Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Cockatrice6420]

I don't have any ducks and considered getting some because we have so many slugs at our place... Are they any harder/easier to care for than chickens?

It's about equal I suppose. Our ducks are spoiled and have reused kid pools that get dumped at most every other day, plus buckets of clean water around for chickens and ducks. Those have to be changed out sometimes twice a day. Alot of that though is because I free range everyone together. As far a diseases, ducks can get some but most are preventable with good cleaning and fresh feeding habits. Some breeds can lay as many eggs a year as some of the best chicken layers, and they are great for pest patrol. There water waste is great fertilizer. The only thing is to be sure to know the signs of something being stuck in their throats, pellet feed is better than crumble.( The egg laying ducks eat the same feed as chickens.) In the pic, it turns out, is an incident with a banana slug. My ducks aren't as friendly as my chickens, but they aren't sketchy either. I have learned that they can learn some basic commands like "come on ducks" and can associate like chickens can. They are super fun.

 

[nuklee0]

It's about equal I suppose. Our ducks are spoiled and have reused kid pools that get dumped at most every other day, plus buckets of clean water around for chickens and ducks. Those have to be changed out sometimes twice a day. Alot of that though is because I free range everyone together. As far a diseases, ducks can get some but most are preventable with good cleaning and fresh feeding habits. Some breeds can lay as many eggs a year as some of the best chicken layers, and they are great for pest patrol. There water waste is great fertilizer. The only thing is to be sure to know the signs of something being stuck in their throats, pellet feed is better than crumble.( The egg laying ducks eat the same feed as chickens.) In the pic, it turns out, is an incident with a banana slug. My ducks aren't as friendly as my chickens, but they aren't sketchy either. I have learned that they can learn some basic commands like "come on ducks" and can associate like chickens can. They are super fun.

Thanks, that's good info. I'll have to consider them in the future... Since I've only started learning and keeping chickens.

 

[dogkahuna]

Thank you Selkie!

 

[mom98312]

I don't have any ducks and considered getting some because we have so many slugs at our place... Are they any harder/easier to care for than chickens?

Ducks like having a POND source.. like an old hard plastic swimming pool.. They aren't as friendly as chickens. They love slugs. You can use an old Dog house.. as they do not ROOST like chickens. .but do need a nesting area for eggs. They are funny and goofy but I've found chickens have more personality.

 

[nuklee0]

Ducks like having a POND source.. like an old hard plastic swimming pool.. They aren't as friendly as chickens. They love slugs. You can use an old Dog house.. as they do not ROOST like chickens. .but do need a nesting area for eggs.  They are funny and goofy but I've found chickens have more personality. 

Oh good to know about the pond situation... Prob not a good idea yet then because I'm sure my toddlers would be jumping in with the ducks.

 

[Bridebeliever]

Oh wow...I started with ducks as a little girl and found them absolutely love bugs! I had a white duck that followed me everywhere and even flew after me when I rode my bike. When I swam in the river, she swam with me! I am a first time chicken owner so if these chicks wind up half as friendly as my childhood duck I'll be thrilled!

 

[littleredwagon]

@Cockatrice Thank you. I love taking pictures. We are down to one viable egg. I candled last night and saw the embryo busy trying to flip itself. Today is day 17. Tiny peeps soon, hopefully!

 

[ochochicas]

Maybe you need to hatch your own ducks so they imprint on humans when they hatch. Would that make them friendlier? My neighbor ordered ducklings from a hatchery and they are not social with people. She loves them though. They eat all the slugs and quack a lot.

 

[ochochicas]

Funny story. DH pretends he doesn't care about the chickens. However, he got up this morning and checked on the sick chick in the incubator even before he made his coffee!

After that he made a typical comment about how much more fun chicks are than children.

 

[nuklee0]

@Cockatrice Thank you. I love taking pictures. We are down to one viable egg. I candled last night and saw the embryo busy trying to flip itself. Today is day 17. Tiny peeps soon, hopefully!

Today is day 17 for my 5 eggs too!

It's my first time hatching and I'm starting to get nervous. They are from my roo I just lost a few days ago so I'm really hoping they survive.