The Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

My Runners are not laying - nothing for 6 weeks and just 1-2 a day for the last 2 weeks. I've got nine 2 yr old Runners, 1 is sitting on eggs, 3 have ducklings ranging from 4 to 8 wks old. That leaves 5 that are giving me, at best, 2 eggs a day. Noone is molting; everyone has fresh bedding and water daily,a small pond and 1 acre to free range on; the temps are perfect - 50s at night, 60s during the day. Do brooding hens and new Moms inhibit the others from laying? They have a 180 sqft secure house at night. There are squirrels around but I've never had a problem with predators. What am I doing wrong? Could there just be too many changes in the flock lately? I know they really don't like change - even something as minor as my husband letting them out in the morning instead of me unsettles them for a day or 2. Temperamental little quackers!

You maybe on to something. I know my broody's will run other ducks out of their space when they try to go in to lay an egg, but they always find another place inside one of the other houses to lay. Could be just taking a bit of time off too.

 

[ringaring]

You maybe on to something. I know my broody's will run other ducks out of their space when they try to go in to lay an egg, but they always find another place inside one of the other houses to lay. Could be just taking a bit of time off too.

Time off!!! I had to work full time for a year before I could get time off. These guys are way too pampered. If I didn't love them so, duck soup would definitely be on the menu in lieu of quiche. I think I will make some movable partitions to provide a little privacy for the maternity corner. If that doesn't help I may build an addition to the duck house. By the time all is said and done I can see a little duck village with different houses for different duck needs including an isolation house for the troublemakers.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Time off!!! I had to work full time for a year before I could get time off. These guys are way too pampered. If I didn't love them so, duck soup would definitely be on the menu in lieu of quiche. I think I will make some movable partitions to provide a little privacy for the maternity corner. If that doesn't help I may build an addition to the duck house. By the time all is said and done I can see a little duck village with different houses for different duck needs including an isolation house for the troublemakers.

This I want to see.LOL

 

[vivibarn]

I have a question The feathers of my ducks are falling but I dont know if this is normal because I consider its too much. I even thought one day when I went to feed them that they were eaten. Its hot in Florida right now so I dont know if is related. Thanks for any help.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I have a question The feathers of my ducks are falling but I dont know if this is normal because I consider its too much. I even thought one day when I went to feed them that they were eaten. Its hot in Florida right now so I dont know if is related. Thanks for any help.

Show pics.

I bet it's simply a molt.

 

[trciero]

I have 12 chickens and now 2- 4 month old khaki campbells. I got the khaki's because of their large tastey egg productions, but they have really made a mess for me. my free range chickens were no hassle eating their feed in their hen house without much of a mess. Now that I have the ducks they have to be fed outside which is drawing ants and then all day they venture in the hen house to make a mess of the chicken's water contaminating it with the food and spreading feed all over the floor of the hen house which has now caused a huge ant problem... any suggesting before I boil me up some Khaki

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 12 chickens and now 2- 4 month old khaki campbells. I got the khaki's because of their large tastey egg productions, but they have really made a mess for me. my free range chickens were no hassle eating their feed in their hen house without much of a mess. Now that I have the ducks they have to be fed outside which is drawing ants and then all day they venture in the hen house to make a mess of the chicken's water contaminating it with the food and spreading feed all over the floor of the hen house which has now caused a huge ant problem... any suggesting before I boil me up some Khaki

I have 16 chickens and learned along time ago that you can't have water anywhere a duck can go,inside a building that is. so my chickens get fed and watered outside. I use Fermented feed and so far over the almost 2yrs I have fed it haven't seen any ants in it. Not sure why your feed is drawing them. What are you feeding them does it have anything sweet in it.? Ducks are messy no doubt about it but the eggs and cuteness make up for it with me and I have 12 ducks and 4 geese so there is alot of mess and cuteness around here. You might try sprinkling some food grade DE around the ground where you feed everyone and in the coop but I wouldn't put food and water inside.

 

[trciero]

Thanks for responding, So I have so many ants that if I feed outside wow! I feed the ducks outside each morning then pick it up and let my chickens out. I think I will try taking the water out of the hen house each morning that may detour the ducks from feasting in there. I also thought about penning the ducks in an area of the yard with some chicken wire. any thoughts on that? oh I feed the organic mash and it seems these fire ants are protein minded and not sugar?

 

[luvmypets]

What age does a duck go broody also when is mating season

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Ants are scavengers and thus will scavenge anything they can. Your best bet is very clean conditions, as clean as you can make them, including rotational pastures if necessary.

ML is correct 100% all points.

Chicken wire is fine for keeping chickens/ducks in (usually) but rather weak, totally ineffective at keeping predators out, so that would be a temporary solution at best.