The Duck Thread

[dan26552]

Nope... the only breed that is sexable at hatch by bill color is Welsh Harlequin, and even then they need to be from good breeder lines...

I read that it had to do with aylesburys being bred in since they're so similar.

 

[Tlmcq]

I would think Aylesbury too. They are like Pekin with fleshy colored bills n webs. I have seen many Pekin have both pink and yellow bills with no bearing on sex.

 

[Tlmcq]

My babies are growing too quick!

 

[rancher hicks]

How do folks in the north take care of their ducks in winter? Mine wreck the waterers and I wonder how to make sure they have water.

Can anyone post pic of their ducks and set up in winter?

 

[rancher hicks]

How can I build a good coop that protects the ducks from predators?

I lock mine in at night. All my birds are locked in at night. My hoops all have hardware cloths front and back and halfway up the sides under the tarps. The front of this coop is hardware cloth. The run is just poultry wire so I suspect a weasel could get into the run if it chooses but can't get through the hardware cloth of the coop itself. So far so good. It's been years with no trouble. There are two doors front and back. Both hardware cloth.

 

[BantyChooks]

How do folks in the north take care of their ducks in winter? Mine wreck the waterers and I wonder how to make sure they have water.

Can anyone post pic of their ducks and set up in winter?

I don't have any pictures of my water set up, but I'll try and get some today.

I made a frame for a 1gal bucket that leaves only a few inches of space for them to get their heads in up to their eyes. It's not heated, so I still have to smash ice out 2--3x per day, but it keeps them from getting the bedding icy. Also, I keep their water outside in a shoveled area until it goes below zero, and I don't even bother giving them water at night because it just freezes solid in a matter of hours. Just make sure to remove food too if you remove water.

 

[rancher hicks]

I don't have any pictures of my water set up, but I'll try and get some today.

I made a frame for a 1gal bucket that leaves only a few inches of space for them to get their heads in up to their eyes. It's not heated, so I still have to smash ice out 2--3x per day, but it keeps them from getting the bedding icy. Also, I keep their water outside in a shoveled area until it goes below zero, and I don't even bother giving them water at night because it just freezes solid in a matter of hours. Just make sure to remove food too if you remove water.

Is removing the food because they need water to rinse their nares? I have heated bowls in the chicken run and don't keep food in the coop. The runs are covered in winter.

 

[BantyChooks]

Is removing the food because they need water to rinse their nares? I have heated bowls in the chicken run and don't keep food in the coop. The runs are covered in winter.
View attachment 1047528

Yes, unlike chickens, they will choke if they have access to food and not water.

 

[NanaKat]

My ducklings are growing quickly too.
This batch sleeps in a 2x6 foot water tank in my linoleum floored hot tub room where the big hatcher is also located. I lift them in and out so they can go outside. They march out and down the stairs each morning to their day pen in the garden and then march back in each night.
It is time to build them a permanent coop in the garden like the one their parents have.

 

[MandyJ]

These are the 3 new girls @Debs Flock. So far I have let them out of their enclosure with the 3 "old" Pekins. So far so good, no duck rodeos! They won't go up the ramp with me in the enclosure but they go up after I leave. Hopefully with time....