your plants are fully grown you'll probably be ok but if not they will tear them up in a heartbeat! I let my runners into my fall garden when the broccoli, cabbage etc were about 1 foot high thinking that would be fine and they destroyed them.

 

[chkva]

Be careful letting them go into your garden. I made that mistake my first year! As long as your plants are fully grown you'll probably be ok but if not they will tear them up in a heartbeat! I let my runners into my fall garden when the broccoli, cabbage etc were about 1 foot high thinking that would be fine and they destroyed them.

I don't trust any of my flock in my garden... The chickens would destroy it in seconds.