The Duck Thread

[Starfire669]

if it is hot where you live I would not add acv to the water. It has something to do with nutrient/calcium absorption.

Can you explain this more? I live in Texas and it is very hot here. I don't want to give my chickens, ducks, geese anything that could hurt them, especially during the summer months when the heat is so oppressive.

 

[gander007]

Quote:

I use Electrolyte in the water in the summertime to keep my poultry and I have had it work very well in temps up to 129 F degrees and haven't had any losses yet ....





Some of the variety we have here .......

 

[tsaenz]

Have a duckling with big bump on top of her foot , no scabs . Could it be beginning of bumblefoot ?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Have a duckling with big bump on top of her foot , no scabs . Could it be beginning of bumblefoot ?

Could be an injury also, or abscess try soaking the lil foot in some warm Epsom salt water[don't let the duckling drink the water since it is also a laxative. But soaking may help bring down the swelling does it limp? how does it look underneath?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

X2

Did you inspect for splinters? Also possible. ES will also help with that.

 

[kimmerjo]

OK so I'm getting ducks !!! I have narrowed it down to Welsh Harlequin, Buff Ducks and Rouen's. I'm not sure how many yet not too many maybe 3-6 ....two of each kind...... How big does their house need to be. I live in New York so it gets cold. And what about swimming in the winter??? Do they? They will be

 

[kimmerjo]

They will be free ranged *

 

[gander007]

Have a duckling with big bump on top of her foot , no scabs . Could it be beginning of bumblefoot ?

Is it a hard or soft bump ?????

 

[Miss Lydia]

OK so I'm getting ducks !!! I have narrowed it down to Welsh Harlequin, Buff Ducks and Rouen's. I'm not sure how many yet not too many maybe 3-6 ....two of each kind...... How big does their house need to be. I live in New York so it gets cold. And what about swimming in the winter??? Do they? They will be

I would go and buy the book Storey's guide to raising ducks. lots of great info in there about the breeds your interested in and housing and pred control and diseases.
your talking big ducks with Rouens to med ducks with the other 2 breeds so you need at least 6 sq'per duck inside their house outside run needs to be 10sq ' here is one thread about houses.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/55358/duck-houses now bear in mind the more secure you build the safer and longer you'll have your ducks, some pics on this thread don't look safe to me but you can get some ideas on what you want but try not to think of cost, think of it as investing in the safety of the ducks you will have in your charge. Free range is fine as long as you don't have roaming dogs, which are the #1 killer of back yard waterfowl and other poultry. I free range when Ican be outside spending time with my flock, other wise they are contained in fencing. On days in winter when temps get int upper 30's I try to put out water in cement mixing tubs for mine to bathe in, but most of the winter they have their heated buckets to wash their faces in. They don't need to bathe but always seem to enjoy a bath in winter.

 

[tsaenz]

It's only been there a couple days it's kinda soft