|
|
 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
   
Location: MD | can I leave the non medicated chick starter out for them? I only have 3.... I don't want to over or under feed them. they've been soaking their beaks for the last hour
ETA: any additional advice would be great! and name ideas, one is feeling like "fluffy pumpkin" would be a good name.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2545270989111&set=a.15895440...
Here's a link to a photo!
Edited by Crowned Image 2015-05-09 11:03 AM
|
|
| |
|
  The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | Mine had "free choice" feed.
|
|
| |
|
 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| They have to have water when they eat, so that might be why they've got their beaks in the water. When mine were ducklings I had food and water out for them free choice. I'm no expert! But I got mine last spring and they are healthy and happy! |
|
| |
|
I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | thank you so much! I just wasn't sure and the feed bag was about as clear as mud!! i was reading that they have to have their beaks wet down to clear out their vents so I wanted to wait to make sure! You guys are great! |
|
| |
|
The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | Yes, they MUST have water. (DRINKING WATER.) I did NOT give mine "swimming" water when little. They can easily get chilled. (And they don't have mom to care for them. "hand raised" ducks and "mom raised" ducks are a whole different thing when it comes to swimming.) If they don't have duck parents, they don't get the natural body oils on their down that helps "water proof" them.
Edited by RacingQH 2015-05-09 10:16 AM
|
|
| |
|
 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Water and all they can eat, your going to have change out the water offten, its going to get really nasty.  |
|
| |
|
The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | And you should change the bedding often too as it will also get soggy and nasty. |
|
| |
|
I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | I need all the advice I can get!! these little guys got my heart! |
|
| |
|
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Ducks are so darn cute but man they sure are nasty little boogers, I had ducks at one time enjoyed watching them, but could not keep up keeping water clean for them and the dogs, LOL..Every water bucket they saw they had to play in it, I did have a kid pool for them always changing it out, but they would play in every water container I had out for the dogs and cats. LOL |
|
| |
|
 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Southtxponygirl - 2015-05-09 10:19 AM
Water and all they can eat, your going to have change out the water offten, its going to get really nasty.
VERY VERY NASTY lol!
I free choice mine too. |
|
| |
|
I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | aaand if anyone has duck names that would be great! currently one is named "fluffy pumpkin" and I'm trying to encourage a name we can live with for a few years.... two others are still nameless. |
|
| |
|
Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| I agree, they are nasty! I have 3 females that are laying. And they lay wherever they darn well please. I have one that frequently lays her eggs in the water. Drives me crazy! Ours are in a pen with our chickens, otherwise they'd be dog dinner. And I'm constantly cleaning out the water. They have a little pool and then there are other dishes for water, but they dirty it all up. When these ones are gone I won't be getting ducks again. I'm at the point that I might never eat another egg for the rest of my life! Between the ducks and chickens I get 5-8 eggs a day. I've got eggs coming out my ears! Honestly I'll probably always keep a couple chickens around, I really do enjoy the fresh eggs, but I was a little ambitious when I ended up with 5 chickens and 3 ducks! I've been told that duck eggs are great for baking, so I usually use them for cakes and muffins and things like that. I've noticed that my duck eggs have a thicker shell than my chickens. Other than that and a slightly different shape you can't really tell a difference. |
|
| |
|
Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I've got 7 ducks lol! 1 fully grown and 6 ducklings. They are growing like crazy and I've finally let them all out together to be free range ducks. They love it and my dogs ignore them. I lock them up at night in their crates. And yes their bedding can get nasty too. I use shavings and old hay. Only 2 of my ducks have names right now. Waddles and Beetlejuice. I have one large kiddie pool. I'm going to need a few more soon. My ducklings are old enough now to swim and they are always in it. |
|
| |
|
 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Crowned Image - 2015-05-09 10:54 AM
aaand if anyone has duck names that would be great! currently one is named "fluffy pumpkin" and I'm trying to encourage a name we can live with for a few years.... two others are still nameless.
I bet they name themselves before you know it! |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 521
Location: Lone Star State | We raised 4 ducklings before. They didn't have individual names, we just called them "the outlaws." We bought them to live on our pond, but they preferred our back porch instead and crapped everywhere! They were funny to watch but we won't have any more.
Names:
Pickles
Mr wadsworth
Thelma
Louise
Idk????
|
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Oh please... there are 3 ducks.... Lets do something original... Huey, Dewey, and Louie |
|
| |
|
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | komet. - 2015-05-09 5:35 PM Oh please... there are 3 ducks.... Lets do something original... Huey, Dewey, and Louie
 Good names right there.... |
|
| |
|
I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Hahaha! Well I've named one fondly "Quackers" we have a blue runner that my step son is happy with "blue" and step daughter.... Stuck on "Cutie Pie Jr." ........... Oh well pick your battles I guess!
They are messy little guys, that's for sure! |
|
| |
Folks on-line