The Duck Thread

[jayjay32]

I save all my chicken egg shells, rinse them to get all the white and lining out, bake them till they are dry, then grind them up with my coffee grinder and sprinkle over their pellets.

I read oyster shell is bad for ducks, not being bioavailable, it builds up in their livers and causes health problems. (Someone correct me plz if this isnt accurate)

I am sure you could switch to a feed with a higher calcium content as well. I always read and save all the lables of the feeds I buy for comparison, and you cant always get them online.

Hope this helps,
Jen

Thank you very much! I'm gonna have to try this

 

[Lizzy456]

Thanks

we have 2 Rouen and ours are a bit more timid than our runners and my mystery fella. We were told at tsc he was a black Swedish but I'm not sure since his yellow/white covers his whole chest and belly and the tips of his wings were yellow and he had some faint yellow around his eyes but not marked up anything like a mallard or Rouen, he's are largest he's been outgrowing everyone else. He has the cutest feet they're yellow with black splotches like someone dropped paint on them his legs start out black then switch to yellow at the knees, the top bill is black and the bottom yellow, are oldest 3 are now feathering out, the back of his neck is starting to turn white with black patches, his body feathers are coming in black though. We tried them in the shower, we stopped up the tub so they could play in the bath too and they had a blast! Its so cute watching them sit under the water. Pebbles my spoiled runner dried herself by sitting on my shoulder and me taking the towel to her... Lazy girl had mom do all the work. No idea why but she loves to lay on my shoulder, they all had a lot of fun and ate a nice meal afterwards then pebbles wanted right back out to be held after eating. Jumper is so smart he knows his name he will look rich at us and step forward when he hears it. We are hearing the starts of quacks from cocoa and pebbles the runners, jumper has a soft whistle. That sound and his size are why we call him a he not she. When we first got ours they weren't as tame, the rouens were the worst they would run away, but they have learned to trust us from watching the others interact with us. We spent time with them daily besides cleaning and feeding. Moved slow started off just petting them and they learned to trust us, although cocoa still doesn't like being picked up. I'm far from a duck expert but this is what seemed to work with ours and we've had them inside since day 1. I also think they bonded a little with me on the ride home, they were making frightened calling sounds and I drove home with one hand in their box that settled them down. We thought pebbles would be our wildest, when the girl at tsc picked her up to put her in the box she spit water all over her like a defense. But she's never done that with us. I do feel very lucky to have such sweethearts in my home, I hope we have bonded well enough that I'll continue to get affection from them once they are outside and when they are grown. I read runners were a timid breed but pebbles has been the lover of the group followed by jumper. They all seem to enjoy being talked to and pet. I really wonder do have any feeling in there bills because ours enjoy having there bills rubbed. I officially have a tame bantam now little raven is some type of black bantam chick with a flat spot instead of a comb will now hop onto my hand and lay down and let me pick it up out of the cage without giving me any ear busting chick in distress chirp as I call it, some are worse than a car alarm

I think ducklings have been my favorite raising, I like the bantams because of there small size and such a variety in looks and color but being tiny makes them spook easy, my regular chicks have become spoiled, my dad said they think I'm there mama hen

them and the ducks will be moved outside within a week or 2 they need more room

too bad the little ducklings cant stay little then they could just live inside

I'm pretty sure the duckling you are describing could be an Ancona , since their feet and bills and mottled along with their plumage.They are also considered a mediumweight , so that could be why he is larger than the others.It's just a possibility , but I don't know for sure .

 

[Jdc361]

Or should I get a light breed flock?! If so which breeds?! I've heard light breeds tend to be more skittish

is that true?

 

[Jdc361]

See that's the thing! They CANNOT fly. And I'm just getting females

could I throw a cayuga in there instead?

 

[needlessjunk]

See that's the thing! They CANNOT fly. And I'm just getting females

could I throw a cayuga in there instead?

Cayugas aren't very big. Mine is actually the same size as my welsh harlequin, but I think she is just a tiny thing for her breed. Have you taken a look at this? It's a chart about a few different breeds. It's a generalization but can give you an idea about the different breeds. http://www.metzerfarms.com/DuckBreedComparison.cfm?CustID=4001403
Are you going to get any males? Staying around the same size is a good but if everyone is raised together the size dofference may not be as big of a deal.

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm pretty sure the duckling you are describing could be an Ancona , since their feet and bills and mottled along with their plumage.They are also considered a mediumweight , so that could be why he is larger than the others.It's just a possibility , but I don't know for sure .

It could still be Swedish, just probably black splash. Mine have mottled feet and legs.

 

[Jdc361]

Cayugas aren't very big. Mine is actually the same size as my welsh harlequin, but I think she is just a tiny thing for her breed. Have you taken a look at this? It's a chart about a few different breeds. It's a generalization but can give you an idea about the different breeds. http://www.metzerfarms.com/DuckBreedComparison.cfm?CustID=4001403
Are you going to get any males? Staying around the same size is a good but if everyone is raised together the size dofference may not be as big of a deal.

I'm not going to get any males. But for my comfort I would like them to be all the same size or close. Should I do a heavy or large flock? Or should I just get one breed and if so which one?

 

[Lizzy456]

It could still be Swedish, just probably black splash.  Mine have mottled feet and legs.   

Like I said , just a possibility , I haven't owned either so I'm not exactly an expert...

 

[needlessjunk]

I'm not going to get any males. But for my comfort I would like them to be all the same size or close. Should I do a heavy or large flock? Or should I just get one breed and if so which one?

That is all up to you. I have a mixed flock and love them, but a lot of people get the same breed. It's all personal preference I believe buffs are also large, forgot about them. I'm sure there are a few others I'm forgetting about as well.

 

[Jdc361]

We

That is all up to you. I have a mixed flock and love them, but a lot of people get the same breed. It's all personal preference I believe buffs are also large, forgot about them. I'm sure there are a few others I'm forgetting about as well.

Well I think I'm either gonna get a rouen, a pekin, and a cayuga. Or three Pekins?!!! Input on this would be great!