Chicken boarders

[helsbels]

Hello All - I have been lurking around here for a while and have finally decided to take the plunge and order some ducks to add to my flock of girls

 

2 black indian runners are currently reserved in an incy for me - Ive gleaned lots of info off the forums and internet but still have a couple of questions if anyone can help

 

The girls palace is a big converted garden shed which has hemcore on the floor which gets cleaned every day - would a deep corner of hemcore be OK for the runners to sleep and lay - or would they turn up their beaks at it ! I dont really want to introduce straw because of mites - havent had them up till now and dont want to start !

 

Also - the girls pellet feeder is hanging in the shed and they have access to it at any time - do ducks have free access to their feed or do they have set dinner times !? They will be sharing a big walk in run (with shallow paddling pool for the quackers) and free ranging in the afternoons and at weekends. Cant free range all the time because of fantastic mr. fox.

 

I'm hoping they learn from the girls and put themselves to bed - ho ho

 

any advice would be brilliant - I am so excited !

[Blues08]

I think they'll be happy with the hem, and feeding ad lib is fine, grit is good, plus a few afternoon treats (my buffs have taken a real liking to blueberries!!)

 

You may have a challenge at bedtime, but you never know

 

Carl

[Chucky1]

Hi helsbels

 

Agree I wouldn't bother with the straw.

 

Presamably there is water available with the pellets too?

The shed is secure from preditors?

 

Are the new ducks to mix with your existing girls in the WIR from day1?

 

Best of Luck

[jayjay]

Hi there

 

Can't comment on bedding as my girls have straw. I have a dog dish out all day with pellets and mixed grain in it. they only go near it when it is filled up with water even though I have a water dish right next to it. I find that putting a wee drop food down in the morning and then have a 't time' is good as they come running for it and can then be put in! bribery works with ducks

 

good luck - you'll luv em

 

JJ

[tom123]

 

The girls palace is a big converted garden shed which has hemcore on the floor which gets cleaned every day - would a deep corner of hemcore be OK for the runners to sleep and lay - or would they turn up their beaks at it ! I dont really want to introduce straw because of mites - haven't had them up till now and dont want to start !

 

I wouldn't use hemcore personally, ducks tend to shovel about in their bedding and this could either get stuck in their nostrils or they might eat it. Ducks can't get red mite so it's probably safer to go for straw as it will minimise the risk of them eating it! Are they to live with the chickens in the same shed? This isn't really advisable as ducks go to bed wet and get the bedding wet which can cause respiratory problems in chooks and also the chickens will poop on the ducks at night as ducks can't perch but will sit under the chickens perches

 

Also - the girls pellet feeder is hanging in the shed and they have access to it at any time - do ducks have free access to their feed or do they have set dinner times !? They will be sharing a big walk in run (with shallow paddling pool for the quackers) and free ranging in the afternoons and at weekends. Cant free range all the time because of fantastic mr. fox.

Ducks should have free access to layers pellets and they need to be fed in a large, heavy dog bowl so they can't tip it over. They also need their water to be next to their feed as they need to drink after eating to help it go down! Will they be in the same run as the chickens?? Again, I wouldn't advise this. Firstly, the chickens will bully them like they would new hens and the ducks can't really peck back so could just be continuously bullied. What's on the floor of the WIR? If it is something like hemcore/shavings then this will need to be changed as stated earlier, they will try and eat it! Also, is the paddling pool a blow-up one? If so, this could be dangerous as the duck's claws could pop the pool and this could, for obvious reasons, be dangerous. A large tub trug or hard sand pit is ideal

 

I'm hoping they learn from the girls and put themselves to bed - ho ho

 

When you get the ducks, pop them in their house and leave them in until the next morning. This will help to get them to bed the next day although you will still have to probably chase them around the pen! A torch hung in the house works well.

 

 

 

Good luck with them, any more questions just ask