The Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Making progress on my duck box!

Very nice, and cracked corn is not a healthy diet for poultry although they love it but on my bag of 7way scratch it says it should only be 10% of the diet either duck feed or all flock feed with whole oats and scratch added but mostly the feed. I do a 80/10/10.are your ducks adults or ducklings?

 

[BLT79]

Happy to report he is actually down from the coop at the moment! You will love your cayugas! Thanks!

 

[BLT79]

They are all beautiful! They make me want more variations! Haha

 

[goats rule 101]

Hi all. I currently have 3 drakes, one mallard and 2 rouens. I am hoping on getting some girls soon but first we need to build a duck house. I live in Minnesota and don't know what to do next winter. This winter was hard but we managed. I don't want them living in the shed ever again so I was looking for some house ideas. I was thinking something tall enough for a heat lamp and big enough to keep water and food in there for the colder months. It also needs to be fairly cheap. But my main concern is how can I keep it warm enough? All ideas are appreciated, thanks!

 

[Starfire669]

Happy to report he is actually down from the coop at the moment! You will love your cayugas! Thanks!

I am already in love with them, and I have only had them 4 days! I knew the Cayuga drake would be gorgeous with the iridescent green feathers, but someone had told me the hens were plain. After seeing the pic of yours, I disagree. The black/white feathering makes the hens look just as stunning as the drakes in their own way! I can't wait for next spring when everyone will be all grown up and beautiful. With 4 white Chinese geese and 2 female white crested ducks, the Cayugas are going to stand out nicely in my flock. So excited!

 

[subhanalah]

I am already in love with them, and I have only had them 4 days! I knew the Cayuga drake would be gorgeous with the iridescent green feathers, but someone had told me the hens were plain. After seeing the pic of yours, I disagree. The black/white feathering makes the hens look just as stunning as the drakes in their own way! I can't wait for next spring when everyone will be all grown up and beautiful. With 4 white Chinese geese and 2 female white crested ducks, the Cayugas are going to stand out nicely in my flock. So excited!

sounds like a good plan.
Please research about the crested gene in ducks before deciding to hatch any of those eggs from your crested hens.
Can't wait for more pictures!

 

[Starfire669]

sounds like a good plan.
Please research about the crested gene in ducks before deciding to hatch any of those eggs from your crested hens.
Can't wait for more pictures!

I have no plans to hatch any of the crested's eggs. I got them cause they needed a home and were cute. I call them my Fro-ducks, lol. But after finding out about the gene and the issues it causes, I won't intentionally hatch their eggs. If they want to be mommies, they can get a clutch donated curtsey of the Cayugas. I actually have the 2 white Pekin crested, and 1 black mallard crested. The mallard crested, Ebony, is injured due to the Pekin drake I re-homed to my sister's home last week. He force mated Ebony, which resulted in her tearing the muscle in her hip. She is in the nursery with the 4 ducklings and she seems very attached to them. She allows them to climb all over her, and sleep snuggled up against her body. I guess Ebony has adopted the ducklings to an extent, which is great as they are also supposed to be her companions. Poor Ebony was an outcast as the only black duck in the flock, now she won't be.

 

[subhanalah]

I have no plans to hatch any of the crested's eggs. I got them cause they needed a home and were cute. I call them my Fro-ducks, lol. But after finding out about the gene and the issues it causes, I won't intentionally hatch their eggs. If they want to be mommies, they can get a clutch donated curtsey of the Cayugas. I actually have the 2 white Pekin crested, and 1 black mallard crested. The mallard crested, Ebony, is injured due to the Pekin drake I re-homed to my sister's home last week. He force mated Ebony, which resulted in her tearing the muscle in her hip. She is in the nursery with the 4 ducklings and she seems very attached to them. She allows them to climb all over her, and sleep snuggled up against her body. I guess Ebony has adopted the ducklings to an extent, which is great as they are also supposed to be her companions. Poor Ebony was an outcast as the only black duck in the flock, now she won't be.

I'm on your thread

 

[Starfire669]

I'm on your thread

Cool, please contribute anything you can.

 

[BLT79]

I was told by the woman that the white comes in after the mating male has pulled out her feathers!