jenuk99 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 I am appealing for help I teach in a school in Manchester and we have been trying to incubate call ducks in the classroom. We have had two batches of eggs and they have both been unsuccessful. We are on half term holiday and the children are expecting to come back to school to see some ducklings. I don't think they are going to hatch, as something should have happened by Wednesday this week. So does anybody have any spare ducklings they could donate to our school? I was originally hoping to keep the ducklings at home after we had finished with them at school. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenuk99 Posted May 25, 2007 Author Share Posted May 25, 2007 Does anyone know where I could buy ducklings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Im not really too sure Jen, i suppose you could have a look for poultry suppliers in your area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenuk99 Posted May 26, 2007 Author Share Posted May 26, 2007 Thanks for the suggestion I have found out there is a market in Chelford that may sell duclkings. I had three eggs with ducklings in which we could see when we calndled them at school. it is amazing to see them moving, had all the children excited. There has been no movement since last weekend and they should have hatched on Tuesday. Thanks for the help Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 Hello Jen - try the Practical Poultry forum...... www.practicalpoultry.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runnerducklover Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 Thanks for the suggestion I have found out there is a market in Chelford that may sell duclkings. I had three eggs with ducklings in which we could see when we calndled them at school. it is amazing to see them moving, had all the children excited. There has been no movement since last weekend and they should have hatched on Tuesday.Thanks for the help Jen Personally id advoid that market for a while!! Piece from DEFRA for u!! DEFRA Press Release Today at 15:05:24 4. As part of the tracing exercise, and epidemiological investigation, Defra would like to hear from anyone, who has not already been contacted by Animal Health officials, who has: • Purchased from or supplied to Chelford Market in Cheshire on Monday 7 May 2007 or • Any poultry keeper who visited Chelford Market on this date whose birds have subsequently become ill. • These people should contact their local Animal Health Office (details to be found at www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth) or from the Defra helpline 08459 33 55 77 (open between 9am - 5pm 7 days a week). According to Defra all bird keepers throughout the UK should continue their efforts to maintain high levels of biosecurity and maintain vigilance by continuing to monitor their birds for signs of disease. If you are concerned about the health of your birds you should seek the advice of your veterinary surgeon, if you suspect that your birds have avian influenza you should report it to your Local Animal Health Office. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to abandon their birds (or any other pet) because of any fears or worries of infection from avian influenza. This is an offence under the abandonment of Animals Act. The welfare of birds is seriously compromised when they are abandoned and they are at risk from starvation or accident and are more vulnerable to disease. All those persons wishing to seek general information about animal health should not call the local Animal Health office, but should call the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77, or visit the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk. Further biosecurity guidance can be found on the Avian Influenza pages on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenuk99 Posted May 26, 2007 Author Share Posted May 26, 2007 Thank you both for your help, when your new to this its to get advice from others. Thanks Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenuk99 Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share Posted May 30, 2007 Well the eggs have definately died and Chelford Market have a ban on selling poultry for two weeks. So I have been feeling a real failure at incubating eggs But a friend has said I can borrow her five ducklings for a week so the children at school can see them. I think that after a week of looking after them I will want to keep them, what breeds do you all recommend? Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Call ducks are nice and small but they are the noisiest and the females are the gobby ones Indian runners are a nice shape but very fast I don't think Aylesburys fly Not sure so you would need to check They are also quite large Lesley has a couple of ducks They are compared to chickens very very very messy what they eat is liquid and what comes out the back end is smelly and liquid you also need to have a water source for them which if it is not running will need daily cleaning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenuk99 Posted June 3, 2007 Author Share Posted June 3, 2007 Hi I have got my five visiting ducklings for the week , they are call ducks and very cute. Haven't worked out how to put pictures on here but have them on a blog to show you. http://hewatj.blogspot.com/ Think I will get very attached to them as they are lovely little characters!! Thanks for all the help Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Oh they are so cute! Don't think I'd be able to give them back either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 They are cute. What are the pellets that you are feeding them on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenuk99 Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share Posted June 10, 2007 Hello The food was a mix of pellets and crumb I believe. They went home yesterday and the garden is very quiet now . The children at school thought they were wonderful and really enjoyed having them. How do you all find time to do everything else. we have spent so many hours watching them this week that we have got nothing done! Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 umm..... most of us have much grubbier houses then we used to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
