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Ducks
Feb 11, 2017 11:12:55 GMT
Post by farmchix on Feb 11, 2017 11:12:55 GMT
Does anyone know anything about ducks? I know nothing. I need to learn....Hubs wants to get some runners. What kind of shelter do they need? What kind of feed?
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Ducks
Feb 11, 2017 13:21:06 GMT
Post by aoconnor on Feb 11, 2017 13:21:06 GMT
I have no idea!! Hopefully those who keep ducks will help you out soon!
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Post by wally on Feb 11, 2017 13:21:56 GMT
I would suggest the storey. Book about ducks
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Post by farmchix on Feb 11, 2017 13:32:28 GMT
I have been researching all morning. The more I read, the more I want them! Definitely have to order the Storey book wally,. They are so informative! I wonder if there is such a thing as duck math the way there is chicken math!
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Post by Skandi on Feb 12, 2017 15:44:36 GMT
We got two muscovy ducks last spring, we were given another and between the two girls they produced 29 ducklings, we've nearly finished slaughtering them now! They live in with the chickens, (in the barn with a door to outside) eat the exact same food as the chickens, (now it's wheat and concentrated pellets, but before they had potato, barley blakc oats, pellets and pumpkin) but they drink a lot more, and the amount that comes out of the other end is unreal, it also doesn't mix in with straw like chickens leavings, it forms a layer on top. so one either needs a lot more space then one thinks for them, or clean them out every other day.
When we had two they had a horse watering bucket to paddle in, but with 32 it just wasn't practicle so they have no swimable water at the moment, we have dug them a pond, but havn't gotten round to building a new house for them by it yet.
Ours all come in at night, they don't perch but form a big swarm of duck on the floor in the straw.
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Post by shin on Feb 13, 2017 18:15:37 GMT
That's a really great story about your son and the ducks Tallpines !
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Post by shellymay on Feb 13, 2017 18:26:38 GMT
So if I understand the last few posters.....If you think you will like ducks, you also have to like POOP?
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Post by grannyg on Nov 26, 2017 4:42:08 GMT
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Post by here to stay on Nov 26, 2017 14:44:09 GMT
I missed this thread earlier and am glad to see it pop up now. Very real information.
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Post by princessferf on Nov 26, 2017 15:34:54 GMT
Thanks for all of the information! I am interested in ducks, but I'm concerned about offering them "swimming water" during the winter months. That's been one of the main reasons I haven't tried them.
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Ducks
Nov 27, 2017 0:30:43 GMT
Post by princessferf on Nov 27, 2017 0:30:43 GMT
Tallpines, we're in Wisconsin. What about those stretches where temps are horribly below zero and water won't stay open for them? Would you use a heater for those buckets?
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Post by Skandi on Nov 27, 2017 4:21:02 GMT
While it's not that cold here we don't give swimming water in the winter when it freezes, they get non frozen water twice a day, it probably stays liquid for 2-3 hours or so at a time.
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Ducks
Nov 28, 2017 14:20:53 GMT
Post by princessferf on Nov 28, 2017 14:20:53 GMT
I use a heater base for the drinking waterers for my chickens. Since we work outside the home, I don't have the ability to be out every few hours with water. Water is one thing I make sure my chickens have plenty of.
Thanks for the feedback about ducks. I won't be pursuing them soon, but I probably won't shy away from them, either.
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Post by Use Less on Nov 28, 2017 14:46:03 GMT
You need to be careful with feed. Ducks should not have chicken feed since some additives that are OK for chickens will poison ducks. If you have a pond, and you let your females hatch nests, you may want to keep them out of the water! In warm weather, some pond weeds or scum are dangerous. If the pond is big enough for bass or turtles, they will grab ducklings from below. Ducklings you buy or hatch should not go swimming until they are well feathered out, even in a little pool. The mothers coat the young with their oils when the ducklings are really small. Without that oil, ducklings get soaked and can get chilled or drown.
Muscovies aren't a true duck. They are pretty amusing in a barn yard. They produce lots of eggs, and will sit huge nests, like two dozen hatchlings.
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Ducks
Dec 22, 2017 14:47:41 GMT
Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2017 14:47:41 GMT
I sort of suddenly acquired 3 runner ducks last night. I was given what was left of their food but was wondering if they could eat what my chickens eat. My chickens get a mix of different whole grains, depending on what is available as well as kitchen scraps. I was told they have to have soft foods so can't eat the whole grains?
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Ducks
Dec 22, 2017 15:07:20 GMT
Post by Use Less on Dec 22, 2017 15:07:20 GMT
I sort of suddenly acquired 3 runner ducks last night. I was given what was left of their food but was wondering if they could eat what my chickens eat. My chickens get a mix of different whole grains, depending on what is available as well as kitchen scraps. I was told they have to have soft foods so can't eat the whole grains? Generally, ducks cannot have chicken feed. Those have additives that are poisonous to ducks. You need particularly to be careful of anything that may get a little moldy with ducks. Chickens will eat there way right through that stuff, but it will sicken and kill ducks.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2017 15:31:38 GMT
I sort of suddenly acquired 3 runner ducks last night. I was given what was left of their food but was wondering if they could eat what my chickens eat. My chickens get a mix of different whole grains, depending on what is available as well as kitchen scraps. I was told they have to have soft foods so can't eat the whole grains? Generally, ducks cannot have chicken feed. Those have additives that are poisonous to ducks. You need particularly to be careful of anything that may get a little moldy with ducks. Chickens will eat there way right through that stuff, but it will sicken and kill ducks. That's why I was wondering about the whole grains. I don't feed 'chicken' feed. I buy 2-3 different grains by the pickup load and mix accordingly. So, if I make sure there's no mold, can they eat the grains? Right now it's millet, wheat and barley.
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Ducks
Dec 22, 2017 16:13:13 GMT
Post by dustawaits on Dec 22, 2017 16:13:13 GMT
Duck can not eat medicated chicken feed. Whole grains and scraps are fine.
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Post by snoozy on Feb 4, 2018 18:04:58 GMT
Nothing easier than ducks. I love ducks. Let them out of their house, feed them, make sure they have plenty of water. Close them up at night to be safe from predators. That's about it. And ducklings are way cuter than chicks.
They will eat every slug on your property. They will give you the best eggs! If you like duck meat, they grow fast and your home grown duck will taste much more ducky than anything commercially grown.
Pay the extra to specify gender when you order your ducklings. You need only one drake. Do not get straight run. Straight run will net you 70% males, and more than one drake amounts to gang rape for females. It's ugly. Really.
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