Installing Indoor Cat Tree

[tara]

I have brought a eglu and intend on getting ducks in the next few days.Wondered tho if ducks can use hay or sawdust.I have 5 chooks and use sawdust for there nest box but l have seen that ducks sleep on nesting ? Also do people buy duck food or is chicken food ok.Also do they use the glugs and grubs ok.Need some basic advice.

[Richard T]

In our ducklu we use straw and shredded garden stuff. (I'm sure I saw somewhere that you shouldn't use hay for bedding.) A friend of ours uses sawdust and straw. We've never seen duck food in the places we get our chicken food from and we give them the same layers' pellets as we give the chickens. We also give them mixed corn. We don't use the glug and grub for the ducks because the chickens have claimed them. We bought a small feeding trough for the ducks' food and we give them the water in a pot.

 

Have a look at this website - http://www.janescottage.co.uk/keeping.htm#feeding

 

and try googling "keeping ducks" for more info.

[Lesley]

Yes, you musn't use Hay as bedding for poultry at all.

 

Straw is for bedding and Hay is for eating - but not for poultry to eat as it can impact in their crops.

 

Ducks need a shallow feeder as they eat differently to hens - they scoop their food up rather than peck it up. We use one of those metal dog bowls that are wider at the bottom edge so that they can't tip it over. Ours get layers pellets - don't give them mash because it is too fine and will clog their nostrils because of the scooping action they use.

[Richard T]

We use a galvanised trough feeder like the 4 inch wide ones half way down the page on this link:

 

http://www.domesticfowltrust.co.uk/feeders2.html

 

But I don't think we paid as much as they're charging. We got it from Scats Countrystore at Marden.

 

We also make sure the ducks have access to grit and oyster shell.

 

And I reckon the thing that makes ducks happiest is having water to float in.

[tara]

Thankyou that was very helpful.Just one more thing l have just brought to call ducks boy and girl.Want to know if l should clip there wings ? also is there any other info l should know.Do they go to bed each night as we had to get them in eglu tonight.

Edited September 30, 2007 by Guest

[Lesley]

No, Tara, don't clip the ducks wings. Ducks have their wings pinioned at a very young age if you need to stop them flying which involves removing the fllight feathers (I think) but most ducks won't fly anyway.

[gooner.girl]

As far as i know my call ducks don't have their wings clipped and i have seen them fly as high as the garden fence - 6ftish but they haven't flown out of my garden even though i am sure they could if they wanted to...

[tara]

so is it posible to clip there wing or dose it harm them as want to let them out but scared they will fly away.What dose wings pinioned mean?

[Krysia]

I am glad you posted this Tara and I was wondering about Pinioned what was too.

 

Also how many duck can you get in an Eglu? They will get the free range so it is just sleeping and I know the bigger the duck the less but on average please?

[Lesley]

I posted earlier that pinioning involves removing flight feathers at an early age - I don't really know more about it then that.

 

We've had 5 ducks (3 of them temporarily) in an Eglu with a large run, but I think probably 4 would be about right?

[Richard T]

I've just googled it: pinioning involves cutting off - i.e. surgically removing - the end part of a wing at the last joint of the wing. It's usually done on the day after hatching because there will be less stress for the duckling and little, if any, bleeding. It sounds a bit gruesome.

 

I'm not sure if our two have been pinioned but they had their wings clipped by Jo, the friend we got them from.

[Krysia]

Off subject here but you must be really busy at your desk Richard googling all these things!

 

Just seen your other update

[Richard T]

Off subject here but you must be really busy at your desk Richard googling all these things!

 

Just seen your other update

 

They allow me to google in my lunch break.

[Krysia]

Thats good of them we can't use the PC for personal use at all!

 

We do have 1 PC for 60 staff to use on breaks etc but you cna never get near it.

 

Incase you are wondering I only work Part time now I'm a mum and off today

[gavinsmith]

Hi all,

 

A little out of date but i have asked these questions in the past.

 

Pinioning is a guarantee if you like for some breeders that their ducks won’t head for the hills. However, removing the flight feathers is so easy you'd wonder why they bother putting chicks through the pain.

 

To remove flight feathers (one side will do) it is best for 2 people, 1 to hold and 1 to remove. Once secure and not flapping, stretch out the wing to expose the flight feathers at the end. I normally remove about 4 but maybe this differs between breeds. Locate the base of the feather where it enters the skin. If the feather stem is whitish/clear then fold it (as close to the base as possible)as if to snap it (this does not hurt the duck) then snip the fold/crease line with a pair of scissors. Repeat for 3 more feathers. If when you look at the feather stem, it is red or dark in colour (this is blood inside) don’t try to remove it as this indicates that the feather is still growing.

 

A rule of thumb is that if your ducks are settled and comfortable they will not fly and thus may never need to have flight feathers removed.

 

One more thing, breeders that choose to enter their ducks in shows will never pinion them as this prevents them being shown.

[tara]

Your info was very useful thank you for your reply.Will have to try it as finding that my ducks dont like me as much as the chooks.

[Krysia]

Yes thanks for that