The khaki-Campbell duck Thread !!!!!!!!

[Cassie Collins]

@Cassie Collins
 -not sure on the kale, haven't tried that. They way disliked either mustard or collard greens-wouldn't touch it. Just tried it cause it was on sale. I know I read on this site a great article on what you can and can't feed them. I wrote it down in a notebook so can't remember where I read it, maybe @Miss Lydia
 knows or has a link?

Thanks . Mine just love Kale & peas & strawberries, chopped grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew melon. They r little pigs, lol!!

 

[JFreeman]

I was waiting for someone to ask that! I have no idea, we got him at TSC.. what do you think?? For sure a Jumbo?

I am leaning towards Jumbo. Pekins are a breed that reaches mature growth by about 7/8 weeks for quicker slaughter, where after 7/8 weeks, their growth slows. I also have a Jumbo I named Donald that is very large compared to my other ducks (3 KCs, a White Crested, and a Bali/Runner cross).

 

[Carrosaur]

Jumbo or not they are certainly best friends! He keeps my KC warm!

 

[Beekissed]

Just recently got my first KC and have ordered 6 more. Would like to see if I can use them for a laying flock alongside my layers and see which are the most proficient for eggs, meat and cost savings. LOVE the looks of the duckling and the adult ducks and love what I hear about them.

I've heard conflicting reports and just wanted to get some opinions from you all....do they lay as well as all the sites say they do? Up to 320 eggs per year? It seems pretty high.

Also...water. Do they need it for bathing, swimming, etc.? The Metzer site said they didn't need to have a body of water for good health but wanted to hear of any problems related to that from you all. Mine will have a water place but it won't be very large or deep like a pond or creek would be.

Metzers says they don't brood their own eggs very often but was wondering if any of you have experienced otherwise?

How predator wary do they seem to be out on range? Good survival instincts?

Thanks for any help you can give me! Just trying this breed out and it's been since the 70s since I had ducks, so I'm a tad rusty.

 

[Carcajou]

Just recently got my first KC and have ordered 6 more. Would like to see if I can use them for a laying flock alongside my layers and see which are the most proficient for eggs, meat and cost savings. LOVE the looks of the duckling and the adult ducks and love what I hear about them.

I've heard conflicting reports and just wanted to get some opinions from you all....do they lay as well as all the sites say they do? Up to 320 eggs per year? It seems pretty high.

Also...water. Do they need it for bathing, swimming, etc.? The Metzer site said they didn't need to have a body of water for good health but wanted to hear of any problems related to that from you all. Mine will have a water place but it won't be very large or deep like a pond or creek would be.

Metzers says they don't brood their own eggs very often but was wondering if any of you have experienced otherwise?

How predator wary do they seem to be out on range? Good survival instincts?

Thanks for any help you can give me! Just trying this breed out and it's been since the 70s since I had ducks, so I'm a tad rusty.

I have read Khaki's will lay that many eggs under ideal conditions but I have to assume that to include artificial light in the winter. I don't do any artificial light as they need the break from laying and will live longer if not forced to lay in winter. My girls laid 220 eggs apiece last year.

I am fortunate enough to have a spring-fed pond that never freezes over and they love it. I can't answer regarding raising ducks with just drinking water and a wading pool but lots of folks do it.

I had one duck go broody last year but I had to take the eggs away as it was in October when I found the nest. I have read they generally do not make good mothers but now and then some appear to do so.

Mine seem to be quite wary and will begin quacking loudly and are on guard when a strange animal is near. As far a survival instincts, they really can't outrun or fly from predators and are always vulnerable. I have actually seen my drake scold a neighbor's barn cat and send it off. I must say though that when they are foraging in the spring run they at times seem oblivious as to what is going on around them.

 

[Beekissed]

I have read Khaki's will lay that many eggs under ideal conditions but I have to assume that to include artificial light in the winter. I don't do any artificial light as they need the break from laying and will live longer if not forced to lay in winter. My girls laid 220 eggs apiece last year.

