4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Duck-Noob]

Hi i am very new to duck keeping these are my first 2 ducks i am looking for advice on a duck house please as i cant really afford a eglu as much as id love one for them so any other alternatives for a person on a budget please?

My second question is about a duck pond i want to build one in the garden for them with some sort of filtration to keep the water reasonably clean for them any advice on this appreciated too.

when i bought the ducks the man gave me some a bag of this grey stuff and told me to feed them on that for now i was wondering how long and then after that what to feed them, i am sorry for all the questions but remeber you were new once too

Hope you can help

i will try to post pictures and if anyone can identify what i have please feeel free

 

Iwill post their progress as they grow

 

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[tara]

You need to feed them for about 2 weeks on crumb and on the 3rd week start putting growers pellets in there food to start getting them of the crumb.As for a pond we use under bed storage for them easy to clean.From what l gather pond filters dont work as get clogged up.Your little ducks look so cute what type are they and any more advice just ask. Its like you say we was all new once and me myself still ask questions.

[Duck-Noob]

i feel so embaressed i am not sure what type they are they man who sold them did tell me but we were so excited getting them i sort of forgeot what he said

thanks for the advice about the feed can you reccomend a place to buy the feed please ?

And as for the pond is the under bed storage big enough for them i was planning on building them something a bit bigger but like you say if theres problems filtering it i guess i will have to think again

[tara]

Where abouts are you.You could build them a pond you only have 2 so it would take ages to get that dirty.You are after goose and duck crumb.I know of a place but it depends on were you are.

[Duck-Noob]

I am in north east, also could you reccomend any other forums that i can read up on and maybe get somne tips on building the pond

thanks for your help and making me feel welcome

[Duck-Noob]

ah i just read up i think i have the crumb thats what the guy gave me and theres well enough for a couple weeks so it will be the next stage feed i will need to source

[tara]

Well l got my food from a place near sittingbourne.But that could be a bit far for you to go.The crumb is just goose and duckling crumb mine came in a clear bag. The name of the growers is called (small holder range goose and duckling growers finisher) it was around £8.00 a sack you keep them on that until about 16 to 20 weeks.Some places that sell horse stuff sell what you will need.As for another site l use pratical poultry as well.Its very good and loads of info on there. But dont be worrying about asking questions ive had the odd funny person give me a not so helpful answer but most are ok.

 

 

If you go on to this site you maybe able to find a stockist near you....

http://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/blog/autumn.htm good luck

[Duck-Noob]

Ok great thanks

they are in the garden as I am typing this having a swim in a little plastic container and pottering around the garden pecking at the grass they look happy enough

one thing i did notice is the noise they make they constantly squeeking I guess not a full quack yet, maybe there getting used to the new home we have only had them 2 days after all

[tara]

Do you know how old they are?

[Duck-Noob]

ok i just rang the breeder again and he told me there 4-5 weeks old and to keep them on this crumb for another 4 weeks then onto another feed which i assume is the one you spoke about earlier, Ialso sheepishly asked what type i had bought and he told me he thinks i have 1 aylesbury and 1 silver appleyard but cant be sure as he has sold lots since the few days ago that i bought them can anyone confirm this by the pictures maybe ?

 

heres afew more pics took a few minutes ago

 

 

If anyone can tell me what breed they are for sure and some info on that breed would be great i can take more photos if these are not good enough to determine what type

 

Thanks Steve

[Ange1]

Just wanted to day TOO CUTE!!!

[xChicken04x]

Hi Steve,

The ducklings are gorgeous .

It looks like you have an Aylesbury (the lighter one with the pink bill) and a Silver Appleyard, although it does look like you could have a Silver Appleyard cross, the darker one.

But they really don't look like they are 4-5 weeks old . How old are these pictures? In the pictures they look about one to two weeks old, no more than that . If the breeder is saying they are 4-5 weeks old and they need to be kept on chick crumb for another 4 weeks then that will make then 8-9 weeks before they move on to growers pellets, which is WAY too old. They need to be on growers at about 3/4 weeks onwards, until about 18-20 weeks when they can move onto layers or breeders pellets, depending on the sex.

It is important for them to have growers from 3 weeks onwards as they need it for their joints. Duckling crumb is just protein based to get them through their first few weeks, the growers has all the things needed for healthy joints and development.

Make sure it is duckling or waterfowl crumb, not chick crumb you are giving them. Chick crumb usually has a Coccidiosis vaccine in it. But as ducklings eat more than chicks, they can over dose on it and can lead to fatal side effects.

