grunger Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Hi, We've posted various Call Duckling 'Help!' kind of posts on here recently....as they're very new and strange and fragile to us, and obviously we want to help them survive! Thanks loads to those who've posted helpful stuff already Re other bits. The ducklings (3 survivors - 2 really strong, and 1 with some apparent leg problems who falls over a bit, legs seem to collapse after it's got from A to B, and he generally sits down alot...keeping a close eye on him) are just one week old, and definitely growing but are tiny. We're now just trying to plan roughly when we may be able to let them out of the fox proof wire run into the rest of the garden with the other ducks? (Partly because of inpatience, and partly because of planning duck-care around holidays in JUly.) -At what age are Calls likely big/strong enough to not fall victim to crows/magpies/seagulls? We have a lot of them around in the trees above. BUt we could potentially let them out under our watchful eye at first I guess? -And at what age would they likely be able to survive direct contact with the other 3 adult ducks? I think someone may have mentioned 3 weeks previously.....? I know it's not set in stone - but any further guidance appreciated! Generally they are tough little independent ducks, having been raised by their mother and having run straight out onto the pond on day 2. But they have got to the stage in last couple of days where they're really eager to get out further, and the mother is also eager to get onto bigger grass areas I think. Tried letting the mother duck out and keeping ducklings in, but they got so distressed without her, and started trying to jump through chicken wire...and she came running back pretty quick! Many many thanks for any helpful stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 I don't have any call ducks - just Campbells and an Indian Runner, I'm sure others with call ducks will be along with info. soon. We put ours in the same run ,but separated by netting, at 6 weeks old and didn't introduce them to the big ducks until they were quite a bit older Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted June 18, 2010 Share Posted June 18, 2010 Hi sorry i dont have calls either but if you have a drake i dont put mine with the older ducks until they are at least 16 weeks as he wont care what age they are he will try and get jiggy with them leanne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Hi grunger, I've only kept campbells but when we hatched them out we introduced them to the parents way too early. The drake was a nightmare attacking them. We housed them outside away from the others at approx 5-6 weeks but waited til they were sexually mature before mixing them together (approx 16 weeks). James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grunger Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 Many thanks to those who've posted replies - info is a great help. But crikey....didn't realise it'd be so long! 16 weeks eh. But it does makes sense....it's just a bit of a logistical nightmare some mornings when it's change over time (we have one big run and an eglu cube which kind of get rotated between adult ducks and littluns', and the adult ducks create poo-chaos overnight in the run it seems! ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 I think the people who have replied are people who have hatched ducks artificially so didn't have a mother duck to protect them. I have and I let mum duck out with the 4 ducklings with their dad and he was really good. They were 2 1/2 weeks old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Hi Today up at my pond (tons of mallards etc) was a call duck with her brand new ducklings. But they have their mother to protect them etc and keep them warm at night etc The crow was hovering to day in my garden and a lot are lost to them, they will pick small ducklings up and fly off with them. I wouldnt let them out with the other ducks if they have no mother until some of their flight feathers in a good amount show through and they are more robust. Ducklings can tolerate a good duck peck but are probably too small at the moment. I dont know how long it takes for call ducks to mature but the wild mallards are eight weeks total when they will fly and are fully adult feathered. I know the weather is warm but they do need some adult feathers on. Call ducks are very pretty but more nervous too which probably isnt a bad thing. Good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 i have been very lucky so far Donald sat by Daisy ( min silver appleyard)s every day while she was sitting the little ones are now 10 days old and went out onto the pond on day 4 (they escaped while i was out never thought they would jump so high) and both parents are very protective of them, we also have crows got my hubby to cross string over the pond area about 7 foot high so hopfully they will not be able to swoop in, this is where they stay most of the day they are such a joy to watch learning to dive under the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
