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

[Kristeen]

Hi there, I am just new to having ducks, I have 2, they are about 12 weeks old now, I have had them since they were 4/5 weeks old, they are doing really well quite shy with new people but they seemed to be getting used to me, however, when I was putting there cleaned out water tub back in one went for me biting at my hand I got a little fright as it was out of the blue, it has since hissed and went for me again but I am aware it might do it again and I make sure the situation does not arise, this is a shame as I was hoping to let them out of the eglu run into the garden but am concerned at its behaviour, the other one has never done anything, is it possibly a territory thing?. Also I feed them something everyday and they have there pellet food all day to eat if they want am I feeding them too much? should I make a point of picking them up as I have only done this once? I think they are white campbells but not sure would add a photo but cant see how to??lol. Does anybody else put them on bark instead of the grass as they are starting to make holes in my grass?. sorry for all the random questions, when you try and find anything on the net they only tell you how to cook them and which sauce...Ahhhh.

 

Thanks

[foreveryoung]

do you know if they are male of female, you might have a lil boy in the ranks?

 

one of my call ducks (boy) are nibbly and my 2 indian runners are very nibbly but thats prob my falt as the have a lil treat and i give it to them by hand as I want them to be happy to come near me. they have had more treats recently but I am worming all my birds (the migle during the day)

 

maybe try to andle them a lil bit more? if he/she nips pick her up straight away as in saying Im the boss not you?

 

 

donno it that will work?

 

good luck

 

Emma

x

[Kristeen]

thanks for the quick reply, I think I might have a boy and a girl one has a different noise almost a honk, waiting for the tail to curl to find out for sure, am I supposed to give them stuff to prevent worms? I will try and pick them up more and see if that helps.

 

thanks

[foreveryoung]

Hi there is a way of sexing them but you said that he makes a different sound? is it like a rasping sound (rasp, rasp etc)

 

I ues flubenvet(from the vet), it comes in 240g tubs and it will last me forever!!! I dought you will need to worm them yet! Ive only done it as they mix alot of the time with my hens.

 

It doesnt hurt when the ducks nip (well I dont think so) so I just pick him up,

 

hope that helps

[Lesley]

Hi Kristeen

 

Girl ducks make more noise than boy ducks.

 

If you have a look at the Practical Poultry forum you will find loads of info. - much more than just how to prepare an orange sauce!

[Duckmomma]

Hissing and honking

Sounds more like a goose

My runner sometimes gets a bit funny with my six year old grandaughter, but it's painless and my grandaughter just laughs at her and pushes her away.

I think picking him up is a good idea, carry him around as much as you can so he knows you are boss.

If you can't cure him of it will the breeder take him back and give you another one?

To be honest there is no enjoyment to be had from keeping an aggresive pet and it could eventually put you off wanting to have anything to do with them other than keeping them fed watered and clean.

 

It is fortunate that he is a duck not a goose, as a goose does hurt

Even an affectionate nibble from our Gander can hurt if he accidently gets hold of a bit of skin, he doesn't mean to hurt he just don't realise we have no feathers to preen so sometimes tries to preen our skin Ouch!!!!!!

 

I hope you can resolve the problem, tho I do think that if the bird is a drake and the other one a female you are likely to have aggression problems from him each breeding season, and his attentions may be too much for one lone duck to cope with, you may need to add another duck to share the burden

[Kristeen]

Thanks for all your help, I have tried to attach photos to see if my ducks are campbells? hope it works.

 

 

 

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/kristeen_album/

[Duckmomma]

I am no expert

But they look like white Campbells to me

Very nice ducks, they look quite happy in their Ducklu

Wish I could afford one for my runner, but then I'm not sure if the run is high enough for her.

She has become a bit of a beast over the last few days

She is moulting wich can make them a bit grumpy, she has not been laying for a while and has taken to spending the whole day sitting on a mound of grass cuttings outside the back door.

I am thinking BROODY?

But after the way she pinched me on the arm yesterday (which is very out of charactor for her) I am also thinking crispy Duck

[Kristeen]

Glad you think they are white campbells to, was beginning to wonder. The ducklu is great for them although they can stand tall and flap there wings and have enough space but I feel that they need more room shortly, they feel safe that they can hide in there house if anything scares them. Does your ducks roam freely though the day? I am worried about letting them out and about in the garden, will need to sort out chicken wire first, will I need to cut there feathers or generally do they not fly?.

 

naughty duck nipping you!! orange sauce sounds about right..lol..

 

thanks again for your help

 

Kristeen

xx

[Duckmomma]

She roams the garden with our Gander, but it's very risky as we do have lot's of foxes round here, but the only alternative is to make her stay indoors all day (she was raised as a house duck)

I don't want to do that, I feel she needs the fresh air and sunshine during the day.

I am not sure how well campbells can fly so not sure if you should clip the wings.

