any tips?

[taekook7]

so i have decided on getting the rouen ducks. i am thinking of getting 2 ducklings, and i was just wondering if anyone had any advice to give me? what are the supplies i need, is there any important information about this breed, etc. I was also wondering if these ducks like to be cuddled and picked up and pet, also if they bite and things about that. i want a duck that would let me pet it so if anyone knows how this breed is, please let me know! I most importantly just need the supplies for a rouen duckling and and adult rouen. thank you!

 

[cmom]

I don't know about ducks but hopefully you will get some good advice. Also do some research. I'm sure there are sites that have good info. Good luck and have fun...

 

[Jpat]

Your ordering day olds online right?


Well they will bond closely with you because your their whole life. Just dont expect puppies you might be disapointed

Cheapest and easiest will be
A heatlamp - a coil bulb is best they make heat without light so they can sleep. And a safe way to hang it. And a thermometer under the lamp becuase they need specific heat

A brooder box- a rubbermaid tote is the best and easiest to clean and with a screen over it it is safe from cats. If your safe from cats a cardboard box could work. its nice if its big enough that the food and water has its own space. and they need room to enter and exit hot zones as they please

towels or pine shavings for the bottom

Chick starter crumble feed. a 25kg bag will last 2 ducklings like 3 months

i go simple for food and water, i use a little bowl for food and a little bowl for water, Like an inch high and put it on a plastic tray becuase they will spread the water around. and always give babies warm water.

And i use PRIME bird multivitins from petsmart in the water, But b complex nonsublingual from any vitamin isle is fine

It doesnt have to be complicated!

I

 

[sylviethecochin]

what are the supplies i need

You'll need a brooder. I use a 40-gallon Rubbermaid tote, or a handy cardboard box.

A duckling feeder is the same as a chick feeder. You'll have to be more creative with the waterer unless you want to clean up the bedding twenty times a day; ducks are messy. Some people use a gallon jug with a hole cut in the side so that the ducklings can't just shove the water everywhere.

You'll want a heat lamp or a heating pad to brood the ducklings.

Bedding. I find hay or straw works fine for me. It has a tendency to mould, but if you clean it out once every so often, that's not a big problem. Ducklings will sometimes eat pine shavings, so that's not preferred, though many do well on it. Cedar shavings are mildly toxic.

Food: Ducklings can eat most chick starter. Check the niacin levels on the bag to make sure they're above 55 ppm before you buy, or supplement vitamin B.

Adult ducks do best with a ready water source. Even a kiddy pool will work. They can eat allflock chicken feed, or really, any chicken feed so long as it's 15% or more protein. A laying duck will probably need calcium on the side.

They should have a coop. For two ducks, a doghouse would probably work well. I'd also think about making a run for them. I don't have problems in the summer or spring, but in the winter, the predators start hunting duck. Best if they're locked up snug then.

is there any important information about this breed

My younger Rouens are pretty handy fliers if they get enough room for takeoff. I clip wings.

Very broody breed.. Prepare for ducklings. Which, I understand, is preferred.

I was also wondering if these ducks like to be cuddled and picked up and pet, also if they bite and things about that

Most ducks don't bite unless they have ducklings. Rouens aren't my friendliest ducks. Most ducks aren't very friendly. In fact, they're paranoid. You have to spend a lot of time around them and be very patient to tame ducks. Let them come to you. Offer feed. etc.

 

[Duckworth]

Have you checked out the Ducks forum Sticky Topics thread? There are links to a lot of great information that experienced duck keepers have compiled to help others so that they don’t have to write the same information over and over. I found so many of my questions were answered there, including questions I didn’t even know to ask. That helped me figure out what I still needed to ask about.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Your ordering day olds online right?


Well they will bond closely with you because your their whole life. Just dont expect puppies you might be disapointed

Cheapest and easiest will be
A heatlamp - a coil bulb is best they make heat without light so they can sleep. And a safe way to hang it. And a thermometer under the lamp becuase they need specific heat

A brooder box- a rubbermaid tote is the best and easiest to clean and with a screen over it it is safe from cats. If your safe from cats a cardboard box could work. its nice if its big enough that the food and water has its own space. and they need room to enter and exit hot zones as they please

towels or pine shavings for the bottom

Chick starter crumble feed. a 25kg bag will last 2 ducklings like 3 months

i go simple for food and water, i use a little bowl for food and a little bowl for water, Like an inch high and put it on a plastic tray becuase they will spread the water around. and always give babies warm water.

And i use PRIME bird multivitins from petsmart in the water, But b complex nonsublingual from any vitamin isle is fine

It doesnt have to be complicated!

I

Didn't see your post.

 

[Jpat]

Getting bit by ducks is like being pimched by soft popcicle sticks haha

 

[sylviethecochin]

Getting bit by ducks is like being pimched by soft popcicle sticks haha

I had a broody mallard clamp onto the web of my thumb so hard that she bruised it. 'Twas pretty painful, actually.

 

[Jpat]

I had a broody mallard clamp onto the web of my thumb so hard that she bruised it. 'Twas pretty painful, actually.

Wowie, I had two huge pekin drakes given to me and they were freerange zero human contact, one of them got me on the inside of my forearm and it was like someone pinching you and bruised. I thaught that wouldve been the worst case

 

[sylviethecochin]

Wowie, I had two huge pekin drakes given to me and they were freerange zero human contact, one of them got me on the inside of my forearm and it was like someone pinching you and bruised. I thaught that wouldve been the worst case

To be fair, I was messing with her nest just to candle her eggs (and I was only candling her eggs because developing embryos look cool. Not to look for rotten ones or anything productive.) I completely deserved it.