I am fortunate enough to have a spring-fed pond that never freezes over and they love it. I can't answer regarding raising ducks with just drinking water and a wading pool but lots of folks do it.

I had one duck go broody last year but I had to take the eggs away as it was in October when I found the nest. I have read they generally do not make good mothers but now and then some appear to do so.

Mine seem to be quite wary and will begin quacking loudly and are on guard when a strange animal is near. As far a survival instincts, they really can't outrun or fly from predators and are always vulnerable. I have actually seen my drake scold a neighbor's barn cat and send it off. I must say though that when they are foraging in the spring run they at times seem oblivious as to what is going on around them.

I've got a good predator defense system but I was afraid of that...that they would get to foraging and not really look around them. I hope they don't range out too far into the woods in that way. I've not lost anyone to preds here and I never close the coop, but ducks are always the first to get snatched in a combination flock, so it's something for which I'll be watching.

I don't light them up either.

Thank you for the good info!

 

[Prinette]

Hey guys! I've got a question about Khaki Campbells and I figured this would be the best place to ask it. I recently got some KCs (two weeks old tomorrow!) Two of them are the normal solid brown color but our more skittish duckling has a little white bib around the neck. I've seen pictures of KC's like that before but I wasn't sure if it said something about the genetics or if it was normal and would go away when she (crossing my fingers for a she) feathers. I would appreciate any help with this!

 

[Cassie Collins]

Just recently got my first KC and have ordered 6 more.  Would like to see if I can use them for a laying flock alongside my layers and see which are the most proficient for eggs, meat and cost savings.  LOVE the looks of the duckling and the adult ducks and love what I hear about them.

I've heard conflicting reports and just wanted to get some opinions from you all....do they lay as well as all the sites say they do?  Up to 320 eggs per year? It seems pretty high. 

Also...water. Do they need it for bathing, swimming, etc.?  The Metzer site said they didn't need to have a body of water for good health but wanted to hear of any problems related to that from you all.  Mine will have a water place but it won't be very large or deep like a pond or creek would be. 

Metzers says they don't brood their own eggs very often but was wondering if any of you have experienced otherwise? 

How predator wary do they seem to be out on range?  Good survival instincts? 

Thanks for any help you can give me!  Just trying this breed out and it's been since the 70s since I had ducks, so I'm a tad rusty. 

I don't have 1 (I want 1 though), but I hear Muscovy r the best for meat & great for brooding. Not sure about laying. There is a Muscovy forum n BYC. Magpie & KC r great layers, but r light breed ducks. A lot of folks seem to have just baby pools for a water source. KC r skittish & mine is very fast. I wld like to think it wld keep her safer from predators, but I don't know. Mine r only pets, so they don't really free range. I hope this helps some. I'm sure u will get more info. Folks here on BYC r very nice, informative & helpful. I do appreciate them .

 

[Cassie Collins]

Hey guys! I've got a question about Khaki Campbells and I figured this would be the best place to ask it. I recently got some KCs (two weeks old tomorrow!) Two of them are the normal solid brown color but our more skittish duckling has a little white bib around the neck. I've seen pictures of KC's like that before but I wasn't sure if it said something about the genetics or if it was normal and would go away when she (crossing my fingers for a she) feathers. I would appreciate any help with this!

Have u sen pics of Swedish? Cld it b a Swedish?

 

[Cassie Collins]

I've got a good predator defense system but I was afraid of that...that they would get to foraging and not really look around them.  I hope they don't range out too far into the woods in that way.  I've not lost anyone to preds here and I never close the coop, but ducks are always the first to get snatched in a combination flock, so it's something for which I'll be watching. 

I don't light them up either. 

Thank you for the good info! 

Good point Carcajou on the foraging! My KC female is a little hog & when she is distracted by food, I can catch her quicker.