Was 2 females and 1 male duck the right choice?

[gryeyes]

Okay.... I know I'm gonna irritate somebody with this statement, but I am tired of old and inaccurate information being perpetuated. Medicted chick starter is PERFECTLY FINE for ducklings. It used to be really bad, at least ten years ago. No longer. Trust me. (I hope others I know will chime in on this...)

Waterfowl feed is fine. Layer feed is not. Chick starter, medicated or not, is fine. If you aren't using waterfowl feed (which I don't use even for adult waterfowl), you should add Brewer's yeast to it to provide the extra niacin for ducklings. You can find it at any health food store and now in some groceries in the "specialties" health sections. I use the powdered version - too much trouble for me to crush tablets.

I eat duck eggs. Yummy! They're wonderful for baking (my former landlady used to bake with them so I kept her stocked until I moved away). I haven't baked anything yet, since I got poultry. Yeah, really. Since 2009.

I highly recommend the Brinsea Mini Advance EX incubator. Holds 7 eggs, is a tabletop model and I successfully hatched some shipped call duck eggs in it. (Lots of chicken eggs, too.) very useful for different types of eggs and is literally Stupid Proof. <I><*pointing to self*></I>

 

[Haunted55]

We don't have well water here, so in a power outage, we still have water. I also have a section of the basement fenced off already as an emergency shelter for the chickens. We've only had to use it once to weather Hurricane Sandy, but it could be easily designated for the ducks if need be during the Winter-there's fresh hay and a dog house already, we could just add a small pool.
It sounds like setting up a separate pen for the ducks may be the best idea. If it is adjacent to our existing coop, I'm sure my nosy girls will be checking them out constantly, and perhaps gradually I can let them all out together to free range. We'll have to see if Tootsie (cross-beak) shows interest in befriending them. I do realize that once she becomes a "duck" there will be no going back to her chicks. The only reason I had this notion is because on a local farm, the owner showed me once that her roosters that don't quite get accepted into the elite roo crew would hang out with her ducks instead.

One more question, what do I feed the ducklings for the 1st 8 weeks? I know no medicated chick feed, but do I buy non medicated chick feed or is there an actual feed for waterfowl?
Does everyone eat their eggs? I'm actually interested in incubating some of the eggs with my boys, so I think I'll take my chances and keep our drake in the order. Fingers crossed! Can anyone recommend a reliable small home incubator? I've heard some negatives about the Little Giant, or styrofoam ones in general.
I'm so appreciative of all of the help and suggestions on here already-Thank You!

Okay.... I know I'm gonna irritate somebody with this statement, but I am tired of old and inaccurate information being perpetuated. Medicted chick starter is PERFECTLY FINE for ducklings. It used to be really bad, at least ten years ago. No longer. Trust me. (I hope others I know will chime in on this...)

Waterfowl feed is fine. Layer feed is not. Chick starter, medicated or not, is fine. If you aren't using waterfowl feed (which I don't use even for adult waterfowl), you should add Brewer's yeast to it to provide the extra niacin for ducklings. You can find it at any health food store and now in some groceries in the "specialties" health sections. I use the powdered version - too much trouble for me to crush tablets.

I eat duck eggs. Yummy! They're wonderful for baking (my former landlady used to bake with them so I kept her stocked until I moved away). I haven't baked anything yet, since I got poultry. Yeah, really. Since 2009.

I highly recommend the Brinsea Mini Advance EX incubator. Holds 7 eggs, is a tabletop model and I successfully hatched some shipped call duck eggs in it. (Lots of chicken eggs, too.) very useful for different types of eggs and is literally Stupid Proof. <*pointing to self*>

Truth about the medicated feed! But, ducks don't need it, so why give them something they don't need? Their bodies temps run so hot that most illnesses, that take down other poultry, never have a chance to take hold in their systems. Now, that being said, ducks can and do get sick. Not often, but it can happen. Amiga can tell you better than I what needs to be watched and the best way to respond if anything does come up. Fresh water, good feed, leafy greens and clean housing and you shouldn't have problems.

 

[ChampionAlex]

2 Females 1 male will be fine. The chickens will most likely stay out the ducks way. If the ducks are young they still might leave them alone.

 

[ClassyChicks]

Has anyone had luck with the Hovabator 1602-N rather then the Genesis? Is it a good idea to purchase the auto egg turner as well? The Brinsea has amazing reviews, but I think we need something that will hold more eggs per hatch. We're getting ready to purchase/incubate about 25 quail eggs while we wait patiently for our Spring ducklings to arrive.
Thank You!

 

[gryeyes]

Has anyone had luck with the Hovabator 1602-N rather then the Genesis?  Is it a good idea to purchase the auto egg turner as well?  The Brinsea has amazing reviews, but I think we need something that will hold more eggs per hatch.  We're getting ready to purchase/incubate about 25 quail eggs while we wait patiently for our Spring ducklings to arrive.
Thank You!

You can purchase the quail egg turner tray for it, hold 13 quail eggs.


Or you could get a Brinsea Octagon Advance, with or without the EX model humidity pump. It hold 24 chicken eggs....or a whole slew of quail eggs.

 

[jdywntr]

Okay.... I know I'm gonna irritate somebody with this statement, but I am tired of old and inaccurate information being perpetuated. Medicted chick starter is PERFECTLY FINE for ducklings. It used to be really bad, at least ten years ago. No longer. Trust me. (I hope others I know will chime in on this...)

I don't know that anyone would be irritated. There are some meds that ducks shouldn't have so I think that it's easier to just say get unmedicated feed as opposed to make sure it doesn't have X in it. Or its okay as long as it has X in it. Since there are members here worldwide, medications that are in different feeds may vary and some may be dangerous for them. I've fed mine medicated after verifying the type of medication in the feed but I don't plan to continue as I can now order unmedicated from my local feed store.

 

[Haunted55]

Has anyone had luck with the Hovabator 1602-N rather then the Genesis? Is it a good idea to purchase the auto egg turner as well? The Brinsea has amazing reviews, but I think we need something that will hold more eggs per hatch. We're getting ready to purchase/incubate about 25 quail eggs while we wait patiently for our Spring ducklings to arrive.
Thank You!

I haven't tried that HovaBator but I would definately go with the turner.

 

[ClassyChicks]

Thank You everyone. A friend has the Hovabator, so I think I will borrow it for my first hatch and see how it goes, then go from there. Many more questions to come on here as I get ready to incubate for the first time!

 

[Haunted55]

Thank You everyone. A friend has the Hovabator, so I think I will borrow it for my first hatch and see how it goes, then go from there. Many more questions to come on here as I get ready to incubate for the first time!

Beware!!!! It is totally addicting! I cannot think of anything better than being there for the start of a new life.

Forgot to add this https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/491013/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed Even though it says it's for geese the information is invaluable for anyone incubating and hatching any eggs. Good luck to you!