The Duck Thread

[GAIL328]

My ducks free range all day and are lead back into their pen very easily at night. I find them much easier to put away than the chickens. My chickens go to bed when their ready LOL Can't force them early. I started out putting food in at night only so they were good and hungry. They've even adjusted to going in their new pen well. Good luck.

 

[GAIL328]

Hey I got some NatureSmart unmedicated chick starter. Is that good for my duckling? At 9days old

Yes but add some brewers yeast to it.

 

[LittleBlu]

Yes but add some brewers yeast to it.

It says it has a niacin supplement, do I still need to?

 

[GAIL328]

Ducklings need more niacin than chicks.

 

[quackerboysinPA]

My pekin duck has a quarter sized hard scab over an area on his chest where the vet removed a hard scabby mess of ingrown feathers 2 months ago.

Some downy feathers filled in the edge of the area, but will new feathers ever grow again if the scab ever comes off?

He also has a bald spot on his butt where he's had an ingrown feather abscess the last 2 years. Caught it early this year and the vet removed the ingrown feathers/sebum plugs before it got infected. But his butt is still bare after 2 months (pic is fr 2 months ago right after it was cleaned out).

Will new feathers grow once he molts? Or will he be bald there forever?

Thanks!

[/IMG]

 

[Onlyducks]

Ducks are pretty good about putting themselves "to bed". If mine are busy enjoying rain or have found a lot of bugs, they may balk at going. I have a stick about 3 feet long—a small tree branch and I use it to guide them. We call it the "duck stick" and it just lets them know where you don't want them to go. You just use it to keep them from turning the wrong direction. I have 5 Pekins and 6 Muscovies. They each go into their appropriate pens at night. I didn't train them to do this, they just did it. The only thing I can tell you is if you are "herding" them, just go slowly and steadily and point them in the direction you want them to go. If you're patient, they just head home and it works well.

 

[GAIL328]

Ducks are pretty good about putting themselves "to bed". If mine are busy enjoying rain or have found a lot of bugs, they may balk at going. I have a stick about 3 feet long—a small tree branch and I use it to guide them. We call it the "duck stick" and it just lets them know where you don't want them to go. You just use it to keep them from turning the wrong direction. I have 5 Pekins and 6 Muscovies. They each go into their appropriate pens at night. I didn't train them to do this, they just did it. The only thing I can tell you is if you are "herding" them, just go slowly and steadily and point them in the direction you want them to go. If you're patient, they just head home and it works well.

I agree slowly is the key. We put our arms out to the side and they turn. It's actually quite funny.

 

[hennible]

Thank you all, great advice. Once I can herd them myself I'll train my Aussie pup to help.

 

[Starfire669]

I have 3 adult crested ducks and 4 young Cayuga ducks who share the coop with our 8 geese until we are done building and fixing the new ducks house. I also have 26 chickens who have their own coop. They all free range in my yard together, all but the cresteds were raised together since they were day olds and they get along beautifully. The geese and ducks are so much easier to put up than the chickens. Where I live I put them all away 30 minutes before dusk because of the high stray cat and dog population. The chickens hate going up early while there is still some daylight left. But the ducks and geese are very easy and accommodating. When it's time to put them up I walk into the yard, clap my hands a few times and tell everyone bed time. I round the chickens up first and put them away and when I come back the ducks and geese are already grouped up and heading for their coop. So I just walk slowly behind them and gently herd them the rest of the way. Mine won't put themselves away, I swear they all look at me asking if I really want them to go to bed, if I don't get behind them they won't go up. But if I do, they walk to their coop like a charm. It has gotten to where I can put the ducks and geese away at any time of day very easily. And they learn the routines and patterns. I don't know why I started the whole clapping thing, but now if I don't clap they won't group up and go to bed, lol. They are smart little buggers, but we love them.

 

[hennible]

Very cute, thank you. I will let them out today!