The Duck Thread

[Ihaveducks]

I have zero idea on how this site works but hopefully I'll get a response. I've been given two ducks by a friend because they're are moving, never had ducks before. I took them because she told me that she couldn't get rid of them and was worried she would have to have them killed. So I took them, I have plenty of room for them. I spent three days building them a fenced off area and fixing up the duck house that was left here by previous house owners, got them a pool (eventually digging the pool into the ground). Fox proofed the house completely. I've been feeding them layers mash, some vegetables and mealworms. Only had them for three days and they've made the whole pen a muddy mess. Inside the duck house is fine, but outside and all around is a mud pit. They seem to absolutely love it. My question is... Could this cause any health issues? I'm not fussed about the ground being a mess as long as they're happy but I don't want anything bad health wise to happen to them due to having wet feet ect..
Im also concerned that they don't seem to be eating much of the mash, even tho the last owner said they loved it! They'll eat everything else but not much of that haha.
Inside the duck house is dry and cosy, no poop or anything. Very odd as I thought ducks pooped all the time?
Appreciate any response, tips on diet or just an information on ducks. They are Aylesbury ducks, two males. I'm a total noob. I just want to make sure I'm doing okay with them.

 

[BullChick]

I am going to tell you what I know. I have two ducks for the same reason. I have owned them for two months.
Being in a new environment, the ducks may not want the mash anymore. Switch to pellets.
As for the poop, I know a chicken poops 22 times a day. I haven't seen any stats on ducks, but it seems they aren't pooping machines.
The mud is a problem because of parasites. Keep you eyes open for any issues with worms.
If you can, buy a ton or five (depending on your duck run) of stones. It will allow water to drain, and keep the ground from turning to soup. I must say that so far I don't have mud in there, but that may be because they aren't swimming in the cold.

 

[jtn42248]

I have zero idea on how this site works but hopefully I'll get a response. I've been given two ducks by a friend because they're are moving, never had ducks before. I took them because she told me that she couldn't get rid of them and was worried she would have to have them killed. So I took them, I have plenty of room for them. I spent three days building them a fenced off area and fixing up the duck house that was left here by previous house owners, got them a pool (eventually digging the pool into the ground). Fox proofed the house completely. I've been feeding them layers mash, some vegetables and mealworms. Only had them for three days and they've made the whole pen a muddy mess. Inside the duck house is fine, but outside and all around is a mud pit. They seem to absolutely love it. My question is... Could this cause any health issues? I'm not fussed about the ground being a mess as long as they're happy but I don't want anything bad health wise to happen to them due to having wet feet ect..
Im also concerned that they don't seem to be eating much of the mash, even tho the last owner said they loved it! They'll eat everything else but not much of that haha.
Inside the duck house is dry and cosy, no poop or anything. Very odd as I thought ducks pooped all the time?
Appreciate any response, tips on diet or just an information on ducks. They are Aylesbury ducks, two males. I'm a total noob. I just want to make sure I'm doing okay with them.

Sounds like you are doing a good job. Give them time, they probably still need to make some adjustments to their move. Ducks are the pigs of the bird world in my opinion. I have 22 and they thrive by getting everything muddy including themselves, then into the pool of nice clean water to muddy it up as well. Mine get layer pellets, corn, veggies (peas and lettuce) and all the grazing they can do in a day. They may be pooping in their house and you haven't seen it yet, the likelihood that they are housebroken is pretty slim.

They will give you a lot of pleasure and that alone may pay for the mess. Bless you for taking them in and giving them a home. keep posting their progress and pictures if you can. Feel free to join into our conversations and to ask any questions you might have.

 

[needlessjunk]

Weeeeeee, I hadn't yet, Miss Lydia. It is so adorable. I love his action avatars.. Tootsie Roll. My love, Tevye drinking out of the pool. I want him.

 
I was wondering whetre the Weeeeeee was. lol

Silly girls...

They are actually drinking out of a heated bucket with an anti-duck-swimming lid on it.

