The Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

thanks. Thought so, just wanted to check. How does that work though? Isn't the same as them eating and digesting pellets?
also, I have read a few threads and othef websites regarding food. A lot are saying to feed them boiled eggs, and feed them cruched eggshell. Would this encourage egg eating? I know they can't peck and break the shell like a chicken would but they may step on the egg to break it.

I have not been able to get my ducks to eat boiled eggs but I do give my layers crushed egg shell the dogs or us get the inside.

Never had an egg eater.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Howard is fairly gentle with the white cresteds when he attempts to mate them. Ebony hardly ever gets in the pools, and now I know why. She got in with Daisy and Ivory this morning. Then Howard came in and grabbed her head, I thought he was going to mount her, but he pushed her head underwater and then tried to cover it with his chest and hold her down. When he grabs the white cresteds he immediately tries to mount, not so with Ebony. I had to run out there yelling to get him to let her go. Right now Howard is on my freezer camp list for bad behavior. The reason I am looking for Cayguas, aside from color is they are supposed to be quite for ducks. The white cresteds are very loud. I don't need more loud ducks disturbing my neighbors. I believe that the white cresteds are Pekin, and the black crested is mallard. Not sure as previous owner knows even less about ducks than I do.

Miss Lydia! Didn't realize it was you answering my question. Thanks.

yep Tis me, hey Howard sounds like a piece of work. Poor Ebony, Starfire can you post pics or your ducks, I thought you said Ebony was Cayuga? And your right your white crested are most likely Pekin and they can be loud. Howard is way to big to be mating with a Mallard. I have a Bantam Frizzle hen named Ebony she's blk but I call her Ebbie.

 

[Starfire669]

   yep Tis me, hey     Howard sounds like a piece of work. Poor Ebony, Starfire can you post pics or your ducks, I thought you said Ebony was Cayuga? And your right your white crested are most likely Pekin and they can be loud. Howard is way to big to be mating with a Mallard.   I have a Bantam Frizzle hen named Ebony she's blk but I call her Ebbie. 

These are the only 2 photos of the ducks I have uploaded right now. These were taken the first day i broguth the ducks home, so they all stuck together. Now the are more at ease in their new home. I can try and get a better picture of Ebony today if you like.

I am thinking Cayuga ducklings for their color and the fact that they aren't as loud and vocal as the Pekin.

 

[NewToChix]

Here is a quick photo of the ducklings. The first the KC and the second the one we got yesterday. Don't mind the wall color - it was a failed attempt at a boy's room. Now it is a duck room. Haha.

 

[Amiga]

Here is a quick photo of the ducklings. The first the KC and the second the one we got yesterday. Don't mind the wall color - it was a failed attempt at a boy's room. Now it is a duck room. Haha.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have to 2nd that..

 

[Starfire669]

So I found out that I am Howard's 4th owner, at least. He was abomdoned at a pond and the owner of the crested females picked him up and saved him. Then sold them to the lady that I brought them from. So these poor ducks have had a very rough start on life. I just don't know what to do about Howard's aggression towards Ebony. The ducks have split themselves into 2 groups. Ebony and Daisy have a layers club thing going on, but after laying Daisy rejoins the other white ducks. And Howard follows Ivory and Loudmouth all over the place.

 

[Ren2014]

OMG, this duck mating stuff is killing me. Does it ever stop?? I've separated boys from girls because some of the girls heads were looking frazzled. Now we've got same sex stuff going on both sides of the fence. The drakes seem so cruel but then the girls seem to be little hussies and won't stop flirting with them through the fence. I finally just put everyone back together again

Seriously though, how long does the mating season last?

 

[Miss Lydia]

OMG, this duck mating stuff is killing me. Does it ever stop?? I've separated boys from girls because some of the girls heads were looking frazzled. Now we've got same sex stuff going on both sides of the fence. The drakes seem so cruel but then the girls seem to be little hussies and won't stop flirting with them through the fence. I finally just put everyone back together again

Seriously though, how long does the mating season last?

Probably till September although it does get some better towards August. I have a constant check list with mine to make sure the girls are looking good still, so far they are. My problem is i have 3 ducks brooding right now so that makes it short ducks for my drakes. These girls aren't even sitting on viable eggs either but once they start I just have to let it run it's course.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So I found out that I am Howard's 4th owner, at least. He was abomdoned at a pond and the owner of the crested females picked him up and saved him. Then sold them to the lady that I brought them from. So these poor ducks have had a very rough start on life. I just don't know what to do about Howard's aggression towards Ebony. The ducks have split themselves into 2 groups. Ebony and Daisy have a layers club thing going on, but after laying Daisy rejoins the other white ducks. And Howard follows Ivory and Loudmouth all over the place.

Aww poor Howard, Drakes can be so obnoxious and most people won't put up with it, Maybe if you can get more ducks Ebony can find a couple friends and Howard can still have his girls.

Drakes are just so hormonal about the only thing we can do is keep close tabs on the girls that one isn't getting too much attention. And ride it out till breeding season is over.