The Duck Thread

[PotatoWaffles]

Great pics.  Glad your integration seems to be going well.  I love how in the last pic, your Pekin is shooting a water laser into the tub

Is he? Lmao I didn't even notice it. I had to put a mini pool down because those two are so attached to the chickens. They won't use the regular duck pool because they can't see the chicks from there lol.

 

[tracyjg]

Cute on attached to chicken and duck on pool.

 

[MandyJ]

Color question. I have 5 ducklings, 2 of them are supposed to be blue Swedish. They are black, they have about 98% of their feathers but I see no grey on them, only black and white on their chest. Is this normal or do I have black Swedish instead of blue? Thanks!

 

[Pyxis]

Color question.  I have 5 ducklings, 2 of them are supposed to be blue Swedish. They are black, they have about 98% of their feathers but I see no grey on them, only black and white on their chest. Is this normal or do I have black Swedish instead of blue?  Thanks!

Blue swedish don't always breed just blue swedish - crossing two blue swedish will get you 50% blue swedish ducklings, 25% black, and 25% splash. So it's possible that you got black instead of blue. A lot of hatcheries will say that only 50% hatch blue so if you order blue they may send you black and splash.

 

[MandyJ]

Blue swedish don't always breed just blue swedish - crossing two blue swedish will get you 50% blue swedish ducklings, 25% black, and 25% splash. So it's possible that you got black instead of blue. A lot of hatcheries will say that only 50% hatch blue so if you order blue they may send you black and splash.

Thanks! I was just wondering if they would change color when they molted. Guess not! Oh well, I have 4 black ducks and 3 white! Thanks again!

 

[MandyJ]

I have a behavior question.

I have 5 ducklings (7 weeks old) that we are trying to introduce to our 2 older Pekin hens. All of the ducks and ducklings are free range during the day and are put up at night. Since the babies are fully feathered I have been keeping them in the enclosure with the older ducks. My husband built a divider that is about 2 feet tall that is made out of chicken wire. I put this down the middle of our 10 x 10 enclosure to keep the ducklings and adults separated. The other night ALL 7 ducks got together, the babies ran up to the adults and rubbed their beaks and head under the bill of the older duck, kinda like a caress, Has anyone ever seen this? Three of the ducklings were doing this to the adults.

Second question, how long do they need to be exposed to each other before you let them be together permanently, they are together all day long foraging. The babies follow the adults all over the place, much to the adult's dismay! I haven't seen any aggression from the adults but I have seen a little (mainly in the beginning) aggression from the ducklings toward the adults.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ren2014]

Thanks! I was just wondering if they would change color when they molted. Guess not! Oh well, I have 4 black ducks and 3 white! Thanks again!

I love the blacks! Do you want to get rid of any or trade for Blue/KC cross??

I'm going to Caldwell this Sunday for some Muscovies and could easily swing by. PM me if interested.

 

[Ren2014]

I have a behavior question.

I have 5 ducklings (7 weeks old) that we are trying to introduce to our 2 older Pekin hens. All of the ducks and ducklings are free range during the day and are put up at night. Since the babies are fully feathered I have been keeping them in the enclosure with the older ducks. My husband built a divider that is about 2 feet tall that is made out of chicken wire. I put this down the middle of our 10 x 10 enclosure to keep the ducklings and adults separated. The other night ALL 7 ducks got together, the babies ran up to the adults and rubbed their beaks and head under the bill of the older duck, kinda like a caress, Has anyone ever seen this? Three of the ducklings were doing this to the adults.

Second question, how long do they need to be exposed to each other before you let them be together permanently, they are together all day long foraging. The babies follow the adults all over the place, much to the adult's dismay! I haven't seen any aggression from the adults but I have seen a little (mainly in the beginning) aggression from the ducklings toward the adults.

Thanks in advance!

I've had them end up together like this and they worked it out amongst themselves. I would judge letting them stay together permanently by size. Are the young ones almost the size of the others? I just introduced a male muscovy 8 wks into our flock after having him in a pen inside the big pen for 4 weeks, and 2 of those weeks I let him out to free range with them while I stood guard. He's as big as they are now and fully integrated. I haven't seen a young one caress another that wasn't their mom. Good luck on integrating them permanently

 

[AuroraDoerksen]

Picking up my ducklings this weekend! Will they need a heat source for the drive home? It will be about a 40 minute drive. Thanks!

 

[Ren2014]

Picking up my ducklings this weekend! Will they need a heat source for the drive home? It will be about a 40 minute drive. Thanks!

How old are they? Unless it is extremely cold where you are, they should be fine. Some hatcheries ship much farther and do not supply a heat source. Have a safe trip and me sure to post pictures