Hunstermam Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Hi everyone, I currently have 4 chicken Eglus and 4 Rabbit Eglus and have had these lovely animals for some time, however..........I am taking in 3 rescue drakes, 2 call ducks and 1 magpie duck, and have my 9th Eglu at the ready. As I am new to ducks, can you guys let me know what length of run to have, I have 2 westies as well so want the boys to be safe. Also, what do I feed them on, are they noisy, is a trug of water sufficient???? questions, questions!!! If anyone can give me some advice and tips, they will be very gratefully received! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Hi Drakes dont really make any noise and 3 boys will get on fine together as long as there are no girls around if you did want to get some girls in the future you would have to get quite a few as drakes can become sex pests during breeding season and fight just depends on the birds really.They will be fine with a trug they really just need water deep enough to dunk their heads in so they can clean their eyes and nostrils they can eat chicken layer pellets i know they are not girls but you could mix it with some corn or wheat and they love greens aswell oh and the bigger the run the better as the are very messy and good at making mud pies leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunstermam Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 Thanks so much for the reply Leanne, I have 12 hens and 16 rabbits and feel very confident with them, but ducks are a new subject for me! any other tips would be very gratefully received xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 They also dont go to bed like chickens you have to put them to bed once you get them in a routine they should be fine my ducks range from 6 years to 6 months so i just go down the garden and whistle and say bed and they know what i mean also if you are ever going to let them freerange make sure the calls wings are clipped as they can fly away and i put a layer of shavings under a layer of straw in their house it helps with the moisture leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Oh yes, call ducks make good little flyers If you only have boys, come Spring, they will be tempted to look for mallard females on the nearest bit of wild water if you don't clip their wings. This is easy and not at all painful for them. (Note: you should only do one wing on each bird so as to unbalance them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunstermam Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 oh right, all new things to learn! Thanks so much for the advice what do use to clip the wings or do I get a specialist to clip them? x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Just a pair of scissors i use our old wallpaper ones try and find someone to show you how to do it or just make sure you feel for the meaty section as if you go to short they will bleed leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 You'll need some nice sharp scisors with a fairly long blade. This shows you how. It is about chickens but the same applies for ducks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunstermam Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 That's brilliant, thanks so much do ducks need grit like my hens? x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I just leave a bowl of grit and oyster shell down and then my chickens and ducks just eat it when they want to leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Oops hadn't though about ducks needing grit as they dabble about so much in the earth I think that the feeder I use for grit for the chickens is too high for my ducks Important Note to self - put on longer chain and lower grit feeder to duck hight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I have a Grub full of chick grit in the duck's run...they're always eating it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunstermam Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share Posted January 19, 2013 Thanks everyone, the advice is great! Boys coming home on Monday, wooohooooo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 How exciting do post and let us know how it goes I really would like some call ducks in the spring so I'll be interested in how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
