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

[MakeshiftAcre]

Food is how you get them into their pen at night. Use the same call every time you give them food and they will soon come when you call. Feed them in their pen and shut them in while they are chowing down. If you give them dry food, make sure they have water too.

 

[OldMissionChick]

I must be lucky because all my birds make their way to the run on their own near sundown.

 

[lgcatwoman19]

Thanks for this info (just in case) I really love these guys and don't want to give them up if I can avoid it but may have to. The wild I would be releasing them to is the pond close enough that I can see out my window. That is what is so ludicrous about it, there were 9 white Pekin ducks loose in the pond when I moved here. But even though they were always wandering up into my yard (lot) and I fed them, they did all perish in two yrs. due to predators. I fed them and there were no complaints that I know of which is why when they were gone I decided to try and repopulate that pond with ducks, for every ones enjoyment. I bought Mallards last yr at the same store and this year the stupid clerk told me these ducklings could fly. They only had one mallard so I got three of the same type duckling. Also last yr there was one Pekin left to sort of show the mallards the ropes at 12 or so weeks.
The remaining two mallards hang around but the Khakis are larger and meaner--they run them away from the pool and the food if there isn't two separate dishes out.
I just didn't anticipate the groundsmans attitude. Afterall they aren't hurting anybody. They wander loose all day long though and eventually will start crossing the little road that circles the park (5 mi an hr speed limit so the road isn't the real problem here, it is complaints from neighbors.) but they ARE birds and will go where they want to.

 

[lgcatwoman19]

BTW I do lure them into the pen with frozen peas or canned corn. They follow me and I call them "Mamas Mudpies". I tell them to come get their corn or peas. Then I chase them until I can corner them behind the tree in a little spot by their puddle. Two out of the last three nights one has managed to dive under the fence where they have dug down so far and she has had to stay out alone for those nights. I am 63 with copd- no way I can grab her unless she is cornered. I just don't know why they fight me so or why they hate being touched. I have been their only care give for their whole lives. Just stubborn ducks I suppose.

 

[damnducks]

One or two of my khaki's have started laying, but I find an egg either in middle of enclosure or in the water! Is the eggs in the water OK to use or should I discard them?

 

[lgcatwoman19]

I wish I knew for sure which mine where (I got mine in early April). Mine all three sound the same although one has a greenish bill and is larger. His tail started curling a few weeks ago but ... uh oh, now all three have a slight curl at the tail although the two with grey bills have the curl about an inch forward of the tail feather. But at near to five months they are all colored alike. Mottled brown with creamy beige brown undersides. Not the greyish cream color I see when looking at Drakes online. The larger's head is dark greenish now and the two smaller ducks hare now starting to get greenish feathers on their heads. Also, I don't know if it means anything but one of the smaller ducks and the large one have white spots at the front of their necks- 3 in a row. Could it possibly be that I have three males?! Still the big difference is the bill color. That large one has a definite green bill and has had since a duckling. Other than that I am seeing no difference in anyway other than a slight size difference. If I do have three drakes, the larger one seems dominant. Would they get along alright as they age? I wish I knew a way to get a photo online but I don't have a camera phone now do I know how to use the laptop camera. (geesh, I am barely functioning enough to read/comment on this site!) Any opinions guys? If I am going to see any eggs I would expect them anytime don't you think? Hence my fear that these are all guys!

 

[lgcatwoman19]

@Feasel- Sounds like mine. I know my mallards like to wander in the rain, and the Khakis have never been out in any real rain because it hasn't rained here during the daytime since I started letting them run around but they all like being sprayed with the house if it isn't a HARD Spray so I guess rain in basically the same deal (of course temperature being a deciding factor as well). Mine have a kids pool and a large puddle that I try to keep filled for them to play in.

 

[Carcajou]

One or two of my khaki's have started laying, but I find an egg either in middle of enclosure or in the water! Is the eggs in the water OK to use or should I discard them?

I use them all the time as I usually collect them soon after they are laid.

 

[Carcajou]

Here are a couple of photos of our little Buffy. She has struggled since a stroke two years ago but is a fighter and manages to hang on surviving a particular cold and snowy winter this past year.

Yesterday we thought she crawled off to die as she went missing during the day and we did not find her in any of her usual places which left us saddened. I didn't give up looking for her as I wanted to find her. Well, I did - alive this morning (and very hungry) and we are very thankful. She is in the enclosure alone so she can rest and will not be let out during the day anymore.

Here are a couple of hour old photos of our beloved, fragile little Buffy.

 

[lgcatwoman19]

Buffy looks like a little sweetheart!