dorsetduck Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Hi We are now the proud new owners of 4 ducks . Being new to all this I have a few questions and would appreciate any advice or tips! 1) when/how do you get them their house at night? Will they go in at dusk or will we have to herd them in. 2) Do they need food/water in their house overnight? 3) When do you feed them? I was thinking layers pellets first thing, then a bit of corn in the afternoon. Do they need permanent access to pellets/how much should they be fed. They'll be outside all day with plenty of access to grass, the pond etc and have an area of about 15m x10m. Any advice greatly appreciated. Btw - they are White Cherry Valleys at POL. Thanks Nikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessandra Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Hi nikki I too am new to this but thought I'd say hi.I picked up my girls only today.I bought katie thears starting with ducks book.it's ok but I was hoping for more about rearing as my girls are only 3 days old.however,she does say to sprinkle corn in their house to get them to bed.she also said to feed layers in the morning and corn late afternoon so you are doing ok there I think!I didn't see anything about needing food or water overnight,but then nor do Chooks so that's probably correct.I think it said laying birds need about 150g a day but won't they just eat what they need? Sorry I'm not much help but I am learning!I have read every post on this forum,have you?I learned alot! Anyway,good luck.I hope all goes well and I'm sure we'll meet again! Night Rachel et al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Hi Nikki We feed layers ad lib but they eat about the same as the hens - our ducks have corn in the afternoon as well. Ours don't go to bed at night unless the weather is really bad but they are protected from foxes by electric fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorsetduck Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 Thanks. Ours seem completely bewildered at the moment. We opened the door at 9am and they didn't come out, we left them alone, thinking they'd venture out if we weren't around. They were still inside at 3pm!!! We chased them out and they are now in the far corner of the field, looking alert but don't seem to have found their food or water (although they have been in the pond a couple of times). Is this normal or are we doing something wrong? Nikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 They will probably take a few days to settle down - have a look on the Practical Poultry forum to read more about how others are behaving.............but I shouldn't think there is a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorsetduck Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 Hi Rachel & Lesley Thanks for your tips. They seem to be settling down now. They have found a favourite spot under the hedge and venture out occasionally!!! We're getting eggs - 1 or 2 per day from 4 ducks- which we're very excited about! Should they be fed in thier house or outside. We have a few phesants around and I don't want to start feeing the local wildlife! However , I've also heard that you shouldn't feed in the house - do you have any opinions? Thanks, again.....hopefully oneday I'll be able to answer questions and not just post them! Nikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 It will be best to feed them outside their house - ducks are very messy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Do you have a run for the ducks? Ours live in a ducklu with a run. It's easy enough to get them in the run at night, but they hardly ever go into the ducklu at night. They seem happy enough. Their food and water are in the run. The visiting pheasants eat the food in the chickens' run, when the chickens are free-ranging. The chickens eat the ducks' food (which is exactly the same pellets as we give the chickens). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 HI Ducks love snails if u can find any ....they will argue over these and gulp them down! whole Layers pellets that u give chickens is fine(not sure how old urs are)??Mine use to free range all day and only come back at night No u will have to put them in they will not go in at dusk if u r not around they will stay out in the dark..ours use to stay onour pond overnight Ducks are cute but a lot more of a tie than most other pets(dogs horses and now i have chickens cant believe how easy they are) Large wir probably essential & htey have to have water to put their heads under Def messy... They love mash potatoes if urs are quite young I had a big duck house with water container in it and gave them food just to get them in...but not sure what u do in omlet type house(but this was a forsham house) they are so messy..can see the advantage of cleaning ie eglu with ducks etc They dont perch either hope this helps indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
