Chick-a-doodle-doo Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Different types.. Easiest for novice to start with. Equipment needed eg pond? Feeding? and Housing??? Does anyone have simple advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 i started of with Indian runners, a ponds ideal but we used large under bed storage which worked well enough. food we used layers pellets but you do need to be careful as in some pellets theres an ingredients that could make ducks sick (someone else will tell you what its is as i cant remember, so youll need to read whats in the ingredients) my 4 used to sleep in the eglu with t the roosting bars removed...i do miss them as they were fab. i hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 The biggies are: 1 Security from predators 2 Water to drink and swim in 3 Food 4 Shelter We got our ducks as a surprise from a related nutcase and for three days we had to keep them in a trailer with a sheet of ply as a roof, letting them FR in a fenced off vegetable plot in the day. It was quite secure and I think they were sad to leave it when we had built them a house. As Emma says they can use an Eglu but their flappy feet wont get them up the ladder of a cube. So we built them a low level ventilated box which works fine. Emma has covered food. Water is the trick. They need a larger opening than chickens but if its too big they'll get in it and foul it. There are several threads on here about ponds. We used an old mortar mixing trough, with a plank as a ramp. They didn't really like the ramp and big Ed could not get out. So then we buried the trough. They loved it but we could not empty it easily. More trial and error to find out what suits you and them. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 I am a novice duck kepper too. I agree with chucky it's a wee bit of trial and error. We have a nice house with ramp for our 2 khaki campbells and also have the mortar mixing bath. We have fitted a plug and a pipe to ours and drain it into the nearby burn which is great. It needs emptying at least twice a week. We plan a pond for the summer. The biggest surprise for me was how adventurous my ducks are - they love to wander far and wide. We let them free range in the garden and burn and now the next door neighbours garden and the field at the bottom of the hill ...... Food - layers pellets and some mixed grain. If they enough room to roam they will feed themselves on slugs and beasties. I think the biggest point I would like to make is they are not an easy pet to have, they have baggage! Letting them out and putting them to bed, keeping water clean etc BUT they are fabulous fun and really good company/friendly. Good luck 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-a-doodle-doo Posted March 16, 2010 Author Share Posted March 16, 2010 Thank you, that's really useful info.. I have decided it's not for me yet and I'm sticking with my chickens.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Thank you, that's really useful info.. I have decided it's not for me yet and I'm sticking with my chickens.. Ducks are real cuties to look at but I had ducks first and now chickens and cant believe how so easy chickens are in comparison, however if they were really secure it probably would have worked easier for me. Mine were freerangers and due to this I was at their mercy for bedtime! I am a bit like you I will have ducks.... again.... one day (mind you I do have a whole load of mallards which have spent most of today asleep in my garden..I forgot about those so I sort of have them still)...indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
