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

[OverWyreGrower]

OK, I appreciate that a lot of these will have been asked a million times!!

 

This is the first time I've ever owned ducks (and I've only had my chickens for a year!) There doesn't seem to be a lot of info about Khaki Campbells around, so I'm assuming that basic duck care is the same regardless of breed...

I'm in the process of registering on the Practical Poultry forum as well!

 

OK, here goes!

 

1) How long should the babies stay on growers pellets for? They are currently 5 weeks old.

2) At what age can they be reliably sexed? They were bought for us as all ducks, but I understand that sexing is only reliable after a certain age.

3) How old will they be before they start laying eggs?

4) Can you recommed any good, basic books about looking after ducks?

5) They are currently living in a rabbit hutch and run, until we can get a duck house. Overnight we put them back in the hutch (which has sawdust and hay in it) and during the day they are in the run (6ft by 3ft) with a washing up bowl full of water, a box to sleep in, a plastic igloo thing to sleep in, and their food. Is this ok for the time being? They'd have to double in size to be too big for the hutch or run at the moment...

6) Do I only have to start feeding them grit when they start laying? Our chickens get crushed oyster shell... is this ok for ducks too?

 

OK, I'll stop now, I'm sure I'll have some more questions later!

[Lesley]

Practical Poultry forum will have plenty of Khaki Cambell owners - but you're right, duck care is the same for most of the breeds.

 

1) How long should the babies stay on growers pellets for? They are currently 5 weeks old.

Not sure - we've only raised ducklings with their mother so the feed has been layers

 

 

2) At what age can they be reliably sexed? They were bought for us as all ducks, but I understand that sexing is only reliable after a certain age.

We've only been able to tell when the tail feathers curl - which is quite late.

 

3) How old will they be before they start laying eggs?

Around 20 weeks I think........same as hens, but there can be quite a variation.

 

4) Can you recommed any good, basic books about looking after ducks?

Starting with Ducks - Katie Thear

 

5) They are currently living in a rabbit hutch and run, until we can get a duck house. Overnight we put them back in the hutch (which has sawdust and hay in it) and during the day they are in the run (6ft by 3ft) with a washing up bowl full of water, a box to sleep in, a plastic igloo thing to sleep in, and their food. Is this ok for the time being? They'd have to double in size to be too big for the hutch or run at the moment...

It's best not to use hay for any poultry - hay is for feed for larger animals - straw is for bedding. Hay can cause impacted crop in poultry.

 

6) Do I only have to start feeding them grit when they start laying? Our chickens get crushed oyster shell... is this ok for ducks too?

Grit is used to help poultry crush up their food - they need grit to do this. The oyster shell is only needed to help form strong shells so you won't need any yet.