[Penny]

Okay, so some of you might remember the thread I created asking people to talk me out of raising ducks. Well, no one could do it, so I'm making some plans to get a couple in the spring.

I know I'll need a pond for them, and probably some sort of coop like I would for chickens. I haven't been able to find very much duck specific information through my limited searches, and figured I'd put some questions to the forum.

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1) Is is worth it to do the whole incubating the eggs business, especially if I'm only going to have maybe five ducks max? Or is it just fine to get babies?

2) Should I order the ducklings/eggs from a reputable site online, or should I buy local... assuming I can find anyone local. Is it okay to buy ducks at the local annual fair?

3) Some of the sites I've seen that talk about ducks say to keep them inside the first few weeks. Would a large fish tank with a mesh lid, hamster bedding, and a heat lamp be an okay set up? (And of course food and water)

4) My daughter will be one year old by the time we get the ducklings, is it okay to let her be around them? (With serious parental supervision of course.)

5) When I move them outside, I'd like them in an enclosed area. I'd construct a decent pond with a fountain for there, and I figure I need some sort of coop, but how different from chicken coops are duck coops? Can anyone point me in the direction of what a duck enclosure/coop looks like, what materials to use, maybe even some blueprints?

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Okay, I think that's enough to get me started. Thanks in advance to anyone who responds. Oh, and if you have any links or books related to raising ducks that you can recommend I'd greatly appreciate that as well.

 

[luke]

Try this http://www.backyardchickens.com/ Go to the chicken forum, scroll down, they also have a forum for ducks and geese. Lots of info at that site.

 

[Straight Razor]

If you get, as I said in a previous thread, khaki-Campbell ducks you don't need a pond, and they are best layers of all. If you are going to raise ducklings, or chicks, put them in a large area with an incandescent light at one end, usually 100 watt. That way the little ones will find the right distance from the light to stay warm. If you don't give them the option they will die of cold or heat. They need food, water, litter, but most of all they need to be allowed to adjust for themselves the right distance from the heat source to be. That is crucial.

When adults, locking them in a coup for two or three days straight usually establishes the coup as home and they will return to it at dusk.

 

[bltjr1951]

Have you tried searching for a duck yahoo group?? Most want you to join their group.
During Easter, the local farm store had baby chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese for sale.
They had a small sign about making kids wash their hands after touching any of them.
On the Backwoods site forum, some lady said she had a kiddie pool for her ducks to play in.

 

[Penny]

Thanks guys.

Luke -- I checked out backyard chickens. There was a wealth of information about ducks there, and I spent the better part of the afternoon learning a whole lot. Thanks so much for that link!

Straight Razor -- I took your previous post to heart and have settled on getting the kahki-cambells. However, I read at the backyard chicken site that they do enjoy having a pond to play around in. Can you tell me where you got your information that they don't, as the info I received was just from a random poster there? Thanks also for the info about environmental set-up. I'll be following that advice as well.

bltjr1951 - Thanks for the info. I'll check into the yahoo groups and see what I can find. I had planned on going to the local farm store this weekend to see what all I can learn there as well. Also, I think the kiddie pool is a cute idea.

 

[hilly7]

If you get ducklings, whatever you brood them in make sure the light source is more to one end. If they crowd under the light, they are cold, lower light. If they stay away, too much heat, raise light. If their rear ends are pasted they are stressing, usually temperature related, sometimes feed. Damp warm rag and wipe. Watch the protein in the feed so their wing feathers don't become deformed (actually the muscles). Not health related, just ugly. Never use hay, hay when wet throws off spores and fungus, not good for them or you. Make sure the floor isn't slick, can cause spraddle legs, seldom fixable.

If you buy locally or ordered, watch beaks and fluff, shows temperature wrongs, not fixable, done mostly around Easter. Land ducks are pretty much standard. Breeding in water is easier but not needed. The biggest thing is make sure they can clean their nostrils by dunking their whole head.

Ducks hatch out in 28 days, Muscoveys ducks (actually South American Tree Geese), hatch in 36. If they cross with any land ducks, offspring is sterile. Wild ducks only mate with their own kind, ie : Barheads, etc. Exception is Mallard.

Don't worm, waterfowl do not need worming. If brooded, watch respiratory breathing and drafts. Start at 96-98 degrees and lower each week until regular temperature, but watch them to see if cold or hot. Hope that helps.

 

[jbowen9]

Only thing i can tell you a duck will make a mudhole on concrete. That being said i have a black pond for mine just like the landscape ones from lowe's i have pekin ducks and muscoveys just have mine right beside of my chicken lot made the same way just sectioned off. You can look for in the spring around easter most farm stores or flea markets have alot of ducks. Easter seems to be the duck, rabbit season so that is a good time to get both if you need them. Far as using the fish tank as a brooder i wish you the best of luck because they will stink you out of your house unless you clean that tank 5 times a day because remember ducks eat,poop,sleep and repeat. Oh by the way the muscoveys are a quiet bird unlike others if you live near or in town.

 

[Straight Razor]

Thanks guys.

Luke -- I checked out backyard chickens. There was a wealth of information about ducks there, and I spent the better part of the afternoon learning a whole lot. Thanks so much for that link!

Straight Razor -- I took your previous post to heart and have settled on getting the kahki-cambells. However, I read at the backyard chicken site that they do enjoy having a pond to play around in. Can you tell me where you got your information that they don't, as the info I received was just from a random poster there? Thanks also for the info about environmental set-up. I'll be following that advice as well.

bltjr1951 - Thanks for the info. I'll check into the yahoo groups and see what I can find. I had planned on going to the local farm store this weekend to see what all I can learn there as well. Also, I think the kiddie pool is a cute idea.

All ducks like water, and Khakis are no exception. But they are the only duck that can breed without water. So a pond is not essential. Anything from an old bathtub in the ground to a lake will keep them happy. I had a pond for mine. My point was they are the only duck that does not need water to breed. And you need breeding if you want eggs, and ducklings.

Keep their food and water apart from their pond. Ducks take a scoop of food and a scoop of water before swallowing so if your pond is near their food the food will get in the pond. As it is you will have to clean the pond regularly. No sense adding more litter by having it close to the food.

As for knowledge, I raised them. They are bright, inquisitive, friendly ducks. They are good layers and nice to have around.