The Duck Thread

[Drea07]

You want to wait till your babies are as large as your Pekin and keeping them close together will help in making the transition when they are big enough. For some reason your Pekin see the new little ones as tresspassers and will have to get use to the new ones slowly. When you have time try to toss treats out like dried meal worms [once your new ducklings get around 2 weeks old when they are better able to keep out of your Pekins way] let them all eat the treats together if there is any aggression separate them so no one gets hurt. But keep trying this till they can all be together. Never leave them alone though with the older ducklings. You had 10 yesterday 9 today did one die? Your on the right track it just takes time.

I will give that a try! Thank you.

Yes, we lost one last night. Currently I have them all in the house yet, each in their own brooders. My toddler opened the basement door and the dog sneaked into the basement. I went to go get my teenager and noticed the door was sitting open. Went downstairs and found the dog standing inside of the ducklings brooder, the hardware cloth was pinning all but one of the duckies in a corner under it. (Luckily it came down like it did, or he may have gotten them all.) The rest were terrified but thankfully okay.

Don't think he did it out of aggression or with the intent to kill them. When I caught him, he was acting like a big ol' dummy with a new squeaky toy....and the ducky he got, was not (sorry for the morbid bit) torn apart. He bit it once and left it. Won't ever trust him near them alone, didn't before, which is why the door was supposed to stay closed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I will give that a try! Thank you.

Yes, we lost one last night. Currently I have them all in the house yet, each in their own brooders. My toddler opened the basement door and the dog sneaked into the basement. I went to go get my teenager and noticed the door was sitting open. Went downstairs and found the dog standing inside of the ducklings brooder, the hardware cloth was pinning all but one of the duckies in a corner under it. (Luckily it came down like it did, or he may have gotten them all.) The rest were terrified but thankfully okay.

Don't think he did it out of aggression or with the intent to kill them. When I caught him, he was acting like a big ol' dummy with a new squeaky toy....and the ducky he got, was not (sorry for the morbid bit) torn apart. He bit it once and left it. Won't ever trust him near them alone, didn't before, which is why the door was supposed to stay closed.

I'm sorry that happened same did here to but it was me who didn't close the gate and my mini dachshund went in and got one of the ducklings brought it inside through the doggie door. Probably killed it when he picked it up to carry it. No serious injuries. Mine cannot be around babies at all adult s and teenagers they are fine with small things not so much.
Glad all of your others were spared. I'd lock that door.

 

[BooeyBird]

One of my 2 pekin ducklings, Ellie, just quacked for the first time! I thought it would be a long time until they could quack but I am happy I have a girl duck!

Ellie still peeps, but I heard her quack 6 times in a row ! I think the other duckling, Ally, is a boy because he is a lot bigger and makes a raspy peep sound that is quieter...

What age do ducks normally start quacking?
And also, when should I move them outside (at how many weeks old?) Sorry, I am new to ducks!

 

[comptonkids]

Sorry Zacko didn't mean to freak you out, what Amiga is recommending is good. Just remember if your adding duckling into the mix the adults can hurt them even kill them so please keep them separate even if they are coming with a mama duck. like Amiga says plastic poultry netting is inexpensive and can be used to separate until you get everything the way you want it. Please don't get frustrated just plan the way you want your place set up for them taking all thats been said into your planning. We're here to help honest. 

yes, I would not put ducklings with the bigs
I had a flock of chicks and 2 ducklins,bought 4 more chicks, everyone was getting along great
bought 8 more chicks and my rouen killed one...they were only about 3-4 weeks old when I brought in the 8

Today I bought 3 more ducklings and my kids wanted to see the bigs with the babies..well, immediately the older rouen attacked my new one

They will be separated for some time

 

[Miss Lydia]

yes, I would not put ducklings with the bigs
I had a flock of chicks and 2 ducklins,bought 4 more chicks, everyone was getting along great
bought 8 more chicks and my rouen killed one...they were only about 3-4 weeks old when I brought in the 8

Today I bought 3 more ducklings and my kids wanted to see the bigs with the babies..well, immediately the older rouen attacked my new one

They will be separated for some time

Hope the one that got attacked is okay. Hard to understand what goes on in their minds when something like this happens.

 

[comptonkids]

Hope the one that got attacked is okay. Hard to understand what goes on in their minds when something like this happens.

it is
I was right there and saw it happen
I swooped in right as it happened and grabbed the baby

 

[Miss Lydia]

it is
I was right there and saw it happen
I swooped in right as it happened and grabbed the baby

Thank goodness, the young bullies. lol
It takes time but eventually they will all be 1 flock.

 

[Miss Lydia]

One of my 2 pekin ducklings, Ellie, just quacked for the first time! I thought it would be a long time until they could quack but I am happy I have a girl duck!

Ellie still peeps, but I heard her quack 6 times in a row ! I think the other duckling, Ally, is a boy because he is a lot bigger and makes a raspy peep sound that is quieter...

What age do ducks normally start quacking?
And also, when should I move them outside (at how many weeks old?) Sorry, I am new to ducks!

How old are they? They should be fully feathered before going outside. usually around 6-8 weeks old but they can enjoy some outside time now if your weather is warm. I like to take mine on field trips when little on nice warm days so they can play and enjoy the out of doors, never leave them alone though predators are everywhere.

 

[Drea07]

I'm sorry that happened same did here to but it was me who didn't close the gate and my mini dachshund went in and got one of the ducklings brought it inside through the doggie door. Probably killed it when he picked it up to carry it. No serious injuries. Mine cannot be around babies at all adult s and teenagers they are fine with small things not so much.
Glad all of your others were spared. I'd lock that door.

Thank you.

I would love to be able to lock the door, but it's not a normal door. It's one of those that slide into the wall on a track. We do have a small hole drilled in it,that we sometimes put a pin into, but my teens room is in the basement and he gets locked down there if we put the pin in. (when he is having a teenattitude, this wouldn't bother me so much

) I've wanted to take it out and put a normal door in, but to do that I would have to tear down my kitchen wall.

 

[casportpony]

my ducks poop is a dark brown blackish color. it's not usually like that I'm wondering if he is sick or anything?

Any change like that could be a sign of illness. Best to get a baseline weight and monitor for loss or lack of gain. Young ducks should make daily gains, so if they don't, pretty good chance they are sick.

-Kathy