The Duck Thread

[Amiga]

Depends on the duck and the season.

Uhm, you may want to pay very close attention to what's going on. Two drakes and one female could mean she is getting too much male attention. If she's got her feathers fluffed out, that could well mean she is very very stressed, possibly injured.

I would separate them for at least a few days and see if she feels better. Too much mating can prevent her from laying.

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

I've never seen them mate or even try to yet were in the process of makin a bigger space for them and our chickens

But I've never heard any weird things goin on or the chickens act strange they just all huddle together for the. Most part especially when they free range

 

[firey2rose]

Questions. My 12 year old decided that he thinks he wants a duck. I know nothing about ducks and 59 pages is a lot to read.

Soo...here goes. What is the best breed to get for kids (6 and 12 years)? Can they be kept with the chickens (mixed breeds)? Do they need anything special that chickens don't, if so what exactly? Do they have to have a pond, or kiddy pool? Is just one duck ok or do I need to get more than one, and if so how many is best? Our neighbors have a pond in their pasture, will it run away?

Thanks for any help!

 

[carousel86]

Questions. My 12 year old decided that he thinks he wants a duck. I know nothing about ducks and 59 pages is a lot to read.

Soo...here goes. What is the best breed to get for kids (6 and 12 years)? Can they be kept with the chickens (mixed breeds)? Do they need anything special that chickens don't, if so what exactly? Do they have to have a pond, or kiddy pool? Is just one duck ok or do I need to get more than one, and if so how many is best? Our neighbors have a pond in their pasture, will it run away?

Thanks for any help!

My 15 year old son wanted ducks to! So we got 2 Rouen ducklings. We have a large pond in our backyard. They are 3 months old, we let them out of their pen. They did good for the first two days. Now one flew away and the other come back every couple of days to eat. I wish I look into it a lot more before we got them. This way we could train them better. We are going to get more duckling in the spring and try again. You don't need a pond in your yard a kiddie pool is good. Good Luck!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
She is not the most friendly girl but I will check her feet out today.
Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

She is not the most friendly girl but I will check her feet out today.
Thanks!

Sometimes I wish I could communicate better with my adopted rescue ducks. They are so painfully shy I have to be careful when I need to pick them up to examine them, so they don't flail themselves into walls. Tsk tsk. I think they are slowly warming up, though. I keep plying them with peas and lettuce and sweet talk.

 

[Forest of Ducks]

Questions. My 12 year old decided that he thinks he wants a duck. I know nothing about ducks and 59 pages is a lot to read.

Soo...here goes. What is the best breed to get for kids (6 and 12 years)? Can they be kept with the chickens (mixed breeds)? Do they need anything special that chickens don't, if so what exactly? Do they have to have a pond, or kiddy pool? Is just one duck ok or do I need to get more than one, and if so how many is best? Our neighbors have a pond in their pasture, will it run away?

Thanks for any help!

I have a full blooded Rouen and 4 mixes they aren't come hold me and all but that's because I hadn't been with them that much when they were ducklings but one of them did warm up to me then the others. I read ducks aren't as happy without water so I just have a kiddie pool in my coop. I keep my ducks with my chickens and they do fine. My 3 month old ducklings actually immediately became top of the pecking order even though the chickens where 3 times bigger! They don't attack but my hens leave the ducks alone and vice versa. Ducks also need niacin more than chickens do.

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

My female is walking around all fluffed up tail feathers spread out like prancing around the boys does this mean what I think it means? Do I need to separate them soon or how does that work

 

[Amiga]

I think she is warning them away. Maybe becoming broody? Help her out with her own space. I know Sechs, who is super broody now, gives Bean the hairy eye ball any time she sees him, head down, mouth open, neck scrunched, feathers floofed out, stomping.

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

shes isn't laying yet she is only like 4 5 months I believe shes just never done that before