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

[rachel2390]

Hello everyone. I would like to introduce myself and our 2 new Aylesbury ducks (16 weeks). They joined the family yesterday and are just getting used to their new surroundings!!

This is the first time I have ever kept ducks and any advice/info about their care would be greatly appreciated. I have done as much research as I can on the web and the Omlet website is very informative but sometimes talking to others about their own experiences can be really helpful.

Martha & Davina (as named by 10 year old daughter) seem to be settling into their new environment ok but I would like to ask some advice about their general behaviour whilst they are settling in.

They have an enclosed spot at the bottom of the garden and I have got them a ark to sleep in and found a plastic sandpit from Argos which I have filled and made a small ramp up to.

However, since their arrival they seem to like sitting under the beech bushes and although they are sticking their heads in the water they have not yet ventured up the ramp!! I couldn't get them into the ark last night and they are not really showing much interest in it but the weather isn't too bad at the moment and they are sheltering under the beech bushes.

A couple of things I would like ask.....

I knew they were going to poo a lot before I got them but it is really runny. Is this normal or are they maybe still a little distressed about their new surroundings?

I was thinking about putting a layer of bark under the beech bushes as they seem to like it under there and it might be easier to collect their droppings! Is bark ok for them?

I don't want to make a big issue of them going in the ark every night as we are in a fairly built up area with high fencing all around...will they eventually go and have a nosey do you think? As they are still new I don't want to upset them further by chasing them round the garden to try and catch them!! They make a bee line straight under the bushes anyway!

Thank you in anticipation of any advice/help to a complete newbie!!

Regards, Rachel

[Guest]

HI

 

Duck poo can be very tarry and tacky(its like waterproof if that makes sense or can be)

Ducks are not like chickens and will need some encouragement to go to bed otherwise they will stay out. I would still be concerned about foxes(my aunt lives in london and she gets them there)

As long as they have pellets and water that will be fine. They are quite a hefty breed Aylesburys so are not likely to be whizzing around they are a bit cumbersome.

They adore snails and if you can find any in your garden the will swallow them whole(you can see them disappearing in their necks). My neighbour use to collect them for mine and they use to chase each other for them.

 

Good luck...... the original donald duck...Aylesbury

 

indie

[rachel2390]

HI

 

Duck poo can be very tarry and tacky(its like waterproof if that makes sense or can be)

Ducks are not like chickens and will need some encouragement to go to bed otherwise they will stay out. I would still be concerned about foxes(my aunt lives in london and she gets them there)

As long as they have pellets and water that will be fine. They are quite a hefty breed Aylesburys so are not likely to be whizzing around they are a bit cumbersome.

They adore snails and if you can find any in your garden the will swallow them whole(you can see them disappearing in their necks). My neighbour use to collect them for mine and they use to chase each other for them.

 

Good luck...... the original donald duck...Aylesbury

 

indie

 

 

Thanks very much for your reply indie. I really appreciate any advice given on this forum!

They seem contented under the bushes and are eating well. They have just had some chopped up spinach and grated carrot with their pellets this evening which they really devoured!! And they ate the chopped up crusts off my daughter's brown wholemeal sandwiches this morning.... I was just concerned as their poo was very very runny!!

Is there anything I can do to try and encourage them into the ark without upsetting them by chasing them round the garden?? (Without success I may add) but I will try again tonight!!

[Guest]

When mine were young I became a slave to mash potatoes! they love them!

but the only thing you could do is put a little dish of food into their house or just pick them up and post them in(just stand above them and hold their wings to their sides and post them in, they will usually follow one and other.

 

Once it gets too dark they just will not go in...sounds like they are doing fine

 

indie

[rachel2390]

Thanks again indie for your reply. I made mashed potato last night!! Will definitely remember for next time though as I always make too much and feel obliged to eat it all!!

Great excitement here though as Davina has just used the paddling pool for the first time (I think!) Unfortunately my daughter was that excited and rushed to the bottom of the garden and she promptly leapt out!! It is so nice to watch them preening themselves and I have a few little treats lined up for them tonight to hopefully encourage them into the ark!!

[bessandra]

Hi Rachel

Welcome to the forum!

I too am Rachel and have successfully reared 3 khaki campbells to the grand age of 6 weeks! They are a real pleasure. You and your daughter will have much pleasure from martha and davina. I cant help much with advice for slightly older ducklings ut I'm willing to share what I can. It looks like Indie is on the case with you and she is a super-dooper expert!

 

Rachel

[Lesley]

Hello all

 

I think that feed isn't too much of a problem as long as you aren't breeding them. Layers and Growers are similar enough for it to not matter once they are a few weeks old.