 

Don't feel silly about asking questions, everyone has to start somewhere. It shows you care about the welfare of the ducklings in your care .

 

xx

[tara]

At about 3 to 4 weeks they will start to feather up they do look young like steve said about a week or so.Did you manage to find a stockist near you l know how it can be hard at first.Ask any questions you want trust l have done and still do.

[Duck-Noob]

Maybe I was mistaken he might have said keep them on the crumb till 4-5 weeks,

so there 2 weeks old at the minute then so I keep them on the crumb till another 3 weeks then the growers pellets. I need to find a place to buy the growers pellets but am not having much luck to be honest even if I have to pay postage I will still buy it from some place, any advice on that appreciated, Next questions while i am on a roll

 

1) I decided to segragate a section of the garden off for the ducks when there old enough to go out there can anyone advise how high i must make the barrier ? i was hoping to use edging if possible and when i went to b&q that is 300mm high so will that be high enough to keep them in?

 

2) Iam also going to build some sort of pond for them what size does that need to be and how deep for 2 ducks bearing in mind i might possibly get a couple more if all goes well.

 

3) Is it neccesary for the enclosure to be fully enclosed we dont have foxes here the main threat might be seagulls but i am not sure they would attack or not ? The place they sleep or lay will of course be covered I was more thinking of the run, I see the eglu run is covered up so thats why i asked.

 

4) When i segregate the section of garden off i plan to lay down some sort of chipping bark or otherwise can anyone tell me whats best for that also?

 

5) At what age is best to let them outside in the new home?

 

6) Finally (for now anyway ) any ideas for a budget duck house for them as i mentioned earlier i cant afford a eglu at this time I may even make my own, If so what sort of size would be best for the 2 ducks or if anyone has any alternative ideas as what to use as there home please let me know

 

 

 

P.S heres a picture of them swimming in garden today while i was busy pulling up bushes and re-planting to make there space

They seem quite content at the minute

Idid notice the one with the black markings has a slight tuft of white on its head (see photo)when i feel it closer its like a small lump,when i was looking around the breeder there was some ducks with plooms on their heads is it possible mine will have too ?

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn154/ftm2008/06062008325.jpg

 

 

Thanks for now

Steve

[tara]

I would start to get them on growers from 3 weeks as they can have growth problems just mix a little in as the days go by.Did you not have any luck with the stocist l put on if not most horse places will sell it.As for pond l wont be able to answer that one as using a great big tub.

[Duck-Noob]

Stockist you put on never had any stockists near to me

I will keep looking i am sure i will find one

[Lewis]

6) Finally (for now anyway ) any ideas for a budget duck house for them as i mentioned earlier i cant afford a eglu at this time.

 

I have my chickens in a wendy house which cost £100.

It was like this

A normal shed would do too!

[Lesley]

Stockist you put on never had any stockists near to me

I will keep looking i am sure i will find one

 

We use unmedicated chick crumb as we can't easily get hold of duck feed - and then they move on to organic growers or layers pellets the same as we give to the hens and table birds.

 

A dog kennel would make a good duck house - you don't need much height. A nice flat floor and a ramp if there is any step at all for them to get into the house.

[tara]

Im so sorry there is not one near you what a pain .As long as its unmedicated then it will be fine it will say unmedicated on the bag if it is.Let us know how you get on

[Duck-Noob]

Started to clear an area in the garden for the ducks and i plan to have the pond finished today all being well

 

if anyone can advise as to how high to make the enclosure please be much appreciated although that will probably be next week till i get round to that part of the project.

I never thought there would be as much work to do to accomodate 2 ducks hehehe but its all fun anyway I,m enjoying it

Will post some pics later charting progress if anyones interested

[Egluntyne]

Will post some pics later charting progress if anyones interested

 

'Course we are.

[Duck-Noob]

New post started charting progress thansk for all the help here

[mayflower]

Oh dear, I should never had come onto ducks. Brings back happy memories. One of your ducklings looks like an aylesbury. They grow really big, tall and wide. So, when you make your duck 'ark' make sure you make it big enough. I agree with others, they look much younger than 4 weeks old.

[rusky123]

They are georgeous!, you are very lucky to have them.As for a pond filtration system, I use a green genie from Lotus .Fab. Water is as clear as a bell, as a bonus I get a waterfall and a fountain. Wash the filters once a week, bought better filters and swap them over.