3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[mollyripkim]

Have just ordered omlet WIR to go on extended cube which houses nine bantams that FR all day. Would love a couple of female call ducks and done lots of research but opinions seems divided on sharing a run. I intend having a separate house for the ducks but for fox safety would like that to be in the WIR, therefore they would share the space until let out at 11 am each day and then again when put back in the evening, bed time or earlier if going out. Also they would need to be confined together when worming or if we are out for the day. Does that seem reasonable?

Also anyone experienced how noisy they are - thinking it can't be worse than Doris's very loud egg call and also the poo element, I have heard it is runnier than chick and therefore harder to clean up.

Thanks in advance.

[counturchickens]

Hi, I don't know the answer, but would like to know too. I've also just ordered a wir and was wondering the same!

[mollyripkim]

It's exciting isn't it, hubby always said no to ducks but he has already thought of names, I don't want to get carried away unless I know it's feasible.

[counturchickens]

If they have names they will be coming

[mollyripkim]

Definitely, officially to be called Daisy and Daffy

Have found a breeder who lives about five minutes from me would you believe it, she shows the call ducks and has bantams as well that all get on. Did loads more research on internet and main problem seems to be the water making a mess in the WIR but my pool is going outside so should be ok. I will give them something smaller to dunk in on the days when they are shut in.

[miller30]

Hi Molly i dont want to chuck a spanner in the works but call ducks are loud and even if you give them a small bowl of water they will climb in it and start washing and preening which will splash it every where and then make mud all you can do is try and see how messy it gets leanne

[mollyripkim]

Thanks Leanne, I wanted feedback from those who already have ducks to make sure I know what I am letting myself in for. The small water will be in the WIR on woodchip which will be on top of concrete with a layer of stable matting between, do you think that will solve the mud problem? That is the set up at the moment which works really well for the chicks on their own. Hubby is going to lay the concrete so it will have a slight run off. I am hoping that if I put their water at the furthest point from the cube it will help.

Can I ask how you deal with your ducks!?

[miller30]

yes the concrete and woodchips sound good duck poo is more like splats so not sure how you would manage to pick it up none of my ducks or large fowl chickens have pens they just run the garden all the time they have a pond and everyone who is free eats the same food and i have large water buckets everywhere that get changed everyday but there is always a duck sat in one taking a bath ducks are messy but never suffer with any of the health problems that chickens get leanne

[Lewis]

I have all my lot in a large Walk In Run and it works ok

Gerald has an Eglu Go to sleep in but to be honest he never uses it and just sleeps on the floor!

 

Ducks are much messier than chickens, its not just the poo but the mud and splashing water everywhere. He has 2 big tub trugs as a pond and a Super Glug in the WIR to drink from, its raised so he can't get in it and so isn't too bad with that.

 

I'd love a pair of Apricot Call Ducks but don't think I will for a while because of the mess and also the noise - they're louder than chickens and tend to chatter all day rather than just egg announce etc.

Drakes are much quieter than ducks so maybe get a pair rather than 2 girls?

 

Great you've found a breeder to go and see them, see how loud they are and can get advice from!

[mollyripkim]

Thanks Iwescott, really appreciate that, I think my setup will be similar to yours and obviously yours works, good idea to place the water higher so they can dunk their heads but not get in, they will have access to larger water outside the run. The breeders I have spoken too will only sell a pair which is ok by me, they assure me the drake won't be too amorous to the chickens and at least the drake is quieter.

Haven't got too much of an issue with noise, only one neighbour close and we get on really well, but I am going to go and have a look and see for just how loud the females are.

Showed your post to hubby and when he lays the concrete he is going to do an extra area for a paddling pool, its at the end of the garden in a "natural" bit so I can tip the water easily onto the trees so it won't be wasted and it will solve the mud issue.

As I am sure everyone is aware I am a bit of a worrier and like to make sure everything is right before I take the plunge so its great to come on here for advice.

[Chortle Chook]

I know we've been PMing, mollyripkim, but I thought I'd put the gist here so others can see it.

 

I think there must be a difference between Call Ducks and other ducks in terms of mess because my call ducks are really clean little birds. On the other hand a friend of mine had normal white ducks (sort of Aylesbury ducks but not pure bred) and they made a dreadful muddy muckage in her WIR but then she did put their bath (large tub trug) on earth and they had large feet unlike the wee call ducks' neat little tootsies. My ducks do love to set up a splashing in their bath (child's paddling pool) but as it is sited on pea shingle this does not present a problem. The water just soaks away. Your plans for the bath location sound perfect

 

In terms of noise my little drake is very quiet. My girly duck does have a loud voice but somehow it is not annoying in any way - a bit like a single one off dog bark from time to time - very different from my naughty gobby white silky who thinks "Ooops, word censored!"ody else should be allowed to lay an egg.

 

Is your call duck breader anywhere near Hamble Valley by the way as I've been looking for a pied call duck and Rachel from Hamble Valley may be getting me a white Poland in the autumn. I could get two birdies at once (Watch out OH )

[mollyripkim]

Hi Chubby Chook, good idea to put on here.

 

The breeder is in Nursling which is about 15 miles from Rachel but currently she only has black, mallard or apricot. I have found another breeder in Basingstoke who has whites which is what I really want but I have to ring him in two weeks by which time he will have sorted which ones he wants to keep for showing. He is really into them as he is off to Holland and USA in the next few weeks to look at ducks!

 

I have emailed several others but not had a response so guess they don't have anything.

 

Am I allowed to put the details on here? If not I can pm them to anyone who wants them.

 

All of my girls came from Rachel and they are all lovely and heathy. The bantam orp was one she took back as a favour to someone who was downsizing and I couldn't resist her when my girls went for their holiday.

[Chortle Chook]

Oo thanks mollyripkim. Can you PM me the details of the Basingstoke guy?

OH has said we can have two girlies for our one drake and I like pied, apricot and white. As you say, the latter is lovely and are the perfect bath duck critters