The Duck Thread

[JadeComputerGal]

I have another question already! I have two drakes and two hens,all the same age of about 25 weeks old, but only one of the hens is laying eggs. Is it possible that the second hen is just not mature enough to lay yet?

Welcome to BYC!

Yes, entirely possible. Two ducks of the exact same age, even if they came from the same parents, won't necessarily start laying at the same time. What breed of duck are they?

 

[Frindizzle]

Hello! I am still new to raising ducks, and I am curious as to what breed I have. I was under the impression upon purchase that they were Khaki Campbells, but after I looked at pictures of other peoples' Khaki Campbells, I am not sure if mine really are Khaki Campbells.

They might be Blue Runners crossed with Khaki Campbells.

 

[duckies1230]

Adults usually do better with pellets, plus you have a lot less waste than with crumbles. I would not ever recommend feeding a drake layer feed unless it's for a short time you're in a pinch for feed.

Are you perhaps on a phone that's auto-correcting you when you're trying to type Dumor? I've never heard of a duck feed named Rumor, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Lol that is what I meant, I didn't even notice auto correct changed it. I can't find pellets at any local store. What should I be looking for?

 

[duckies1230]

Can I have 2 drakes and 2 females. I know they could hurt a girl but what if they don't? I'm sure there are ppl ho have done it like that with no problems.

 

[derekd1999]

Thank you! I think they are at least part Runner. I bought them thinking they were Khaki Campbells, but now I know that they are not KCs.

Yes, entirely possible. Two ducks of the exact same age, even if they came from the same parents, won't necessarily start laying at the same time. What breed of duck are they?

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Pretty duckies, and almost certainly at least part Runner. Runners are good layers as well, and they're tons of fun to watch. I love Runners! @Amiga can give you more specific info about them if you need it. That's the only other breed I'm thinking about adding when we expand our flock.

 

[Debs Flock]

Pretty duckies, and almost certainly at least part Runner. Runners are good layers as well, and they're tons of fun to watch. I love Runners! @Amiga can give you more specific info about them if you need it. That's the only other breed I'm thinking about adding when we expand our flock.

Sorry, I've forgotten now...do you have only calls now?

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Lol that is what I meant, I didn't even notice auto correct changed it. I can't find pellets at any local store. What should I be looking for?

I've never heard of a feed store that doesn't have pellets. Are there others nearby? I'm not sure what to tell you about nobody having pellets. All this stuff can be ordered over the Internet, often for less than what you pay in the store, but the shipping costs can negate any discount because feed is so heavy. Have you asked your feed store if they can order feed for you? Ours will order whatever we want and have it shipped to their store, so we don't incur the shipping cost.

Can I have 2 drakes and 2 females. I know they could hurt a girl but what if they don't? I'm sure there are ppl ho have done it like that with no problems.

You can, and people do. Nobody can predict how that will turn out. A 1-1 ratio often isn't a problem, and many people do that, especially people who are intentionally breeding a pair. Where you mostly with run into problems with a 1-1 ratio with more than one pair is if one or both drakes are particularly, umm, wanting to twangle often during mating season, or if they don't pair up. You can run into situations where both drakes prefer the same duck, and also where both ducks prefer the same drake.

They're really much like humans in meeting situations. A drake might say, "Hey, I like you. Do you like me?" and the duck might say yes, or it might say, "Not really. I prefer that better-looking guy over there." You'll see it if you watch all the interactions in larger groups. We have a little keeper boy right now that is desperately trying to court one of our little keeper girls. I was thrilled at that, except she doesn't like the keeper boy and wants a for-sale boy. I'm really hoping that sorts itself out once the for-sale boy is sold.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Sorry, I've forgotten now...do you have only calls now?

Yes, only Calls. They'll be fine with Runners (I think) if we raise the Runners and introduce them slowly after they're large enough. Runners, for all of the bigness they convey in pics, really aren't that big. They're in the next weight class up. The fact that they sometimes stand so upright makes them look much bigger than they really are. Plus we don't clip our Calls, so they could just flutter off to another part of the yard if a Runner was annoying them. (This is how it would work in theory, but I will be very mindful of the reality once it happens.)

 

[Debs Flock]

Yes, only Calls. They'll be fine with Runners (I think) if we raise the Runners and introduce them slowly after they're large enough. Runners, for all of the bigness they convey in pics, really aren't that big. They're in the next weight class up. The fact that they sometimes stand so upright makes them look much bigger than they really are. Plus we don't clip our Calls, so they could just flutter off to another part of the yard if a Runner was annoying them. (This is how it would work in theory, but I will be very mindful of the reality once it happens.)

Oh, what an adorable group you'd have!! What color calls do you have? I've never seen you post many pics of them.