New duck keeper

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Hi to everyone, we are putting the finishing touches to our new duck enclosure [I think it's 72 sq ft but I'm usless with measurements so I could be wrong].Sand pit sunk into ground [I couldn't resist a dabble myself],pleanty of shade & we've nearly finished the house [big enough fo 12 ducks].

We have mixed poultry grit & oyster shell & need to know if there are duck pellets on the market, or is it ok to feed the poultry pellets? We have a farm shop & they said they could order duck food but it would be more expensive[what is the difference in ingredience?].

At what age do they move on from chic crumbs to growers pellets & then to layers pellets [ I read somewhere to start the layers pellets a couple of weeks before they are due to start laying].

We are looking at getting 3 Indian runners [Blue/Lavender/Blk] for eggs & 3 Campbells [Khaki/Dark/White] for eggs & 2 miniature Appleyards for their beauty.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum :)
You really need to feed them unmedicated chick crumbs or proper duck crumbs for the first three weeks- then duck growers pellets until fully grown then layers pellets/wheat mix once laying- some normal chick crumbs/growers pellets (not all- you need to check with your supplier) contain anti coccidiosis drugs and ducklings can over dose on this. Hope your sand pit has a drain or can be emptied easily- you will need to change the water daily- they are very messy but love their baths :D
regards, David :)
 
Thank's David, any tips on makers of feed?, finding it dificult to get duck food locally [Dorset].Also dose anyone know of breeders in our area [Runners/Campbells/Mini Appleyards]? can't seem to find the colours we want.

[buy the way the area is 72 sq m, told you I'd got it wrong].
Will post photo of house when finished & when the ducks arrive.
 
Hello, take a look here for feed merchants in Dorset- should be one or two close to you , hopefully :)
http://www.equi-therapy.net/equi-therapy/listings/horse-feed-dorset.shtml

Try to buy the best you can afford- it's false economy buying cheap feed. There are lots of makes, Garvo is a very good one- but i dont think they have a stockist in Dorset :(
As for breeders, you could try looking at the Runner cuck club- dont know how close any of them are but, again, as with feed, try to buy the best you can- they all cost the same to feed :)
take a look here-
http://www.runnerduck.net/breeders'_directory.htm
Hope this is of some help :)
regards, David :)
 
Getting exited, we are collecting 4 girl Runners [Black/White/Blue/Lavender] on Tuesday. They will be 3 weeks old, are off heat & already on growers pellets [have found local farm supplier for the Smallholder Range].

1] Can they go strait into their house with pleanty of straw bedding?

2] When can they be let out into their run?

3] Is a washing up bowl ok for supervised baths? When can they have access to their larger pool?

4] Will they need the oyster shell at this age or only later for shell production?

Where would I be without the knolledge of this forum?????????
 
Hello, - hope you enjoy your new girls :)
1> yes, put them in their house- i would lock them in for a day - just until they settle down

2>you can let them out in the run the following day- just open the door and let them come out at their pace- that way they know how to go back into their house :)

3> at 3 weeks they should be fine-just put a brick in the bowl and one just outside the bowl so they can get in and out- they can have it all the time in the run. Change the water at least once daily if not more- they are very messy- but just love the water :D As long as they can get in and out of the pool ok -then you can let them use that as well/instead of the bowl :)

4> you can leave a shallow dish of grit- both soluble and insoluble - in the run permanently- they wont need much.

5> I am sure you will enjoy watching their antics- they will soon settle down- just take your time and try to gain their trust- they will quickly learn who feeds/looks after them and can become quite tame- having said that, runners are one of the more nervous breeds of ducks- most of all enjoy them :) :)

regards, David :)
 
Thanks David, we have a bag of Mixed Poultry Grit & a bag of Oyster Shell,so would I put them in seperate bowls or can they be mixed? [I bet your going to tell me the mixed bag contains oyster shell!!!! ohwell, we will have enough to last a lifetime].

We will be getting the Campbells/Mini Appleyards when we locate a breeder,so do I need to quarnteen them first?
 
Hi, yes, the mixed grit will probably contain oyster shell :lol: :lol: :lol: just mix it all together no problem- it will last longer than the ducks :D :D :D
Yes, i would keep them separate for a week or two-if you can- ducks don't get a lot of problems health wise but it's better safe than sorry.
good luck,
regards, David :)
 
Hi Andrea,

Indian Runner Ducks are a fantastic choice. My first ducks were black Indian Runners, (that's why the PK sites logos use a photo of my first ever Indian Runner ;) )

Chris Ashton is the Secretary of the Indian Runner Duck Association. She is incredibly helpful and I would highly recommend you join the IRDA. It costs about £6 and you will receive a quarterly newsletter that is a really interesting read with some excellent articles and advice.

Good Luck!

Tim
 
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