Anyone here keep ducks?

Careym13

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With the turkeys and chickens. The coop is 40'x12' but I'm currently placing a spot for a new one.
So you've had good luck with the different species getting along? We are going to have 2 brahma hens, 2 cochin hens, 2 golden laced wyandotte hens, 4 ducks and 4 silkie roosters (bantams). I'm hoping they'll all get along, but I'm going to be prepared to have separate areas if necessary.
 

tortadise

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Oh yeah they get along just fine. Had to cull out a few roosters over the last month though as they were getting a bit aggressive towards some hens. But they tasted fantastic. After all that's a good purpose for keeping them, eggs and meat when the time is just.
 

Careym13

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Oh yeah they get along just fine. Had to cull out a few roosters over the last month though as they were getting a bit aggressive towards some hens. But they tasted fantastic. After all that's a good purpose for keeping them, eggs and meat when the time is just.
I fear I couldn't ever part with any of my Silkie Roo's. I'm glad to hear yours all get along though...that makes me feel better.
 

dmmj

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so does anyone know what a good diet for high egg production is?
 

tortadise

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so does anyone know what a good diet for high egg production is?
From what I hear keeping them happy and knowing they are secure produces the best eggs. None the less they will always produce eggs, but if you force a yield of eggs in a sub-par environment the eggs are less valuable in nutrients. Hence the difference between store eggs and farm fresh eggs having a different taste.
 

dmmj

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I don't plan to force egg production just was wondering what diet would facilitate higher egg production
 

Cowboy_Ken

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I don't plan to force egg production just was wondering what diet would facilitate higher egg production
Protein. When I had chickens, if I found a raccoon or possum in the coop, it would die from lead poisoning. Then I'd toss the dead critter in the chicken yard. As soon as it would pop open, the chickens would be all over it. They ate everything and turned it into yummy eggs!
 

Careym13

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So the ducks are a week old today. We tried them in very shallow water for the first time. They hated it.
 

ZEROPILOT

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I had one uniquely unpleasant duck experience and I can say to you make sure that your ducklings swim regularly.
My step son found a baby duck whos siblings and mother had all been killed by some dogs and we raised the duckling in our yard for some time until it was pretty large. (A Muscovy in our case).
However, the duck was never provided any water deep enough to swim in and apparently ducks and ducklings spend time oiling and waterproofing their wings and feathers once they learn to swim.
Long story short, his duck sank like a rock in a small pond upon it's release and we had to dive in and save it. Then bring it back home and buy it a small pool until he could deal with water.
 

dmmj

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I had one uniquely unpleasant duck experience and I can say to you make sure that your ducklings swim regularly.
My step son found a baby duck whos siblings and mother had all been killed by some dogs and we raised the duckling in our yard for some time until it was pretty large. (A Muscovy in our case).
However, the duck was never provided any water deep enough to swim in and apparently ducks and ducklings spend time oiling and waterproofing their wings and feathers once they learn to swim.
Long story short, his duck sank like a rock in a small pond upon it's release and we had to dive in and save it. Then bring it back home and buy it a small pool until he could deal with water.
sorry a duck that doesn't float made me laugh. :)
 

Careym13

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I had one uniquely unpleasant duck experience and I can say to you make sure that your ducklings swim regularly.
My step son found a baby duck whos siblings and mother had all been killed by some dogs and we raised the duckling in our yard for some time until it was pretty large. (A Muscovy in our case).
However, the duck was never provided any water deep enough to swim in and apparently ducks and ducklings spend time oiling and waterproofing their wings and feathers once they learn to swim.
Long story short, his duck sank like a rock in a small pond upon it's release and we had to dive in and save it. Then bring it back home and buy it a small pool until he could deal with water.
Well, my 4 are likely to sink if they don't start staying in the water long enough to learn to swim. I think I am going to try them in one of those paint roller trays so they can waddle down into the water at their own pace.
 

Careym13

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So I went to the local feed store yesterday. Since I have 10 chickens, and I'm going to attempt a mixed flock, I picked up 4 more ducklings. 2 are Pekins, 1 is a Swedish Blue, and 1 is a Rouen. I've managed to identify the existing 4 as Khaki Campbell, Cayuga, Swedish Black, and the last one we think is a Hybrid 300. I got the older 4 into the bathtub for swimming finally, they like it. IMG_2884.JPG

I'll try to get a photo of the new ducklings up tomorrow. It is amazing the size difference considering they are only a week apart. Have to keep them separate due to the size difference, at least for a while.
 

Careym13

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So the ducks are getting huge. Need to post updated photos. 1 of my Pekins when suddenly lame on saturday night. A lame duck. Go figure. Anyway, I think it is a niacin deficiency from what I've read. The other possibility is slipped tendons, but I think the niacin is more likely the culprit. They are on high quality food (mazuri waterfowl mixed with Purina flock raiser). They get tons of dark leafy greens and peas and cheerios for treats...all of which are supposed to be high in niacin. And, they get brewers yeast sprinkled on their food several times a week. So I'm pretty frustrated to say the least because I feel like I have been covering all my bases to prevent this from happening. My vet agreed to give the duckling a vitamin b injection (which contains niacin) so hopefully this little one will get better in 24 hours. Has anyone else with ducks ever had this happen?
 

Careym13

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A month has gone by and no updated photos? Hope all is well with these ducks. Though I've no desire to have any myself, I was almost living the dream of keeping them with your thread.
I'm glad someone is keeping me accountable..haha. Sorry, these ducks have been keeping me terribly busy...I've hardly been on the forum at all. Here are a couple more recent photos, the big yellow duck is the one who went lame. His posture is still weird, but he is doing well otherwise.

IMG_3892.JPG IMG_3895.JPG We have been working hard on their enclosure (the chain link in the photo all has to be covered with wire mesh...all 300 sq feet of it). The relentless rain in my area has slowed our progress WAY down. The older ducks are about ready to move out and I still have two weeks worth of work to due to predator proof their run. So, they are living in a big wooden enclosure inside the house for now...and man do they smell!! On my way home from work this evening I have to stop at tractor supply and get more pine pellets...it helps with the smell...a little.

Oh and did I mention that we ended up with 2 geese?
 

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Moozillion

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Protein. When I had chickens, if I found a raccoon or possum in the coop, it would die from lead poisoning. Then I'd toss the dead critter in the chicken yard. As soon as it would pop open, the chickens would be all over it. They ate everything and turned it into yummy eggs!

SO.GROSS. [emoji13]
...but that’s part of how nature works! [emoji849]
 
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