The Duck Thread

[DuckDodgers]

So my pen after this winter is really muddy is there something I could put in there that is easy on their feet and does not need to be cleaned everyday?

 

[Amiga]

What about sawdust?

 

[subhanalah]

Straw or hay. Straw would be my first choice, out of the two.

 

[dazza1965]

So my pen after this winter is really muddy is there something I could put in there that is easy on their feet and does not need to be cleaned everyday?

Does it really matter? Im in uk, and we've have horrendous rain all winter. My ducks do have areas where they can stay off the mud, but have not moved out of the mud, it doesn't bother them. Now that it is getting warmer and drier (I hope) thegrass will soon grow again. But if u wanted to put something down, my oppinion would depend on the pen base. If it is stone or concrete or wood id go with hay. If it is grass/mud I would go with sawdust or woodshavings. (This will just mulch into the ground) saves cleaning.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This spring I am going to try my hand at hatching some muscovies and call ducks. And first timer advice?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubating-and-hatching-muscovy-eggs read this and talk to Lacrystol she is our expert at incubating and hatching.

 

[GAIL328]

Do your ducklings still have their bands on their legs, as they grow those bands will cut into their skin. 

Funny you should mention that. The khakis had blue bands very easy to see. The runners was white and I spotted it when I was drying her off with the towel. It was falling off. So glad.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Today we brought Marcy outside because it was about 40 degrees out. The boys immediately started picking on her, and she ended up sitting on a snowy hill and staring into the house. We brought her back inside, she had a bath, and while I was holding her, the poor girl was shivering. She is all better now, we are going to let her out for an hour or so tomorrow and bring her in at night.

Sounds like a good idea and keep those boys away from her ,hormones are why to high right now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Funny you should mention that. The khakis had blue bands very easy to see. The runners was white and I spotted it when I was drying her off with the towel. It was falling off. So glad.

we've had folks come in here saying their duckling/ducks band had embedded into their skin which makes my skin crawl just thinking about it, glad your lil ones was coming off. matter of fact I was looking at a catalog where they said the bands fall off on their own after a certain time[I think I'd still take them off instead of waiting]

 

[subhanalah]

  we've had folks come in here saying their duckling/ducks band had embedded into their skin which makes my skin crawl just thinking about it, glad your lil ones was coming off. matter of fact I was looking at a catalog where they said the bands fall off on their own after a certain time[I think I'd still take them off instead of waiting] 

I can't speak for other hatchrries, but metzers uses tape bands that fall off. I think this is the exact reason why.

 

[GAIL328]

  we've had folks come in here saying their duckling/ducks band had embedded into their skin which makes my skin crawl just thinking about it, glad your lil ones was coming off. matter of fact I was looking at a catalog where they said the bands fall off on their own after a certain time[I think I'd still take them off instead of waiting] 

Yeah was a paper tape so it probably would have fallen off over time. Glad i saw it.....glad you saw it too.