Today it was 20 degrees out and the sun was bright so I put out two kiddie pools for an hour and a half (1:30 - 3:00 so they would have plenty of time in the sun after the pool was "closed".)  About 2/3 of them took advantage of it and the other 1/3 were looking at me like I was crazy.  The funniest part was that after they swam in the pool, they laid down on the straw in the sun (or on the poop pile where the old pine shaving bedding gets dumped - also in the sun.)  Well a few minutes later, they got up and walked around and most of them had straw or shavings frozen to their feathers by little droplets of water that had frozen into ice. The straw and shavings fell off after several more minutes, but all the swimmers were looking pretty ratty for a while.  Tevye had a single piece of straw about 8" long stuck to his poof.  He gave it a good shake and it fell off, but he looked pretty funny.  Right now they are all inside their house first door has closed so they have ten more minutes - in about 4 the door opens again and then in 6 more, it closes for the night.  The theory is that the stragglers go in the second door, but sometimes the ducks all go out on the second door and find themselves locked out.  Then I have to intervene.

Lol! They sure are silly!

 

[Ren2014]

Me too. I had other drakes but Opie was my only one that imprinted on me. I hadn't ever had another drake act like Opie, poor guy but we finally got through it.

I think I am unimprintable. Is that a word?? LOL, seriously... the fab 5 already hate me

Three weeks here in my office with me. Every day I would interact with them, change bedding, take them swimming. And, this past week I would let them walk from the brooder into the bathroom and then I would scoop them up and put them in the tub. When swim time was over I took each one out at a time, towel dried them and tried to snuggle before putting back into the brooder. They are still acting like I'm the enemy. They moved outdoors to the 'big house' today.

Howdy duck folks. I will be setting muscovey eggs this week. Not new to incubating chickens. This will be my first attempt with anything other than chickens.

Keep us posted. I've been thinking about trying to get some muscovy eggs to incubate myself.

Elm-er after a nice refreshing bath

BEAUTIFUL!

I LOVE DUCKS

I never would have guessed this

Silly girls...

They are actually drinking out of a heated bucket with an anti-duck-swimming lid on it.

Today it was 20 degrees out and the sun was bright so I put out two kiddie pools for an hour and a half (1:30 - 3:00 so they would have plenty of time in the sun after the pool was "closed".) About 2/3 of them took advantage of it and the other 1/3 were looking at me like I was crazy. The funniest part was that after they swam in the pool, they laid down on the straw in the sun (or on the poop pile where the old pine shaving bedding gets dumped - also in the sun.) Well a few minutes later, they got up and walked around and most of them had straw or shavings frozen to their feathers by little droplets of water that had frozen into ice.

The straw and shavings fell off after several more minutes, but all the swimmers were looking pretty ratty for a while. Tevye had a single piece of straw about 8" long stuck to his poof. He gave it a good shake and it fell off, but he looked pretty funny. Right now they are all inside their house first door has closed so they have ten more minutes - in about 4 the door opens again and then in 6 more, it closes for the night. The theory is that the stragglers go in the second door, but sometimes the ducks all go out on the second door and find themselves locked out. Then I have to intervene.

O WOW, I couldn't imagine 20 degree weather but what a sight that must have been. Do you have the pullet shut door?

I have zero idea on how this site works but hopefully I'll get a response. I've been given two ducks by a friend because they're are moving, never had ducks before. I took them because she told me that she couldn't get rid of them and was worried she would have to have them killed. So I took them, I have plenty of room for them. I spent three days building them a fenced off area and fixing up the duck house that was left here by previous house owners, got them a pool (eventually digging the pool into the ground). Fox proofed the house completely. I've been feeding them layers mash, some vegetables and mealworms. Only had them for three days and they've made the whole pen a muddy mess. Inside the duck house is fine, but outside and all around is a mud pit. They seem to absolutely love it. My question is... Could this cause any health issues? I'm not fussed about the ground being a mess as long as they're happy but I don't want anything bad health wise to happen to them due to having wet feet ect..
Im also concerned that they don't seem to be eating much of the mash, even tho the last owner said they loved it! They'll eat everything else but not much of that haha.
Inside the duck house is dry and cosy, no poop or anything. Very odd as I thought ducks pooped all the time?
Appreciate any response, tips on diet or just an information on ducks. They are Aylesbury ducks, two males. I'm a total noob. I just want to make sure I'm doing okay with them.

