Thinking About Getting Ducks, Looking For Advice Please!

[WalkerNom]

@QuackSpeak - I sure hope so I ordered Storey's Guide To Raising Ducks as well as the poultry bands (even though I'm sure the bands were a waste of money...Grandma wanted them, what can you do??). Were you ever able to get your date changed?? I can't wait to see your ducklings (and mine!).

 

[QuackSpeak]

@QuackSpeak - I sure hope so

I ordered Storey's Guide To Raising Ducks as well as the poultry bands (even though I'm sure the bands were a waste of money...Grandma wanted them, what can you do??). Were you ever able to get your date changed?? I can't wait to see your ducklings (and mine!).

Storey's is a really good guide, I've heard! And haha about the poultry bands being a waste of money! I mean, maybe those'll make it easier to tell the ducks apart when they are little? But I think by the time they grow up you'll know who's who based on personality/appearance differences. Can never hurt to be prepared!

Yes, I was able to get the date changed

! The ducks are csoming April 5, and we are going shopping tomorrow. I'm really glad I got the date changed because April 5 is only three days before spring break, so I get to spend ten/eleven days with the ducklets lol!

 

[WalkerNom]

@QuackSpeak - Oh my! I'm so happy for you! c: We become duck parents on the same day now! I expect lots of pictures, haha! I'm also curious to see what you buy, I love hauls.

Yeah about the bands, the deal was that she buys the ducks and I buy the supplies and food for the first month or so. Which, worked out alright because I'm even with her lol. So I figured I'd buy 'em to keep her happy lol.

 

[QuackSpeak]

@QuackSpeak - Oh my! I'm so happy for you! c: We become duck parents on the same day now! I expect lots of pictures, haha! I'm also curious to see what you buy, I love hauls.

Yeah about the bands, the deal was that she buys the ducks and I buy the supplies and food for the first month or so. Which, worked out alright because I'm even with her lol. So I figured I'd buy 'em to keep her happy lol.

You're getting them on April 5 too? Ha now you can impatiently wait 12 days with me!

As for shopping, I'll probably buy most of the same stuff as you... Maybe minus the rubber ducks and Tickles, though...

Ha my parents loved the ducks too, but it was mostly me who takes care of them. So we go half and half on the supplies, and they pay for the ducks.

 

[WalkerNom]

@QuackSpeak - Haha, I was just curious how the ducklings would react to toys. And c'mon....Tickles was just begging me to take him home! He may as well have a part-time job as my babysitter :b At the very least he'll be good at getting the ducklings to sit still for photos.

Who knows, they might be absolutely terrified of the things...in which case I'll have to can the toy idea.

When me and the g-ma were discussing ordering them I asked her if she wanted to go half and half so that's what I thought we'd do. But what we have going is fair too. I'm sure I'll be the one doing most of the work (which I don't mind), Grandma has other animals too so she doesn't have the time to spend with them that they need when they're babies.

 

[QuackSpeak]

@QuackSpeak - Haha, I was just curious how the ducklings would react to toys. And c'mon....Tickles was just begging me to take him home! He may as well have a part-time job as my babysitter :b At the very least he'll be good at getting the ducklings to sit still for photos.

Who knows, they might be absolutely terrified of the things...in which case I'll have to can the toy idea.

When me and the g-ma were discussing ordering them I asked her if she wanted to go half and half so that's what I thought we'd do. But what we have going is fair too. I'm sure I'll be the one doing most of the work (which I don't mind), Grandma has other animals too so she doesn't have the time to spend with them that they need when they're babies.

Well... Tickles is sort of cute... And he does have the look of an established babysitter...

As for toys, I've seen ducks chase laser pointers, cuddle with stuffed animals (Cough, Tickles!), and pull at strings, for toys. You can also make toss toys by finding a small container and drilling holes in it. The holes should be big enough that, when tossed, whatever treats you put in there pop out of the holes.

Edited to add: According to the TSC website, our Tractor Supply Co will have ducklings by the time we go (Which is tomorrow!)!