I do my birds, more to prevent them from going over the fence into the road or next doors dog rather than flying off.

I know my goose would never fly off and not try to come back as the imprint in geese is so strong, but I am not 100% sure about the duck

[foreveryoung]

I am no expert

But they look like white Campbells to me

Very nice ducks, they look quite happy in their Ducklu

Wish I could afford one for my runner, but then I'm not sure if the run is high enough for her.

She has become a bit of a beast over the last few days

She is moulting wich can make them a bit grumpy, she has not been laying for a while and has taken to spending the whole day sitting on a mound of grass cuttings outside the back door.

I am thinking BROODY?

But after the way she pinched me on the arm yesterday (which is very out of charactor for her) I am also thinking crispy Duck

 

my 2 indian runners are happy in the eglu, they seem to have enough hight, the do need to "duck" tho to get through the door but that doesnt seem to bother them lol

[Kristeen]

my duck is playing up again, last night I opened the eglu run door to put there bath tub thing back in and it stood there with its head trembling/shaking as if it was really angry then it ran for me trying to bite me, I chased it back into the run and shut the door, then I thought this is no fun cleaning, feeding and looking after to be then attacked, I know it would not be sore but would not like it to go for a child which might get a real fright. As some of you advised me to pick it up to show it whose boss, I shooo'd it into the eglu by itself, opened the side door and brought it out held it firmly and gave it a talking to (hope no one heard me over the fence, ha ha) it would not even look at me, its heart was racing so i clapped it until its heart rate calmed down, spoke quietly to it and knelt down so it could see its buddy, both of them never made a peep, will have to see if this helps or not. Its funny as it is perfect when I am opening the door with food.

[foreveryoung]

my duck is playing up again, last night I opened the eglu run door to put there bath tub thing back in and it stood there with its head trembling/shaking as if it was really angry then it ran for me trying to bite me, I chased it back into the run and shut the door, then I thought this is no fun cleaning, feeding and looking after to be then attacked, I know it would not be sore but would not like it to go for a child which might get a real fright. As some of you advised me to pick it up to show it whose boss, I shooo'd it into the eglu by itself, opened the side door and brought it out held it firmly and gave it a talking to (hope no one heard me over the fence, ha ha) it would not even look at me, its heart was racing so i clapped it until its heart rate calmed down, spoke quietly to it and knelt down so it could see its buddy, both of them never made a peep, will have to see if this helps or not. Its funny as it is perfect when I am opening the door with food.

 

good luck!! Im sure with a bit of persaverence (sp?) he will get the idea!

[Kristeen]

Hi there, just an update to my aggresive duck, after I picked it up the last time and gave it a talking to it has never went for me at all or even hissed, think it may have got the message, also last week the other ducks tail has started to curl, so I am guessing I have a boy and a girl, so it was the girl who was attacking me all this time and the quite boy had been behaving himself.

 

Just thought I'd update you.

 

Thanks

 

Kristeen

[foreveryoung]

Hi there, just an update to my aggresive duck, after I picked it up the last time and gave it a talking to it has never went for me at all or even hissed, think it may have got the message, also last week the other ducks tail has started to curl, so I am guessing I have a boy and a girl, so it was the girl who was attacking me all this time and the quite boy had been behaving himself.

 

Just thought I'd update you.

 

Thanks

 

Kristeen

 

awwwww glad the duck has got the point lol

[Kristeen]

Hi everybody, just an update on my ducks, since my last post both my ducks tails have curls so I have two boys, he has been on quite good behaviour with me since his last attack and since they are in a bigger enclosure they seem happier, only now cant get them off the paddling pool to go to bed at night, dont think it would be wise to leave them out all night I have a plastic garden rake I use as an extended arm to guide them in but they get annoyed at having to come off the water, I have noticed the one that would normally bite me has been bullying the other boy is this normal or is it just his aggressive nature, I know that most things have a pecking order, will they be happy together or do you think its best to have one of each.

 

thanks

 

Kristeen

[foreveryoung]

Hi everybody, just an update on my ducks, since my last post both my ducks tails have curls so I have two boys, he has been on quite good behaviour with me since his last attack and since they are in a bigger enclosure they seem happier, only now cant get them off the paddling pool to go to bed at night, dont think it would be wise to leave them out all night I have a plastic garden rake I use as an extended arm to guide them in but they get annoyed at having to come off the water, I have noticed the one that would normally bite me has been bullying the other boy is this normal or is it just his aggressive nature, I know that most things have a pecking order, will they be happy together or do you think its best to have one of each.

 

thanks

 

Kristeen

 

i dont know if i said before that ive acuired 2 boy call ducks. ones stupid but other will bite if picked up. i think it might just be normal boy behaivior. they seem happy enough.if you wanted one of each i would surggest (from what ive been told) to have more girls then boys, as when its thr right season then the boy gose nuts.