Sounds like very lucky ducks to have ended up with you. Ducks LOVE mud for sure and ducks poop way more than chickens do in my opinion. I would suggest feeding them just the mash or what ever duck food you have for awhile. Basically hold the treats until you know they are eating well.

Sounds like you are doing a good job. Give them time, they probably still need to make some adjustments to their move. Ducks are the pigs of the bird world in my opinion. I have 22 and they thrive by getting everything muddy including themselves, then into the pool of nice clean water to muddy it up as well. Mine get layer pellets, corn, veggies (peas and lettuce) and all the grazing they can do in a day. They may be pooping in their house and you haven't seen it yet, the likelihood that they are housebroken is pretty slim.

They will give you a lot of pleasure and that alone may pay for the mess. Bless you for taking them in and giving them a home. keep posting their progress and pictures if you can. Feel free to join into our conversations and to ask any questions you might have.

X2

Oh they turn 6 months on the 15th. I can't wait for winter to be over though so they start laying. Here's a pic from last month

They are beautiful!

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm surprised by how many of you that I know! It looks like I will have yet another thread to keep up with!

 

[WVduckchick]

I think I am unimprintable. Is that a word?? LOL, seriously... the fab 5 already hate me Three weeks here in my office with me.  Every day I would interact with them, change bedding, take them swimming.  And, this past week I would let them walk from the brooder into the bathroom and then I would scoop them up and put them in the tub. When swim time was over I took each one out at a time, towel dried them and tried to snuggle before putting back into the brooder.  They are still acting like I'm the enemy. They moved outdoors to the 'big house' today.

Dont feel bad, I did the same with mine after hatching, but now they run from me too. I know they trust me, but they don't want me touching them!

I did get to visit Sheldon today. The duckling that I hatched and gave to a friend. She only has him, and he is very imprinted and friendly. I knelt on the floor and he climbed onto my lap and snuggled into my jacket. Such a sweetie. But he's a loner, so I think that's why.

 

[BullChick]

I'm surprised by how many of you that I know! It looks like I will have yet another thread to keep up with!

Hello

 

[Tevyes Dad]

O WOW, I couldn't imagine 20 degree weather but what a sight that must have been. Do you have the pullet shut door?

I have the ADOR1. I have been very happy with it. My one failure was when it was hooked up to a raspberry pi and I have been running tests on the pi since and have not had any other problems with either the pi or the door so I am not sure what happened in that case.

 

[Julie Birb]

Silly girls...

They are actually drinking out of a heated bucket with an anti-duck-swimming lid on it.

Today it was 20 degrees out and the sun was bright so I put out two kiddie pools for an hour and a half (1:30 - 3:00 so they would have plenty of time in the sun after the pool was "closed".) About 2/3 of them took advantage of it and the other 1/3 were looking at me like I was crazy. The funniest part was that after they swam in the pool, they laid down on the straw in the sun (or on the poop pile where the old pine shaving bedding gets dumped - also in the sun.) Well a few minutes later, they got up and walked around and most of them had straw or shavings frozen to their feathers by little droplets of water that had frozen into ice.

The straw and shavings fell off after several more minutes, but all the swimmers were looking pretty ratty for a while. Tevye had a single piece of straw about 8" long stuck to his poof. He gave it a good shake and it fell off, but he looked pretty funny. Right now they are all inside their house first door has closed so they have ten more minutes - in about 4 the door opens again and then in 6 more, it closes for the night. The theory is that the stragglers go in the second door, but sometimes the ducks all go out on the second door and find themselves locked out. Then I have to intervene.

Precious. Your ducks are so innocent and sweet, Tony. Really. Kaine is. He's just a male bewrd with hormones but still a duck I'd kiss/squeeze. And of course Tevye. Straw in his hair.