The Duck Thread

[mama2girlies]

Hi, I am about a month into being a new duck mommy to 2 Pekins, 2 khaki campbell, and 2 anconas. I have done lots of research on caring for them but just want to see if anyone can give me any other good tips on taking care of them. We have 14 chickens as well. We have had the ducks in their own pen for the last couple of weeks and the chickens are pretty used to them being there. Our chickens free range so we want our ducks to roam with them. The other day we let the ducks out to walk around with the chickens and one of my hens that has been a bit on the broody side got into a little fight with one of the ducks. I pulled off my hen and everything was fine but the next day the same two fought again. It's not really brutal or anything but it concerns me to have them roaming around together and fighting when I'm not outside. Is there anything I can do to ease this or do I just have to let them handle it just like the chickens do with each other?

We got a call last night from a friend that has two ducks wondering if we want them. They are about the same age as our ducks. Can i put them in the pen with our's? All of my "new kid on the flock" areas are taken right now so I was going to put them together and watch them to see if they are ok together.

Also, the ducks went right for the jasmine when they were roaming. Is this toxic for ducks? My chickens don't eat it. It's the white flower jasmine you get at any home depot. I believe it was called confederate jasmine. And are there any other plants I need to watch out for? Our yard is chicken safe but I don't know if that applies to ducks too.

Thank you so much for any help you can give me!

 

[jessica5113]

Ok so I've got a question. I bought three ducks in February and was told two of them were khaki Campbell's and the other was a white pekin which is but my "kcs" look more like chocolate runners. They stand straight up when they walk around and their feathers coming in are very very dark. Any suggestions?

 

[NathanZee]

Has anyone else ever had indian runner cross Saxony ducks? I seem to have created some and I am wondering what they will look like. The mother is a fawn runner and the father a Saxony

I don't know what they'll look like, but they certainly are cute now! Please post more pics as they grow!

I have 2 khaki Campbell's and left them in the care of my Mother when I vacationed last week. Since I came home, one of them has been consistently laying very small eggs (about 4 or 5 days, now). They a year old and have both laid nice, large eggs in the past although I'd get a random small egg on occasion. I know occasionally this happens, but the consistent small eggs have me a little concerned. Should I be worried?

That's strange, do the eggs appear normal inside? (yolk, white, and everything)

B




Bubbles and squeak my new muscovy ducklings

How old are they?

I never posted the finished coop...problem is once it was finished we decided it was too small since our number had increased. So now it will be my workshop. I am bummed we can't use it for the ducks, it is so pretty. Now we have to build another one but it won't be this pretty...this one cost a bit much as it was.

That looks really really good! I think it would spoil your ducks to live in that!

Hi, I am about a month into being a new duck mommy to 2 Pekins, 2 khaki campbell, and 2 anconas. I have done lots of research on caring for them but just want to see if anyone can give me any other good tips on taking care of them. We have 14 chickens as well. We have had the ducks in their own pen for the last couple of weeks and the chickens are pretty used to them being there. Our chickens free range so we want our ducks to roam with them. The other day we let the ducks out to walk around with the chickens and one of my hens that has been a bit on the broody side got into a little fight with one of the ducks. I pulled off my hen and everything was fine but the next day the same two fought again. It's not really brutal or anything but it concerns me to have them roaming around together and fighting when I'm not outside. Is there anything I can do to ease this or do I just have to let them handle it just like the chickens do with each other?

We got a call last night from a friend that has two ducks wondering if we want them. They are about the same age as our ducks. Can i put them in the pen with our's? All of my "new kid on the flock" areas are taken right now so I was going to put them together and watch them to see if they are ok together.

Also, the ducks went right for the jasmine when they were roaming. Is this toxic for ducks? My chickens don't eat it. It's the white flower jasmine you get at any home depot. I believe it was called confederate jasmine. And are there any other plants I need to watch out for? Our yard is chicken safe but I don't know if that applies to ducks too.

Thank you so much for any help you can give me!

