The Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

18° and sunny. We're hanging in the hot tub!

It's only fair to get another hot tub so there's no waiting.

 

[GAIL328]

Only the princess blue Swedish took a dip. The cayugas watched from the sidelines. Too bad you can't see the steam coming off the water in the pic.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Question! It's been extreamly cold here, Snow covered ground, single digits and wind chills around -13. Ducks don't want anything to do with it! They step outside and fly back into the garage within minutes. I blocked off part of our garage for them straw and shavings down, a heat lamp in one spot and their crate accessible all day. I offer them to go out but they just run and fly back in. We have 2 small in weight khaki Campbell's and 2 small in weight welsh harlequins all 4 have been laying daily since 4 months old. They are now 9 months old. 1 runner that's 4 months old not laying. Well for 3 days now 1 duck is not laying which is very odd. I can't figure out who! Did another head to vent check over and all looks good. Any suggestions as to what's going on? Do I have a sick duck? How can I identify who it is? I've also been trying to get another pound on each of them so for 6 ducks I give about a half cup ground mixed grains and a half cup cracked wheat a day. In the evenings I give 2 cups thawed fresh corn and alternate nights with 2 cups thawed fresh peas. Should I supplement them more? They get flock raiser and layer feed all day long. Water and vitamin water too.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Oh and the garage is 32-37 degrees.

 

[Amiga]

I think it was HollyDuckFarmer who used food coloring on the vent to check for laying. Maybe thicker bedding and keep trying to tweak the feed...

 

[PrayingMantis]

Food coloring? I can imagine but what exactly do I do with food coloring to their vent?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Food coloring? I can imagine but what exactly do I do with food coloring to their vent?

when you put food coloring on the vent when they lay an egg it will get on the egg shell and you'll know who is laying. of course different colors for each vent.

and you may just have one taking a break, they have to do that to give their bodies a chance to rest usually a couple weeks to a month then they start back up again. They will do this through the year.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Yes, I have done the food coloring. I read about that here on BYC. It works well.

 

[BLT79]

we are getting another duck to keep our poor Frack company since losing our Frick

Should I get the same breed, or is it ok to get a different breed? should I get male or female? Thanks all!

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I think different breeds are ok, just as long as they are similarly sized. No Calls with Pekins. Here I have a Rouen that is best buds with a KC. Generally, I think females integrate more easily than males into a new flock, but I guess it depends on your individual.