The Duck Thread

[OldMissionChick]

Thanks City Farm I will try that. Once we get their coop done they will have a pond instead of a pool.

 

[City farm]

@needlessjunk
- good morning!  I haven't seen you on for a while.
@caesargirl
- good morning!  happy weekend is right!  My Diva's bill is already looking almost completely healed.  We're hoping to move the four into their adult coop this weekend, but the weather isn't cooperating.  We still need a couple more coats on the floor, but not while it's raining.

I sure hope I get eggs someday.  If I have 4 boys, I'll be shocked!

What do you use to coat your floor?

Being a Duck owner if ya will call it that ok, anyway you are right but my kids and grand kids are far better then most kids when it comes to finding egg's at Easter time then the other kids ...... So funny ....

Well, when my Cayuga ladies finally start laying, you may have to send them up here.... Black/olive eggs laid in the woods... I could be in some eggless trouble!!!!

Bring your camera when you go egg hunting.. I would love to see black/olive egg's from your duck's.. We sold the pair of duck's to our neighbors.. They are Cayuga's, her egg's are cream colored.. We almost kept them just for their egg color.. Glad we didn't.. What breed is it that you have that lay the black/olive egg's.? What preditors do you have around your area??

 

[caesargirl]

What do you use to coat your floor?
Bring your camera when you go egg hunting.. I would love to see black/olive egg's from your duck's.. We sold the pair of duck's to our neighbors.. They are Cayuga's, her egg's are cream colored.. We almost kept them just for their egg color.. Glad we didn't.. What breed is it that you have that lay the black/olive egg's.? What preditors do you have around your area??

those are there grand mums eggs! It's the Cayuga x Swedish blues giving me those colors. Lola is call x pekin. The white ones are Lolas. Well My area of Maine is farm country... So red and silver fox, skunk, coon, weasel/mink, coyotes, random bear, blue jays, owls, hawks, crows..... Luckily for me... I also have Canadian geese residing and 4 dogs(useless couch hogs!) the worst have been the skunks.

 

[City farm]

Thanks City Farm I will try that. Once we get their coop done they will have a pond instead of a pool.

Oh your welcome, it's worth a try.. You just never know what will work.. We actually use a roasting pan that is next to their food.. That way they don't have to get in the horse trough, "pond" to drink.. We change it every day, they really like the fresh water..

 

[Debs Flock]

@City farm - We're coating with Black Jack (some kind of roof tar stuff).

@OldMissionChick - bribery! Neither of our Pekins liked the ramp, but I put some green beans going up it. They followed the trail, eating along the way (of course) and then jumped right in.

 

[Lynn Manes]

Here are a few ideas for you to consider.

It is ideal when the duck pen drains so that there is no standing water.  A 2% slope will do it.  At the low end, a shallow channel leading into a garden bed, mulch pile or even a grassy area will make good use of the enriched water.

Spalding labs sells fly predators, and has some advice about controlling flies.  That's where I get my fly predators from.

If you can set up a fan - that is not exactly a fix, but it is a kind of work-around until things get managed.

Our first year with the ducks I was getting concerned about the flies - they seemed to suddenly proliferate.  Now, there are some around but nothing to worry about.

I am wondering if flies are breeding under the OSB boards.  I may not be picturing it quite right.

Thanks for the advice. The OSB boards are laying flat on the ground. I think they are breeding elsewhere though. We have a neighbor with 2 horses and what seems like about a gazillion big dogs they keep chained and penned (grrr) in their backyard. I know horse manure can attract flies, but I'm pretty sure they keep the property pretty clean. There is an infestation of flies throughout the city and county. For years, we never had insects like this but every year,once the weather begins to warm up, the flies take over. Could it be bc there's more water and wet area around my ducks than around my other fowl and rabbit hutches? We will definitely take your advice and try out the watering system and check on the fly preventive.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You should contact a wild bird rehab and turn it over to them. It will need water and duck or chick feed till you can find a place that will take the little guy in. It's great that you are helping it out.

X2 from all I have heard it is really hard to get a wood duck duckling to eat they don't eat chick feed like other ducks they are I am pretty sure insects eaters. contacting a wild life rehabber is dif the best option.

Best place to find info on wild ducks and ducklings https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/46/ornamental-fowl-swans-etc

 

[LoveThemBirds]

Ok.I have 2 ducklings,2 months old.I have officialy added them to the flock.I have one drake and i'm pretty for sure this duckling (The pekin) is our 2nd drake.My oldest drake (A large pekin),had been in the run chasing my lil Cutie (Our 2 month old runner duckling) all around the run.He grabbed her by her head and had her like that for a good 7 maybe 10 minutes just trying to mate with her.I just watched thinking it was mating,but of course I did try threw the fence to shew him off.She was screaming.
Question:Why would he want ANYTHING to do with a hen that doesn't eve lay eggs?I'm upset because 1.She is muddy and I had to let them out at 6 something to take baths when the birds of prey are out in this area.Also,she is soooooooooooooooooo sweet,that I could just KILL Sparta (The drake).

 

[LoveThemBirds]

Also,will this kill her?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Also,will this kill her?

Yes he can kill her never put ducklings in with hormonal drakes, young ducks need to be introduced slowly into the flock and kept side by side with the adults in separate fenced areas and housing until they are laying age.