I hope you are loving your ducks! Are either of them losing any feathers or bleeding when they fight? You could try putting the hen into the ducks pen, then she won't feel like the ducks are intruding on her territory, and might be more gentle. That might work, but it might not, I don't know.

Are the ducks male or female? If they are both males, that might be a bit too much for the hens, but if it is just one male or both females you should be good!

From what I've read, confederate jasmine isn't toxic. Still, if you are unsure what kind it is, don't let them eat it. "While not an edible flower like squash blossoms or nasturtium, the flower, leaves and stems of the confederate jasmine are not toxic. If your dog, cat or a livestock animal grazes on your plant, it will not make them seriously ill nor harm them."

One thing to watch out for ducks is anything sharp. Their feet are more sensitive and can develop cuts and bruises, or even bumblefoot from sharp objects. I hope this helps you some!

 

[tracyjg]

For a little while on introduction you need to be around as the protecter. Animals will pick on each other at first. But you need to be around if it gets ugly bloody ect.as they get to know each better.

 

[tracyjg]

Intell they establish a pecking order

 

[jtn42248]

Hi, I am about a month into being a new duck mommy to 2 Pekins, 2 khaki campbell, and 2 anconas. I have done lots of research on caring for them but just want to see if anyone can give me any other good tips on taking care of them. We have 14 chickens as well. We have had the ducks in their own pen for the last couple of weeks and the chickens are pretty used to them being there. Our chickens free range so we want our ducks to roam with them. The other day we let the ducks out to walk around with the chickens and one of my hens that has been a bit on the broody side got into a little fight with one of the ducks. I pulled off my hen and everything was fine but the next day the same two fought again. It's not really brutal or anything but it concerns me to have them roaming around together and fighting when I'm not outside. Is there anything I can do to ease this or do I just have to let them handle it just like the chickens do with each other?

We got a call last night from a friend that has two ducks wondering if we want them. They are about the same age as our ducks. Can i put them in the pen with our's? All of my "new kid on the flock" areas are taken right now so I was going to put them together and watch them to see if they are ok together.

Also, the ducks went right for the jasmine when they were roaming. Is this toxic for ducks? My chickens don't eat it. It's the white flower jasmine you get at any home depot. I believe it was called confederate jasmine. And are there any other plants I need to watch out for? Our yard is chicken safe but I don't know if that applies to ducks too.

Thank you so much for any help you can give me!

First, congratulations on your ducks. You will find them to be a lot of fun to raise.And, in their own way, more entertaining than chickens.

You can let them roam with the chickens. If you have drakes you will want to watch and make sure he does not try to mate with a hen as anatomical they are not the same and can really injure a hen. As for introducing new ducks to your existing flock...it is best if they can be together without contact for a while so they have time to get used to one another. If they are about the same age and size it may take a little less time but to try to force introduce them can be risky.

Here is a list of plants that should not be available to poultry of any breed, not just chickens...https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/627282/comprehensive-list-of-poisonous-plants-and-trees

 

[mama2girlies]

Thank you so much for your quick replies. We are not sure if they are male or females yet. We have 3 that are quacking and 3 that are raspy but they are still pretty young, about 6 weeks old. I will definitely be watching everything as we transition all of them. I can't wait till they are all running around the yard, maybe even together. It's adorable how the ducks stay in a pack as they move around. And they are so clumsy. They just go without watching where they are going. I'm hoping that gets better as they get to know our yard.

 

[mama2girlies]

Thank you for the great info on plants too!

 

[samantha92]

Quote: I was told they were 4 and 10 weeks old when i picked them up last week

 

[NathanZee]

Thank you so much for your quick replies. We are not sure if they are male or females yet. We have 3 that are quacking and 3 that are raspy but they are still pretty young, about 6 weeks old. I will definitely be watching everything as we transition all of them. I can't wait till they are all running around the yard, maybe even together. It's adorable how the ducks stay in a pack as they move around. And they are so clumsy. They just go without watching where they are going. I'm hoping that gets better as they get to know our yard.

The clumsiness will slightly improve, but some ducks stay clumsy forever.