lisatheduck Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Hello everyone, I'm new here and have just become 'Mum' to 11 orphan call ducklings (around 7-10 days old). ...and although the RSPCA said I was doing fine, I'm panicking! I've spoken with a really kind man at the Call Duck Association, and I now have them under a lamp, being fed chicken crumb with the odd bit of egg yolk, and they are doing brilliantly. I'm going to get them their own eglu cube, but need advice about a run? I have lots of space, but live on a river in the counrty so lots of predators, too! I would like to build a big run for them, or perhaps fence a bit of garden off? Does anyone have any thoughts or advice? How much exercise should I give them? Apparently they should go in their eglu when they get feathers - does anyone know when this will be? So sorry for posting a million questions, but all advice gratefully received! I have ordered some books, but am flying a bit blind until they arrive! Thanks so much for your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Is the eglu cube suitable for ducks as it has a set of stairs they need to go up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisatheduck Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 Hi Louise, Yes - you're right - I've been discussing this with James at Omlet, and we're looking at adapting the stairs into a ramp, or just taking the wheels off so it's free-standing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 ahhhh now it makes sense There are pictures of large runs in the gallery a few people have managed them - not me Are you planning to have the river for access as well as that many ducks will make alot of mess with a water bath in a run Lesley is your person to ask as she has a couple of Cambells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisatheduck Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 Hello Louise, Yes - the river will be the best palce for the ducklings to have a swim when they get big enough - having read through everyone's experiences on the forum I don't fancy mucking out the bath after 11 of them have been in it!! I've been warned that they may all take off down the river and may never come back but I can't clip their wings becaue I'd be too worried that it would make them vulnerable to predators. I have no way to cordon off a bit of the river - do you have any experience of this kind of thing? I know they will imprint on me, but I don't know if they will stay with me when they get older? Maybe I have to just resign myself to raising them and waving them off?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 20, 2007 Share Posted April 20, 2007 I think that unless you can section off a part of the river than they will probably just disappear. A large run could be the answer, but then you'll need to provide water and empty the dirty water every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisatheduck Posted April 20, 2007 Author Share Posted April 20, 2007 Hi Lesley, Yes, I think you're right Ah well - at least we will have given them a good start, and maybe they might come back for some food and shelter?? I'll have an empty eglu too - so I could fill it with chickens, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 20, 2007 Share Posted April 20, 2007 That sounds like a brilliant idea to me Were the ducks living in the wild or have you been asked to adopt them? It may be better to let them go when they are old enough if they were from the wild - or to try to rehome them if they are garden ducks. Have you tried the Practical Poultry forum? www.practicalpoultry.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisatheduck Posted April 20, 2007 Author Share Posted April 20, 2007 They were living in the wild on the river - but we're such a soft touch that all the wild ducks know if they come and quack outside the kitchen window they get fed! Because of this, they tend to float around quite close to the house, and we watch the ducklings grow up and then return with the new batch. That's what happened with these - their mum brought them upto the house to be fed, and have a forage around in the garden, but there were 4 drakes that were pestering her the whole time (that time of year, I'm afraid ) and then she just disappeared, and the ducklings kept 'doing the circuit' they had with their mum, but no sign of her. We (and the RSPCA inspector) think that she must have drowned or been killed by the drakes, and although I don't normally interfere, I couldn't watch the ducklings die, so here we are!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 20, 2007 Share Posted April 20, 2007 Aaaahhhh!!! you're making an excellent job of it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisatheduck Posted April 20, 2007 Author Share Posted April 20, 2007 Ahh - thanks Lesley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
