The Duck Thread

[TattooedKeeper3]

AWWW! They are SO cute! Have wonderful fun with them!

Thank you, they are precious. I got one solitary first adult quack out of one of them today. It made my day this morning when I heard it. I had just filled up the duck pool with fresh water and they were hoping out from a swim. I felt so proud even though I had nothing to do with it.

And I noticed that their bellies are almost fully feathered. Now if only the rest of them would catch up. They look half done like my chicks in that half feathered stage. Everything about them is adorable. I am really enjoying raising these two ducklings with my chickens.

 

[jonhpdx]

Hi everyone, first time poster here. After browsing through the boards and lurking about quite a bit in the past few weeks, I thought I'd introduce myself--and the girls.

I just bought my first house and it came with a chicken coop! For obvious reasons my SO and I chose ducks over chickens, and thus the experiment with 4 wildly entertaining ducklings has ensued. We bought four hens: a Pekin (Grace), Cayuga (Martha), Welsh Harlequin (Piper), and Black Swedish (Juniper/June). It's been super fun thus far and we're both in love with our ducklings. They're about 3.5 weeks old at this point and are really starting to feather, especially on their chest and wings.

They've taken very kindly to us, and while I wouldn't say they've totally imprinted on us, they've gotten close enough to the point that we can call them and they'll all come waddling towards us if we're standing "too far" away in the yard. Picking them up is obviously no problem and never has been.

We thought you might enjoy some pictures of the experience thus far, so have a look!

1-2 days old:
First hours after being delivered to us





Fell asleep almost instantly after feeling the warmth of my hands

1-2 weeks old:
First swim lesson!



June says hi

2-3 weeks old:
Moving into the new temporary enclosure--they got too big for the bathtub!

First excursion outside

Finally being tall enough to see each other in the mirror

The water doesn't 'taste right' if it's not sat in first

 

[carcar80]

He

Hi everyone. Looking for a bit of advice. I have bought some mandirin duck eggs and on day 7 of incubation. But still can not see anything when candiling... Am i jumping the gun thinking they are not fertile. Used to hatching chikens which are super fast sevelopers... But with the mandy eggs i can not see anything no veins no shadow nothing????

Here is a fantastic candling comparison chart that I love using. Good luck!
http://www.metzerfarms.com/Candling.cfm?CustID=1440380

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Thank you, they are precious. I got one solitary first adult quack out of one of them today. It made my day this morning when I heard it. I had just filled up the duck pool with fresh water and they were hoping out from a swim. I felt so proud even though I had nothing to do with it.

And I noticed that their bellies are almost fully feathered. Now if only the rest of them would catch up. They look half done like my chicks in that half feathered stage. Everything about them is adorable. I am really enjoying raising these two ducklings with my chickens.

eeeep! Sounds great. Having a wonderful time with them then!

Good Work!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Hi everyone, first time poster here. After browsing through the boards and lurking about quite a bit in the past few weeks, I thought I'd introduce myself--and the girls.

I just bought my first house and it came with a chicken coop! For obvious reasons my SO and I chose ducks over chickens, and thus the experiment with 4 wildly entertaining ducklings has ensued. We bought four hens: a Pekin (Grace), Cayuga (Martha), Welsh Harlequin (Piper), and Black Swedish (Juniper/June). It's been super fun thus far and we're both in love with our ducklings. They're about 3.5 weeks old at this point and are really starting to feather, especially on their chest and wings.

They've taken very kindly to us, and while I wouldn't say they've totally imprinted on us, they've gotten close enough to the point that we can call them and they'll all come waddling towards us if we're standing "too far" away in the yard. Picking them up is obviously no problem and never has been.

We thought you might enjoy some pictures of the experience thus far, so have a look!

1-2 days old:
First hours after being delivered to us





Fell asleep almost instantly after feeling the warmth of my hands

1-2 weeks old:
First swim lesson!



June says hi

2-3 weeks old:
Moving into the new temporary enclosure--they got too big for the bathtub!

First excursion outside

Finally being tall enough to see each other in the mirror

The water doesn't 'taste right' if it's not sat in first

WOW mega ultra super CUTE!!!!!!!!!

 

[lovinchickypoos]

I've read that as adults ducks should get wheat laid in a pan of water if fed chicken layer feed, especially drakes since layer has too much calcium in it for them. I'd love to hear from you veteran duck keepers how you feed your quackers! Mine are only 3wks old so I'm feeding chick start free choice and supplementing cooked wheat berries morning and evening. I will hopefully be able to free range them a good portion of the time. There is 2.33 acres for them to roam but a bit more than half that is un-irrigated field (until we get pipes put out there) that dries out in summer (rye grass is predominant). Also, it seems waterfowl food is hard to come by around here. Thoughts???
It may be good to mention that I have Celiac Disease so I'd prefer not to come in contact with wheat, rye or barley anymore if there are alternative grains that would suffice.

 

[Amiga]

I'm GF, too. Some thoughts I have had are oats, flax, buckwheat. Rye can get ergot, another reason to avoid that.

Countryside Organics has crushed field peas as one of the ingredients. Purdue University notes that spring-sown field peas are much better for livestock.

I like oats because they seem easy to grow and harvest, since I can just toss the stem with the oats on to the ducks. They eat the oats off and then there's oat straw left behind for bedding.

I used a scythe to harvest last year. That was a pleasant experience. Quiet, pretty fast, light, no gasoline.

Do you think just sprouting the wheat berries - soaking them for a day or three - might be just as good or better than cooking? Just wondering.

 

[lovinchickypoos]

I'm GF, too. Some thoughts I have had are oats, flax, buckwheat. Rye can get ergot, another reason to avoid that.

Countryside Organics has crushed field peas as one of the ingredients. Purdue University notes that spring-sown field peas are much better for livestock.

I like oats because they seem easy to grow and harvest, since I can just toss the stem with the oats on to the ducks. They eat the oats off and then there's oat straw left behind for bedding.

I used a scythe to harvest last year. That was a pleasant experience. Quiet, pretty fast, light, no gasoline.

Do you think just sprouting the wheat berries - soaking them for a day or three - might be just as good or better than cooking? Just wondering.

It didn't even occur to me to try growing oats! I'll look into field peas too. Not sure how prevalent they are in my neck of the woods. Sproating is something I need to try again. Last time I kept forgetting about rinsing them and I gave up! Thanks for your response!

 

[Amiga]

See if you can find the hull-less oats. That's what I grew.

 

[lovinchickypoos]

See if you can find the hull-less oats. That's what I grew.

Will do! Thanks!!!!