HELP aggressive chicken

[caz & Graham]

Hi - I'm sorry if this is a stupid question(s) but this is our first attempt with ducks! We are looking at getting an eglu for 2 ducks (most likely 2 female aylesburys or cambells) but we are concerned that it doesn't look very big for them to be in overnight?

 

Also, when you say to lock them up at night does that mean locked in the run or actually locked in the eglu (seems a bit harsh!), especially in the winter time when it gets dark mid afternoon?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[mayflower]

Hi, I used to keep aylesbury ducks several years ago. I think I can honestly say that, the eglu is not big enough for these ducks. We got our darlings as chicks, and Hubby made a duck ark using measurements given by a duck expert. The first few weeks, the ducklings looked lost in this ginormous ark....but believe me, they soon grew into it. There was just enough room for our two to squat and stand up in. Aylesburys are tall when stood up straight and quite wide when adult. So I think it might be a case of.....out with the wood, hammer and nails!!! Have fun with your ducks. I sooo love 'em!

[Lesley]

We had two White Campbells in an Eglu - are they smaller than Aylesburys?

 

They were fine in the Eglu - we took the roosting bars out and put straw on the floor. We had a run and run extension and we didn't close the door to the Eglu.

 

They seem to be awake all night anyway

 

(we have 4 ducks now - in a different ark - and in a long run)

[caz & Graham]

Thanks both of you - ooooh now we have a dilemma! We are veering towards making something bigger I must admit (I suppose if I'm honest the eglu is so cool I really want one but the ducks have to be happy in it so hey ho!).

 

We plan to let them out to wander the garden when we are around and probably when we're at work once settled in so they would be out most of the time.

 

Gosh there is so much to learn! Mind you we can't wait - we are more excited than children!!!

[mayflower]

I've just had a look on the net to see the size of white Campbells. Yes, they definately look smaller...more compact than Aylesburys. Aylesbury ducks are usually kept for their meat, not for their eggs, though of course you can eat their eggs. They are known to be 'table birds' so are much bigger and heavier than other ducks. So cute though.

[caz & Graham]

That's really useful to know - thanks a million. Looks like it could be campbells then!!

[Lesley]

Here's a photo of our drake

and the duck with her ducklings

 

Campbells are a great dual purpose bird - good for meat and eggs.

[ubereglu]

Aww, they're gorgeous Lesley!

 

When we originally got Muddles and Henrietta the chicken guy had lots of runner ducks, seemed they weren't as popular as the hens. He still has some lovely black ducks though...

[caz & Graham]

Awwww how cute are they??!!! They are gorgeous! The eglu looks bigger than we thought from that photo as well! Thanks again - I feel much better now!

 

Our books are coming tomorrow and the in laws arrive at the weekend to help duck proof (I should say escape proof) the garden so that they can be out as muh as possible (the ducks not the in-laws)! All we need then are the ducks. Had a chat with a really nice local farmer yesterday who's brother keeps ducks in Oswestry apparently and has a variety of breeds so hoping he will be able to sort us out.

 

We really can't wait! Do yours stay outside or do they wander in to the house sometimes??!!

[Lesley]

Ours are in a different house now as there are 4, but they tend to live outside and visit the house to lay eggs. Our oldest duck is sitting on eggs in there at the moment - I suspect she keeps gathering up the eggs that the other two are laying

[chelsea]

Lesley, those ducks are so perfect looking they almost dont look real!!

[Lesley]

They do look good don't they?

 

I can assure you that they are real! - they are in the background of the photo I took yesterday of Lauren and Jake with the hay we've been making and collecting. You can see the black Indian Runner as well I think - just about.......

 

(It's in a topic called The Good Life - in Nesting Box)

[mr mallard]

hi all

have recently ordered an eglu for my wife who has wanted ducks for ages and was told by omlet that an eglu would be fine for an aylesbury and two indian runners but having read this thread am now a little concerned it may not be large enough

any advice

[chelsea]

They do look good don't they?

 

I can assure you that they are real! - they are in the background of the photo I took yesterday of Lauren and Jake with the hay we've been making and collecting. You can see the black Indian Runner as well I think - just about.......

 

(It's in a topic called The Good Life - in Nesting Box)

 

aha, found it Lesley!

 

(but they still look like little statues in that photo!)