The Duck Thread

[Amiga]

Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks has a section on how ducklings are (were) brooded at Holderread's.

"The trough feeder is filled to the top with 18-percent-protein waterfowl starter/grower crumbles. Chick-sized granite grit and old-fashioned oatmeal (uncooked) are lightly sprinkled on top of the crumbles."

That's what I did, though I used more oatmeal, chopped, because I could only find turkey-waterfowl crumbles, at 27% protein. So I used the oatmeal to cut the protein. But I very lightly sprinkled the chick grit on their food once a day.

In winter when it's tough to get grit outdoors, I will set a free choice bowl of grit out for the adult ducks from time to time.

 

[tracyjg]

I sprinkle the grit everywhere. In the house area and out in the yard where the play . On there bookshelfs in feed.

 

[LudasMummy]

@LudasMummy
    They can look pretty ragged when molting and feel pretty crummy to. Are you giving her any extra protein like dried meal worms etc. I also give vitamins[poulty] when mine are molting just to help them through it. If she has swimming water I doubt she has parasites.

Thank you she does get lots of meal worms and bugs but I shall search for vitamins on the weekend to give her too. Thanks for the advice I feel much better
@gander007 @Julie Bird thanks guys!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello fellow quackers! I haven't been on the duck thread for a little so I thought I'd say hi xD

 

[kris86AR]

How long can eggs sit cold while collecting for incubator? You wouldnt want to add eggs as you get them would you

 

[caesargirl]

How long can eggs sit cold while collecting for incubator? You wouldnt want to add eggs as you get them would you

10 days is really as long as you want to keep them. After that the fertility decreases in the egg. I keep mine at about 55° in an egg carton, fat end up. That way you can put a book or something under one end and once a day, move the book under the other end. Think teeter totter... You can save them longer, but you will probably notice fertility dropping once you start to incubate.

 

[DelanaP21]

found this little wiggling in my mother mallard ducks nest before she passed away its alive so far but I've been trying to keep it warm in my bra I don't have enough money for an incubator little alone a brooding hen and I'm needing someone's help in this expertise please help me thanks and have a great day!!

 

[Lamaremybabies]

It has been a long and sad three days. I decided to add some chickens to my duck family and I knew that ducks were very hardy and that chickens not so much and it turns out that is extremely true! I got six chicks and in three days two have passed away. Luckly the rest all seem healthy so now I have four Gold Sex Links and two Silkies, because I went to the TSC that I got the original 6 goldies at and they gave me the two silkies as replacements. Hoping for no more loses

 

[Lamaremybabies]

found this little wiggling in my mother mallard ducks nest before she passed away its alive so far but I've been trying to keep it warm in my bra I don't have enough money for an incubator little alone a brooding hen and I'm needing someone's help in this expertise please help me thanks and have a great day!!

Well first Welcome to BYC! Second sorry for your loss. If you want to incubate it and don't have the money you could try making a homemade incubator. They don't really have a good turn out rate but it's an option. Also you could get a really cheep incubator off amazon, again not always a great turn out rate but an option.

 

[caesargirl]

It has been a long and sad three days. I decided to add some chickens to my duck family and I knew that ducks were very hardy and that chickens not so much and it turns out that is extremely true! I got six chicks and in three days two have passed away. Luckly the rest all seem healthy so now I have four Gold Sex Links and two Silkies, because I went to the TSC that I got the original 6 goldies at and they gave me the two silkies as replacements. Hoping for no more loses

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...rly-march-2016-hatch-a-long/300#post_16640357
That's an active HAL. Member @gimmie birdies has made her own incubators. Maybe someone there can help too.

Edit: sorry, this was meant for @DelanaP21