The Duck Thread

[City farm]

Spoiled & getting loved on

 

[Amykins]

Hey, so I need you guys' opinion. Wobbles does this sometimes and it freaks me out. It looks like she's just having a hyper, overly preeny-ful moment, but she gapes and yelps sometimes when she does it. It's quite unsettling, but at the same time she makes happy chirps and is totally fine after her little episode is over. Is she ok?

 

[hennible]

My whole flock does something very similar. One starts and the others follow and then they run around the pen flapping there wings and making all manner of noises and crazy preening actions, usually it ends in the pool with a lot of splashing. I think it's a display of excitement but really I have no insight.

 

[hennible]

Oh and that was a super cute video! Hope my duck story makes you less worried

 

[Amykins]

Oh and that was a super cute video! Hope my duck story makes you less worried

A little bit. It's just the gaping that has me so puzzled, and that squawk she made, like she was in pain. Ducks are weird.

 

[hennible]

Ducks are weird! I'll turn up the sound and watch the video again.

 

[hennible]

I'm going to say it's an excited startled sound, not pain... Just my opinion.

 

[rancher hicks]

Yeah...sadly, cracked corn is NOT the same as feed. And feeding them bread is actually really bad for them. :/

Chickens tend to get bored and it can be hard to keep them busy. I like to toss the scratch into the weeds along the fencing or other areas where they need to dig and search for it. It's also why I toss it into bales of hay or straw.

Bread is a nice treat, but overdone like other treats it can cause problems. Insoluble grit needs to be in abundance when giving greens or other soft things. I know some folks think they'll find enough themselves but imo, I don't think so. So I dump piles of it here and there and sometimes dump a handful in their feed. I do recycle egg shells by crushing them up in with the grit too.

In the winter the straw or hay keeps their feet warmer. One year my rooster was bleeding from his feet.






Bunnies find shelter too.

 

[Lowri12]

Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me. I was sold a duck just around 3 months ago and was told it was a Silver Appleyard and definitely female. It is around 13 weeks old now and does not quack but makes the raspy drake sound so it's definitely a drake. It also doesn't look like a Silver Appleyard to me, I'm thinking maybe it's a saxony? Could someone please help me out and suggest what breed he is?

 

[MommaHenn]

Could you tell me how old Wobbles is?