The Duck Thread

[holm25]

Quote: It's the other way around for us our ducklings pick on the turkey poults.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's the other way around for us our ducklings pick on the turkey poults.

OH I'm sure it happens just don't hear of it as often. Just have to be watchful on all counts.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My son won it in a kids rodeo event. We already have the brooder set up for 4 turkey poults. We put duck in with them & they looked at it like it was an alien at 1st, but now they are getting along SO amazingly well! The turkeys snuggle right up to duck!

I hope everything goes well, I just have a hard time getting my head around living prizes what if you didn't want this lil duckling or couldn't take it, then what happens to them? Just wondering if this is common practice at such events. what ever happened to trophy's? lol

 

[WeatheredWings]

I hope everything goes well, I just have a hard time getting my head around living prizes what if you didn't want this lil duckling or couldn't take it, then what happens to them? Just wondering if this is common practice at such events. what ever happened to trophy's? lol 

It's an event that has been going on for years, with known results of a small animal being the "prize". If you don't want your child to have one, or you don't have the ability to take of one, then you just don't enter your child/ren.

 

[DBerryhill]

I've seen a lot of different things about when to put ducklings outside. In ready for these adorable....but very smelly critters to be out in the great outdoors! They are Cayugas getting the first feathers, voices starting to change. I'm in southern oklahoma. The Night temps 60-70's and days from 70-105 My big concern is that it is always windy...and I'm new to ducks. I'm finishing my coop extension for my chicks today (chicken math victim) and then was going to see about the ducks. Opinions please and thanks

 

[Alice28]

I've seen a lot of different things about when to put ducklings outside. In ready for these adorable....but very smelly critters to be out in the great outdoors! They are Cayugas getting the first feathers, voices starting to change. I'm in southern oklahoma. The Night temps 60-70's and days from 70-105 My big concern is that it is always windy...and I'm new to ducks. I'm finishing my coop extension for my chicks today (chicken math victim) and then was going to see about the ducks. Opinions please and thanks

Are ducklings went outside in a coop with heat lamp at three weeks. Now they are outside in a big run (4 and 5 weeks old) then we lock up in there outside coop at night. Last night was are first night not putting on te heat lamp. It gets around 50 at night, but we always came out with them hiding from the light and hot. They did fine last night with no lamp. Oh and the run has wire on top so no birds can swoop down and take one away. Safety first!

 

[Starfire669]

I've seen a lot of different things about when to put ducklings outside. In ready for these adorable....but very smelly critters to be out in the great outdoors! They are Cayugas getting the first feathers, voices starting to change. I'm in southern oklahoma. The Night temps 60-70's and days from 70-105 My big concern is that it is always windy...and I'm new to ducks. I'm finishing my coop extension for my chicks today (chicken math victim) and then was going to see about the ducks. Opinions please and thanks

I am in Texas, so we are hot already. I put my ducklings outside in a nursery section of the coop as day olds with heat at night. They have been off heat for over a week now. They will be a month old in 2 days. Mine are also Cayuga ducklings, 1 male, 3 females. They do great free ranging with the older ducks, chickens, and geese during the day, then back to the nursery at night. I will probably keep them in the nursery at night until they ate fully feathered and big enough that they can't be injured by the bigger ducks and geese.

 

[Cynthia12]

I have three internal pips now. Do these stay in lock down for three days like the chicks?



Same egg, two others look the same. Now the wait.

 

[DBerryhill]

I am in Texas, so we are hot already. I put my ducklings outside in a nursery section of the coop as day olds with heat at night. They have been off heat for over a week now. They will be a month old in 2 days. Mine are also Cayuga ducklings, 1 male, 3 females. They do great free ranging with the older ducks, chickens, and geese during the day, then back to the nursery at night. I will probably keep them in the nursery at night until they ate fully feathered and big enough that they can't be injured by the bigger ducks and geese.

Alice and starfire thanks for the input. I have about a 36' x 16 covered run attached to my chicken coop. I'm already having to divvy up space in there for my chick additions. The ducks will be neighbors with a run that joins up with the chickens. I free range when I'm home...I just don't know with the ducks. From what you both have said my day tomorrow will be spent building a duck condo until the permanent run is extended. Thanks!

 

[Starfire669]

Alice and starfire thanks for the input. I have about a 36' x 16 covered run attached to my chicken coop. I'm already having to divvy up space in there for my chick additions. The ducks will be neighbors with a run that joins up with the chickens. I free range when I'm home...I just don't know with the ducks. From what you both have said my day tomorrow will be spent building a duck condo until the permanent run is extended. Thanks!

The ducks and goslings go out faster than chicks here for a couple of reasons. The smell, the mess, and how fast they grow. They also seem to get bored very fast in inclosed brooders. I let them out free ranging, supervised as soon as I see feather pecking, which is usually no later than 2 weeks old. I start them in a playpen, to keep the big guys away from the littles. Then I start slowly turning them loose and staying nearby while the flock readjusts to new members. They are now spening about 5-7 hours free ranging outside with the geese, chickens, and ducks. They loving hunting for bugs and eating greens, so them pecking each others feathers/fluff stops and they get exercise and meet their flock mates.

But since this is Texas, I have lots of shade set up for them, along with 4 swimming pools, and lots of buckets and bowls of water. It gets extremely hot in the afternoon and everyone naps in the shade panting trying to beat the heat. If you get up to 105 during the day make sure to provide lots of water, and shade. I planted a couple bushes just to provide extra shade for them.