The Duck Thread

[magicdave]

My ducks love dandelions, too, as long as I pull them, chop them up, and put them in a food dish. :/

Yeah I harvest them with a scythe then chop them up.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Yeah I harvest them with a scythe then chop them up.

LOL. Yeah, I really love all this stuff about how ducks will eat all your weeds. I don't think my ducks would know a weed if they tripped over one.

 

[napdognewfie]

I have a trio of cascades too.

I think he just moved on to other breeds that were endangered. He came back to them when they lost the trait of autosexing.

They are very pretty ducks with the feather patterns. I haven't gotten eggs yet so don't know how that will go.

 

[RedIII]

Thanks... I asked twice in the over in the feed forum, but never got an answer. I feed mine a turkey starter, which I think has more niacin than chick starter, so maybe that's why I don't see leg problems in mine?

-Kathy

I fed mine the game bird feed that I feed to poults, too, and I never had leg problems show up either.

You gotta a keeper there

Prayers your mallard is ok

She is, thank you! She showed up again this afternoon for a minute.....and then disappeared again. Huh?

Would a mallard be sitting this time of year? I sure hope not, because I'm pretty sure neither one of the drakes are brave enough to try breeding her. She's feisty.

 

[sryglet]

Egg laying question(s):

1. My pekin began laying eggs about two months ago. After laying about ten eggs, I thought that she had stopped.... but then I found what is definitely one of her eggs sitting in the hollow part of a concrete block. Haha.. I know pekins like to lay their eggs all over the place, but where on earth do you think I should look?! She's free range, so they could be absolutely anywhere... Is there any way to encourage her to lay them at least sort of in one spot?

2. This one may be a stupid question... My runner / cayuga mix is about 6 months old. I haven't seen a single egg from her. She has a drake that's the same age as her. I've looked absolutely everywhere and I can't find any eggs. Do you think she's just not laying yet, even though her pekin counterpart that's the same age began laying almost two months ago? Could she have made a nest somewhere that I can't find? Is there any possibility / risk that the eggs will hatch even though she's put away at night? We aren't home for ten hours of the day and she often is somewhere that we can't see her when we ARE home, and she takes the drake with her.... I ask because I've seen a lot of people say that they were surprised with ducklings and I can't imagine that all of those people let their ducks just wander all night long...

 

[Ren2014]

I fed mine the game bird feed that I feed to poults, too, and I never had leg problems show up either.
She is, thank you! She showed up again this afternoon for a minute.....and then disappeared again. Huh?

Would a mallard be sitting this time of year? I sure hope not, because I'm pretty sure neither one of the drakes are brave enough to try breeding her. She's feisty.

YEAH

I'm so glad she is OK. I'm betting she has a nest somewhere.

 

[Amiga]

I was just down there watching her and my chickens who have all gone back into the coop for their afternoon siesta! Shes mainly resting but she did get up and run her bill thru the dirt a little and get a drink of water! They all free roam so its hard to say what all shes eaten today! I know that she has eaten some of her feed too tho! Just noticed the reply about the vet too and no i can't....I just went thru that with my favorite chicken...none of the vets around here work with birds

@season1223 - how are things? She may have an imbalance in her digestive system, and some swelling that will go down by tomorrow. My Sieben had that once and it was scary looking on a Runner. Or she may have a problem with parasites, or perhaps a yeast infection or similar problem.

Please let us know how she's doing.

 

[napdognewfie]

Do ducks get anything like sour crop?

Maybe something that won't digest like string or ??

 

[Amiga]

Do ducks get anything like sour crop?

Maybe something that won't digest like string or ??

Yes, that can happen - both, I think. I am wondering if a teaspoon of coconut oil might help in either case. A serious impaction would require vet help, I think.

 

[Wobbles]

I always love your pictures. Your feathered cuties are so fun to look at. What's Willow looking for under Dad's arm? Very adorable.

Thanks all I'm glad you enjoy them!

Willow and Shane were peeking at each other through the hole under his arm. He and Willow have a pretty special bond and me and Wobbles do too. They know their names very well and when I call Wobbles I always say Wobble dobble duck in a weird baby voice lol and he comes running over making sweet sounds and wiggling his butt. So cute. I can't stand it.

Shane enjoys all of our animals as much as I do. He often says the ducks are just the best things ever. He goes out and says good morning as I am still dragging my carcase out of my warm bed LOL! He will feed them if he has to get to work but if not he waits until I come out because we let them out to roam for a bit and it is easier to herd them when they see a full bowl of food haha.


One more Willow and Wobbles with dad. These two ducks are just awesome.