tara Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 (edited) I have call ducks 5 ducklings and mum and dad.In a few weeks im getting 3 day old indian runner ducks my self and a friend.We just can wait the man said to use a lamp as a heat lamp.Any advice please would great.I really want to tame them.I have ducklings with there mum out side so this will be brillliant being able to be there new mummy.The only thing is the man gives the boys to the pet shop which upset me.But he did say about a trio but im worried that he will rape my call ducks or get aggressive. Edited March 10, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Hi Tara You will love looking after your babies, but you won't get any housework done Ducklings can be very messy and I found keeping them on sawdust just made it harder to clean them out . After trying different things I found that keeping them on an old towel was easiest for the first few days. The worst mess can come from them spilling water and food all over their living quarters. You can reduce this mess by making something similar to ( but smaller than) the diner set on the gooses mother web site. All you need is a couple of plastic containers, cut an end off them but leave a slight lip, put the food dish in one and water dish in the other. That way any food or water they spill stays in the container and they dont mix the two together, keep them close together to begin with, but move them a little way apart as the ducklings get older. When the towel gets a bit mucky you can refold it to a clean side. As they get bigger I line the bottom with plenty of news paper, then on top of that I put rubber shelf grip, the moisture goes through the holes in the shelf grip to the paper, and you can just rinse the shelf grip , dry it and put it back. You should never put baby birds directly on newspaper, their feet slip about on it and they can get splayed legs If you want your babies to be friendly and stay that way you have to handle them a lot on a daily basis, sit with them on your lap in the evening, although you might find they prefer to sit on your shoulder and snuggle up in your hair From what I have heard Drakes can sometines be a problem in the breeding season Seems they either want to attack you or mate with you And off course NO EGGS from a drake Sorry I've gone on a bit, but I do get excited about baby birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted March 10, 2008 Author Share Posted March 10, 2008 You have not been a pain l love hearing from people that know and you was so helpful with me last time.I will follow your advice.I enjoyed seeing your pictures of your lovely duck so much l decided to get some im getting 2 females so am hoping they will be happy with out a boyfriend.I just cant wait my friend is also getting 2 females from the same breeder.My call ducklings are getting bigger but just wish l could handle them.There in a eglu run so l cant really hold them as they go to the middle of the run.Will have to post more pics. What food did you start of with was it chick crumb or duck food. OOOOOcant wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Hi Tara You need to feed them on UNMEDICATED chick crumb, it's important that the chick crumb is unmedicated I also gave mine mashed boiled egg and boiled rice. I have also heard that some people grind up duck pellets. I think two ducks is fine, to be honest the more you have the more they tend to flock( well runners do) so you don't want too many if you want them to be really friendly. When you have a large group of runners it only takes one to LEG IT and the rest will follow. With two you can get away with keeping them indoors with you longer as they grow so they get really imprinted and more comfortable with you. If you want to cuddle them lots but are worried about them pooing on you, I can draw a pattern for you to make a little harness to put on them with a little bit of pad in that will help a bit Other than that just put a towel on your lap . Our duck will move away a little if we reach for her, but that's just instinct, she wont run from us in fact she will come and stand by us if we call her, and often she will come and tap us and chat to us, she loves to sleep by my feet in the evening, or if my daughter is sitting on the floor Baby will sit right beside her are you going to put pictures on? I'd love to see them. I have a really cute one of Baby, can't remember if I have put it on before so will try to find it and put it on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Quite a menagerie you are getting there Tara. Am pleased to hear that your ducklings are doing OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 This is her posing for the camera :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 This is Baby still in the incubator two hours old [/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Oooooh, how exciting! I can't wait for my Appleyards to hatch. You need to feed them on UNMEDICATED chick crumb, it's important that the chick crumb is unmedicated Ummm, is there a reason why you need unmedicated chick crumb? What's the difference? Love the pictures! How old is Baby in the first picture? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Hi Hunni I can't remember how old Baby was in the second picture, might of been about a week or so. The reason for only giving the unmedicated chick crumb is to do with the antibiotic in it I think. Ducklings eat much more than chicks so overdose on the medication in medicated chick crumb, this can make them very ill or even kill them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Oh right . Greedy little things! Baby looks huge in the first picture, I thought she would be about 3/4 weeks I think it is just the way I was looking at the picture. Love the bulging crop on her xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 You will be amazed at how quickly they grow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted March 10, 2008 Author Share Posted March 10, 2008 That piture is so so so cute im so glad im getting 2 females.I will post pitures of them as soon as l get them.Ill also get more pics of my call ducklings in the garden.Baby is so cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 LOL She is fully grown now so her little liquorice legs are not the same But she is still lovely and we wouldnt be without her now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 awww that photo by the fire side is ADORABLE!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 LOL Just looked at her sleeping beside the rabbits litter box and can't believe it's the same duck, she is so grown up and lays an egg a day for us now Yummy I love duck eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 LOLJust looked at her sleeping beside the rabbits litter box and can't believe it's the same duck, she is so grown up and lays an egg a day for us now Yummy I love duck eggs. Hi just thought Id let you know that tat's internet is down at the mo! we're still waiting on our runner ducks! but things come to those who wait!!!! her Call ducks are growing fast! the mother keeps trying to hole the duckings head under (I dont think its for a long time but Tara's abit worried! any ideas??? Emma xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Hi When you say holding their heads under I take it you mean under water? Is it possible to not allow the mum in the water with the babies? They will be perfectly safe swimming without the mum there, although I know Tra mentioned she can't get hold of the ducklings cos they go to the middle of the eglu run, so not sure how she would go about seperating them. I have not come across this problem myself so not sure how to advise, but if it were me, I would only allow them access to swinmming water when I was around to supervise. It might be a good Idea to post the question as a fresh discussion, more people are likely to read it that way and there is a chance some one else will know what to do. give it an attention grabbing subject title, something like HELP!!! MUM TRYING TO DROWN BABIES Can't wait to see pictures of your runner Babies when they arrive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Hi When you say holding their heads under I take it you mean under water? Is it possible to not allow the mum in the water with the babies? They will be perfectly safe swimming without the mum there, although I know Tra mentioned she can't get hold of the ducklings cos they go to the middle of the eglu run, so not sure how she would go about seperating them. I have not come across this problem myself so not sure how to advise, but if it were me, I would only allow them access to swinmming water when I was around to supervise. It might be a good Idea to post the question as a fresh discussion, more people are likely to read it that way and there is a chance some one else will know what to do. give it an attention grabbing subject title, something like HELP!!! MUM TRYING TO DROWN BABIES Can't wait to see pictures of your runner Babies when they arrive thats a gd idea!! you cant wait!! hay we're pasing up and down waiting lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 Hello im on dial up for a few days The mum was pushing them down a little she seems to get jeaulous of them being in the water but it seems to have stopped.So fingers crossed.I also keep checking on them through the day to make sure all is ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 I don't know what else to suggest - we only had that from the Drake and we had to separate him from the Duck and Ducklings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 KIDS!!!!!!!! They are such a worry LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
