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

[Space Chick]

4 ducks have turned up at my friends house, she thought they might have been "passing through" but they have now installed themselves in her pond (she has a fabulous garden with a stream running through and a pond).

 

She wants to keep them (if they want to stay), but hasn't a clue what to feed them (although she's looking into housing).

 

Without sounding like a complete numpty (as I am a chicken only kind of girl), what would you advise my friend?

[Lesley]

Well, she obviously needs an Eglu

 

.....and she can feed them with layers pellets from a shallow dog bowl - they need to scoop feed up with their bills, noy peck like hens. If she feeds them then they may stay.

[Space Chick]

So chicken layers pellets will do the job?

 

I have told her she needs an Eglu

 

Thanks Lesley

[Lesley]

You can get feed for waterfowl but we just use the hens pellets.

[Guest]

We feed the wild mallards the chickens layers pellets , they are not fussy and suprisingly a very tiny duck can manage the pellets. If she feeds them I am sure they will 100% stay! But ours disappear during the winter and then they all come back in the spring as its mayhem and we then get loads more ducklings. If I feed mine bread on the pond they are actually frightened of the bread as the pellets is much preferred on land!

 

If they are safe on the pond ie its deep they are probably safe from Mr Fox, ideal if they will go in for their own safety into an eglu...really just to stop the fox having them is the biggest concern. You will have to herd them in and probably tempt them with food, and hand feed them with patience.

 

On water they should be fine if its deep and wide pond etc.

 

Am sure they will be very at home..I have 5 chickens and get through layers pellets a lot faster at this time of year due to the wild ducks(not my chickens)

 

Keep us posted & hope they stay

 

indie

[Space Chick]

Well her OH bought them some layers pellets and they are a success

 

The Pond is a decent size and is deep, so hopefully they are safe.

 

We're all hoping they stay as her toddler has become really attached to them already

 

Where do yours lay Indie? Does my friend need a nesting box for them?

[Guest]

Hi

 

I dont house the wild mallards we have open fields/woods and hedges around the pond etc

 

I say a very natural environment, like most animlas etc they are only interested in us humans for food so thats when they come down. When my kids were small if I left the back door open or our lounge patio doors I ofen would find them in my house..they will come in a poop all over!

 

Anyhow I dont take eggs from them at all, even with intervention ie us feeding them they still have their wild instincts and will revert quite eaasily back to their natural behaviour. You could put a duck island on your friends pond..you could make one?? Forsham Cottage arks use to sell them but v expensive. Just as an idea as an island will keep them safe at night from foxy.

 

However I have had ducks nesting outside my front door in the bushes..the female mallard hides the eggs under lots of her down. They are really hard to find..and she is well camouflaged when she sits on them about 32 days.

 

if it was me I would keep feeding them and hand feed them for the little child to see but honestly I am sure they will hang around if the facilities are good and will return for breeding season next year(if you think they have gone am sure they will come back). Even the wild ones come down to my house at the same times every day...

 

good luck

indie