Thinkin of Indian Running Ducks

[daveyp]

Hi,

We've been keeping chickens now for a few years and the kids have outgrown the trampoline! I was thinking that the space (about 9M sq) may be usable for 3 Indian Runners (females, as I want eggs!) becuase they look cool and I understand they can be quite friendly.

Before commiting to this (and mentioning it to the missus!) I thought I would do some research, but I can't seem to find answers to my questions elsewhere so I thought I'd ask the forum.....

1) Have I got enough space?
2) What type of house do they need?
3) I think they are happy without a pond as long as they have access to fresh water - is this right?
4) Do they eat Chicken Layers pellets or do I need duck food (?) ?
5) Ground is currently soil / chip bark - are they Ok with that? They would be able to roam around the garden as well occasionaly.
6) Do they get on with chickens or do they never mix? (Thinking when they are all allowed to roam the garden...)
7) What fence height will I need around them?
8) Are they fairly robust healthwise?
9) Are they noisy - similar to chooks or noisier?

I realise that's quite a few questions, but if anyone can help I would appreciate it.

Thanks

Dave

 

[ducksgeesechooks]

Hi,

We've been keeping chickens now for a few years and the kids have outgrown the trampoline! I was thinking that the space (about 9M sq) may be usable for 3 Indian Runners (females, as I want eggs!) becuase they look cool and I understand they can be quite friendly.

Before commiting to this (and mentioning it to the missus!) I thought I would do some research, but I can't seem to find answers to my questions elsewhere so I thought I'd ask the forum.....


Hi Dave. I've only had runners for 8 months, but as I wanted them for several years I learned alot before actually whining my way into getting some. I'll try and answer your questions best I can, based on my research and what I've learned with my own.

1) Have I got enough space?

Runners are very active birds and love to roam. I would think using a trampoline frame, wrapped in hardware cloth (welded wire) and somehow secured to the ground would be enough space for sleeping and early morning, but they may soon be bored with not enough room to move around in during the day. The same set-up with a chance to be out and foraging part of the day would be better. They are easily herded, it's ingrained in them.

2) What type of house do they need?

A dog house large enough for them to stand up in and with a nice thick pile of shavings or hay to snuggle down into at night would work.

3) I think they are happy without a pond as long as they have access to fresh water - is this right?

Though they can live without swimming water, they prefer it and look some much healthier and hardy when they have it. A small plastic kiddie pool would do the trick. They must have water deep enough to rinse their nostrils in, even if it's just a feed bucket. It can be downright dangerous for a duck to have food available but no water to rinse it down with.

4) Do they eat Chicken Layers pellets or do I need duck food (?) ?

I use a locally milled food that consists of 7 grains and added nutrients such as sorghum and dried fish meal. Waterfowl also have a much higher need for niacin than do chickens. It can be life threatening if they don't get enough. Niacin can be added by using brewers yeast or foods high in it. I would not use layer feed until they are to laying age. Too much calcium. Also, using crumbles vs. pelleted food can be a hazard for them after the first few weeks of life. They don't so much swallow their food as they do wash it down. Crumbles tend to choke them.

5) Ground is currently soil / chip bark - are they Ok with that? They would be able to roam around the garden as well occasionaly.

Soil they love, chip bark they may try to eat. Wet soil that they can bill around in is a favorite.

6) Do they get on with chickens or do they never mix? (Thinking when they are all allowed to roam the garden...)

Raised together they do fine, unless the drake and any roosters get into it during breeding season. Not raised together you may or may not have problems. Mine free range with the chickens for part of the day, but each group pretty much keep to themselves.

7) What fence height will I need around them?

Runners are not good flyers. Mine can manage maybe 2 ft. off the ground.

8) Are they fairly robust healthwise?

Waterfowl in general are hardier birds than chickens. They have less parasite issues (especially with swimming water available) and are immune to many of the diseases that take down chickens.

9) Are they noisy - similar to chooks or noisier?

Runner hens have a fairly soft quack, the drake has only the quiet raspy sound typical of most duck drakes. I would consider them a quiet breed, though my females let me know it if I am late to let them out in the mornings. I must mention here that I also have call ducks and I'm not sure even my geese are as loud as my tiny call duck hen; therefore my perception of noisy may be a bit skewed.

I realise that's quite a few questions, but if anyone can help I would appreciate it.

I hope this info. has been helpful to you.
Thanks

Dave

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Sorry if this is repeated as I thought I already replied yesterday....

1) Have I got enough space? Not really.....

2) What type of house do they need? Large enough to stand up in and flap and walk around, bear in mind that in the winter they can be in the house for 16 hours.

3) I think they are happy without a pond as long as they have access to fresh water - is this right? I have studied this subject on a commercial scale at great length. Research shows that eye and bill health suffer and feather quality is rediced if ducks do not have water deep enough to bathe in. If you see a duck go into swimming water when they have been deprived of it they go crazy, diving and splashing. I would never recommed anyone keep any waterfowl without bathing/swimming water, even if it is a sand pit or swimming pool.

4) Do they eat Chicken Layers pellets or do I need duck food (?) I use poultry layers, as long as they are not medicated. Check with the manufacturer as pet shops sometimes do no label correctly.

5) Ground is currently soil / chip bark - are they Ok with that? They would be able to roam around the garden as well occasionaly. No to the wood bark, it harbors mold spores that can be fatal to ducks. They also do better if they have pasture.

6) Do they get on with chickens or do they never mix? (Thinking when they are all allowed to roam the garden...) Our ducks and chickens tolerate each other, they wont become friends, but it should not be a problem. House them separately though. Always keep them wormed and deloused.

7) What fence height will I need around them? - Depends on how athletic your local fox is. A fox can jump over standard height electric netting if they fancy.
8) Are they fairly robust healthwise? - yes as long as they have the correct environment and kept away from mold, draughts, fed the right feed and given enough water to bathe in.

9) Are they noisy - similar to chooks or noisier? - Noisier, especially if they don't have a drake.

Zo
x

 

[daveyp]

Thanks to you both for your replies.

I think I'm going to do a bit more research before doing anything further.

Dave