Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 23956 Location: under some rain.
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 07 11:57 am Post subject: Ducks
I'm thinking of getting some, probably khaki campbells.
A few questions.
Can they share ground with chickens?
What is the best way to introduce them to ensure they recognise 'home'
If I give them access to an unfenced waterway will they flee or stay local to their house?
What sort of nesting facilities are required?
Cheers
.
lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5059 Location: ceredigion
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 07 12:18 pm Post subject:
My chickens are free range but I'm keeping my ducks in a run for another week as I don't want them loose until they're big enough----but I had the same query and when I checked the books/info the concensus was it was o.k. as long as you had enough room and they could spread about a bit. Nest boxes on the floor rather than raised up, don't let them out too early or they'll lay away, if you keep them penned for a couple of days and tempt them back with food they should recognise home---they don't like going to bed tho'----don't know about unfenced waterway
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 07 3:48 pm Post subject: Re: Ducks
Jonnyboy wrote:
I'm thinking of getting some, probably khaki campbells.
A few questions.
Can they share ground with chickens?
What is the best way to introduce them to ensure they recognise 'home'
If I give them access to an unfenced waterway will they flee or stay local to their house?
What sort of nesting facilities are required?
Cheers
.
1 Yes they can share ground with chickens
2 Lock them in the shed over night. Feed them first thing in the morning and last thing at night, in this way they will associate being fed with being put to bed.
3 Access to an unfenced waterway will mean Goodbye ducks.
4 Ducks don't use nest boxes, they simply lay on the floor of the shed, so you need to keep it nice and clean and covered with straw or shavings. Remember , that most ducks lay before 9.00am, so don't let them out any earlier because otherwise they will quite literally drop them where they stand and the eggs will be lost forever.
Ducks are mucky b�$$"&s and you will need a house that can very easily be cleaned - they mess and puddle, mess and puddle all night long -yuk!
Ducks are by far the smelliest, messiest creatures we have kept. This said, it hasn't put us off keeping them. We have recently acquired six ducklings. Ours never wander far, just around the garden and back into their shed at night. We did have one taken by a fox or pine martin last year when we were late shutting them in. Shut the door before dusk.
lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5059 Location: ceredigion
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 07 10:00 am Post subject:
Decided yesterday the young ducks really were big enough to let out and I was just being fussy. I won't be spending much on duckfood now ---mother Muscovey and 16 offspring have set about clearing the paddock of young frogs[ ] slugs and shrews. The Maran cockerell got too close---the first time it got a warning and the second time she really attacked and it ran off---so no worries on that score---they all congregated round the duckhut in the evening as well---but as usual they needed persuading to go in.
] slugs and shrews. The Maran cockerell got too close---the first time it got a warning and the second time she really attacked and it ran off---so no worries on that score---they all congregated round the duckhut in the evening as well---but as usual they needed persuading to go in.
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