The Duck Thread

[mystry]

even if you could catch them, they are migrating ducks. It's best to go to a breefer or the feed store, get some non migrating ducks. Then you can hand raise them. it's wonderful when they come up to eat from your hand.

In some states it is illegal to even set up a feeding station for them. In my state they consider it baiting and it is not allowed under fair game laws. Check with a local wildlife officer.

 

[Jdc361]

Best laying heavy breeds?!!!

 

[RedIII]

welcome, congrats on your new babies. Chickens LOVE anything dark colored and will peck things to see if its food, so dont take it personally, they will learn. You can offer them a yummy treat in your hand to distract them from it.
Ducks are so cute, despite the mess, its totally worth the beautiful grownups they become, the eggs, and all the "I love you Mommy" head bobs when their older. This forum is awesome, im glued to it when Im not working or taking care of my babies

Looking forward to pics of yours, thats our fav part

Jen Saulsberry

For reference, turkeys also like to investigate dark spots They are also very insistent and will bite harder each time. I've almost lost a couple of moles that way, lol.

Welcome, tinkerfairy! I'm jealous of all the loves you get from your ducks. Whenever I get close to my two Rouens, their reaction is

 

[tinkerfairy]

Thanks

we have 2 Rouen and ours are a bit more timid than our runners and my mystery fella. We were told at tsc he was a black Swedish but I'm not sure since his yellow/white covers his whole chest and belly and the tips of his wings were yellow and he had some faint yellow around his eyes but not marked up anything like a mallard or Rouen, he's are largest he's been outgrowing everyone else. He has the cutest feet they're yellow with black splotches like someone dropped paint on them his legs start out black then switch to yellow at the knees, the top bill is black and the bottom yellow, are oldest 3 are now feathering out, the back of his neck is starting to turn white with black patches, his body feathers are coming in black though. We tried them in the shower, we stopped up the tub so they could play in the bath too and they had a blast! Its so cute watching them sit under the water. Pebbles my spoiled runner dried herself by sitting on my shoulder and me taking the towel to her... Lazy girl had mom do all the work. No idea why but she loves to lay on my shoulder, they all had a lot of fun and ate a nice meal afterwards then pebbles wanted right back out to be held after eating. Jumper is so smart he knows his name he will look rich at us and step forward when he hears it. We are hearing the starts of quacks from cocoa and pebbles the runners, jumper has a soft whistle. That sound and his size are why we call him a he not she. When we first got ours they weren't as tame, the rouens were the worst they would run away, but they have learned to trust us from watching the others interact with us. We spent time with them daily besides cleaning and feeding. Moved slow started off just petting them and they learned to trust us, although cocoa still doesn't like being picked up. I'm far from a duck expert but this is what seemed to work with ours and we've had them inside since day 1. I also think they bonded a little with me on the ride home, they were making frightened calling sounds and I drove home with one hand in their box that settled them down. We thought pebbles would be our wildest, when the girl at tsc picked her up to put her in the box she spit water all over her like a defense. But she's never done that with us. I do feel very lucky to have such sweethearts in my home, I hope we have bonded well enough that I'll continue to get affection from them once they are outside and when they are grown. I read runners were a timid breed but pebbles has been the lover of the group followed by jumper. They all seem to enjoy being talked to and pet. I really wonder do have any feeling in there bills because ours enjoy having there bills rubbed. I officially have a tame bantam now little raven is some type of black bantam chick with a flat spot instead of a comb will now hop onto my hand and lay down and let me pick it up out of the cage without giving me any ear busting chick in distress chirp as I call it, some are worse than a car alarm

I think ducklings have been my favorite raising, I like the bantams because of there small size and such a variety in looks and color but being tiny makes them spook easy, my regular chicks have become spoiled, my dad said they think I'm there mama hen

them and the ducks will be moved outside within a week or 2 they need more room

too bad the little ducklings cant stay little then they could just live inside

 

[Jdc361]

I'm going to get flock of three heavy breeds... Which breeds should I get. They will be for eggs and pets

 

[RedIII]

Tinkerfairy, your mystery boy sounds cute. And it sounds like your babies have a good home

 

[RedIII]

I'm going to get flock of three heavy breeds... Which breeds should I get. They will be for eggs and pets

I don't know much about ducks yet, so take my advice with a grain of salt. I have read that Cayugas make good pets, as do Welsh Harlequins and the Swedish ducks. Don't know which of those are considered heavy breeds, though. Sorry.

 

[Jdc361]

I don't know much about ducks yet, so take my advice with a grain of salt. I have read that Cayugas make good pets, as do Welsh Harlequins and the Swedish ducks. Don't know which of those are considered heavy breeds, though. Sorry.

Well welshs are light breeds and I hear swedes don't do well in confinement

?!! Is that tru?

 

[needlessjunk]

I'm going to get flock of three heavy breeds... Which breeds should I get. They will be for eggs and pets

Muscovies, Pekins and rouens. Muscovies are suppose to be the most pet like but the females can fly. If you ever plan on breeding you don't want to cross them with a mallard derivative breed because you get mule ducks.

 

[Jdc361]

Muscovies, Pekins and rouens. Muscovies are suppose to be the most pet like but the females can fly. If you ever plan on breeding you don't want to cross them with a mallard derivative breed because you get mule ducks.

See that's the thing! They CANNOT fly. And I'm just getting females

could I throw a cayuga in there instead?