The Duck Thread

[Amiga]

MIght want to have a fecal test done for parasites, too, to be safe.

 

[PrayingMantis]

We can't get duck feed where we live. We have 3 laying lightweight ducks. 2 khaki Campbell's 2 1/2lbs & 3lbs, 2 welsh harlequins 4lbs & 4 1/2lbs all are laying and eating a mix of Purina flock raiser and layena pellets. And a 4 month old runner girl that's 3lbs eating the flock raiser and probably the layena too but I try to keep her food separate but nearly impossible. I hope her eating the layer feed is not going to hurt her but I do mix it. I think they are either right on target or on the small side except my 4 1/2lb girl. Any suggestions as to really what protein amount they need in a feed for winter vs summer? Also what fat content for winter vs summer? They have stayed indoors for nearly 3 days now and won't stay outside. Temps are in single digits and below 0 at night and today finally got to 18 degrees. No change due for another week or 2! Yikes!

 

[Amiga]

I am in a similar situation, PrayingMantis, I use a base feed of organic layer pellets, to which I add a few tablespoons of ground flax seed daily. We have one buff laying in spite of my telling her she can take some time off. So we are all getting some extra calcium with calcium gluconate in water mixed into the feed.

If I can find some numbers I will post back about the protein and fat. I recall reading in Storey's Guide about cat kibble as a supplement, but don't recall details at the moment.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Hello all! Got a question! We found an active fox hole with pups on our property about 200 yards from where our ducks free range and where the duck house is. I think this will be a huge threat to our flock come spring when they are out. So should we eliminate the female and pups? Do we eliminate the female and turn the pups over to wildlife rehabbers to care for and relocate? How is this usually handled in order to protect our flock?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

@PrayingMantis

I had a fox den here also, but mine I found later (toward Fall). In my case, the mamma fox & her 3 kits just moved on with never any issues or incidents. Which was great news for all. I hope the same for you & yours. Here, foxes are protected, which means that if you were to dispatch one without a hunting license and/or out of season, then one can face criminal charges. I would advise you to talk to someone in your area's Wildlife/Natural Resources Department to find out what your options are.

 

[goats rule 101]

Prayingmantis, I totally agree with what hollyduckfarmer said. You could also get a livestock guardian dog to protect your flock. I don't have one but I hear if you train them well they are awesome and protect your animals greatly from all predators. I'm seriously thinking about getting one. If you're interested check out the website backyard herds on what breed to get and how to train them. Good luck!

 

[PrayingMantis]

I certainly don't want to bring harm to any wildlife nor do I want to break a law! We do have a dog but she's a boxer. I also know they carry mange so I guess I will contact our local animal control as they became a big issue where I grew up and my family still lives there and the fox problem has only gotten worse. Our old neighbor had a fox bite her dog and poo in his food bowl! It was a female and she would let her pups play in the back yard but she was so mean that my neighbor couldn't get out of her car when the pups were out because the female would go after her! Just the thought of it makes me want to address it before we get to that point! Yikes!

 

[ringaring]

I noticed that my drake Daffy felt lighter then I remember. Seems like he's lost weight this winter it's been so cold where I am. I bring them in at night tho. Is there something I could supplement in his diet ? Or something to help him gain some weight ?

My ducks - 10 runners, 1 mutt duck and 1 mystery duck, are pretty hefty. AutE, my mutt duck, could afford to lose a little so I guess they get fed plenty: they get free all purpose poultry pellets - about 5-7 cups a day, 2 cups of grain scratch, 1 cup of cracked corn and, in the evening, 4-5 handfuls of peas (a bribe to get them into their house). If it's a particularly cold night, they get extra corn. They also get all kinds of greens from the garden, spring, summer and fall. During the day they have over an acre of woodland to forage in. Yes, they're spoiled, but they're healthy!

 

[BLT79]

Something took one of our ducks earlier this evening

. Now our other duck is lonely. Didn't get any of our chickens but now I am worried it will be back for more.

 

[Amiga]

Something took one of our ducks earlier this evening

. Now our other duck is lonely. Didn't get any of our chickens but now I am worried it will be back for more.

They do come back. They need to be secured. Get them into somewhere safe.