I shouldn't be this excited because I'm not buying any! Don't look at me like that!

I'm just super excited because they let us pick them up and everything! Maybe this will help tide me over for the next four days!

 

[WalkerNom]

@QuackSpeak - Oh! Thanks for the toy ideas! I didn't think of the laser pointer (which I have) or the toss toy. I've also seen a video of someone rolling a bouncy ball for a duckling. I couldn't find the exact one, but here's a video for cuteness! Gosh, I've seen one of those 50¢ toy dispensers around with rather large bouncy balls in it...I just gotta remember where it was...

Glad your TSC will have 'em! About two weeks ago was when ours had them in, they were Rouens. They didn't have very many and people were buying them like hot cakes. I was sooooooo close to leaving with two that day. I talked to a lot of very nice people about how to take care of them and I even had food and feeders in the cart! But ultimately I'm really glad I waited, did my research, and ordered exactly what I wanted. When I went to buy all that stuff they still had a lot of chicks but no ducks (which was probably a good thing :b). I believe they had different breeds of chicks the last time, so I guess TSC rotates what they're offering.

That's good that your TSC lets you hold them! I didn't ask, I was sure if I held one I'd leave with it LOL! Although I did rescue one (in a way)...it had gotten flipped over and couldn't get back up. The poor thing. I ran to get an employee to help it.

 

[QuackSpeak]

@QuackSpeak - Oh! Thanks for the toy ideas! I didn't think of the laser pointer (which I have) or the toss toy. I've also seen a video of someone rolling a bouncy ball for a duckling. I couldn't find the exact one, but here's a video for cuteness! Gosh, I've seen one of those 50¢ toy dispensers around with rather large bouncy balls in it...I just gotta remember where it was...

Glad your TSC will have 'em! About two weeks ago was when ours had them in, they were Rouens. They didn't have very many and people were buying them like hot cakes. I was sooooooo close to leaving with two that day. I talked to a lot of very nice people about how to take care of them and I even had food and feeders in the cart! But ultimately I'm really glad I waited, did my research, and ordered exactly what I wanted. When I went to buy all that stuff they still had a lot of chicks but no ducks (which was probably a good thing :b). I believe they had different breeds of chicks the last time, so I guess TSC rotates what they're offering.

That's good that your TSC lets you hold them! I didn't ask, I was sure if I held one I'd leave with it LOL! Although I did rescue one (in a way)...it had gotten flipped over and couldn't get back up. The poor thing. I ran to get an employee to help it.

Aww cute video! I never thought of bouncy balls!
I hope they stock ducklings! I hope they let us hold them (... Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't...)
Haha I'm also hoping (Yes, I'm aware that the last three sentences have started with some form of 'I hope'

) that I won't cave and buy some ducklings. My dad will be there and will be my voice of reason (No boy ducks, pen expansions, coop expansions, etc...).
Thank you for rescuing the little flipped duckling

 

[WalkerNom]

@QuackSpeak - Haha, stay strong! It was physically painful to leave the ducklings behind at my TSC. At least you have a voice of reason...my grandma was with me and kept cheering me on LOL! Still, no one will judge you if you end up with a couple

Me and grandma are already talking about ordering some Emery Penciled runners, they're so beautiful! BUT that stupid little angel on my shoulder told me that I better wait til I get my feet wet with the ducklings that are already coming. It's so easy to end up with a whole flock of them!

Let me know if you were able to hold the babies at your TSC!

 

[QuackSpeak]

@QuackSpeak - Haha, stay strong! It was physically painful to leave the ducklings behind at my TSC. At least you have a voice of reason...my grandma was with me and kept cheering me on LOL! Still, no one will judge you if you end up with a couple

Me and grandma are already talking about ordering some Emery Penciled runners, they're so beautiful! BUT that stupid little angel on my shoulder told me that I better wait til I get my feet wet with the ducklings that are already coming. It's so easy to end up with a whole flock of them!

Let me know if you were able to hold the babies at your TSC!

They were soo cute! We couldn't hold them though.. I'll update more later, gtg!