The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Jaymac76 on May 14, 2013, 05:35:07 pm
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Hi I have 5 Indian runners 3 ducks and 2 drakes I feed them on chicken layers, they just don't look healthy look like they are moulting all the time could it be the food. I give then clean water and fresh food every day they lay nice eggs but just don't look 100% hope someone can help.
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Are they free ranging?
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In the past they have not been free ranging but they r now to see if it improves things.
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we add cider vinegar to our guys drinking water once a week :innocent: they seem to be looking better, are they able to wash in the water? as they need to keep their feathers healthy.
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Yes they can wash in fresh water and there is a 8x4 foot pond
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What was their run like before you let them free range? Did they have some grass in it or was it all muddy? Wondering whether it could be 'wet feather': http://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/wet-feather (http://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/wet-feather) ?
Also have you wormed them recently?
You can get specialist waterfowl pellets - I buy them on line - but I think when they're laying they should have layers. Just that waterfowl growers might give them a bit of a boost over the winter.
H
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Hi no grass but not muddy, I have been using verm-x not to sure if it is any good.
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Verm-x won't actually kill the worms so I'd put them onto Flubenvet with pellets for a week.
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Thanks I am going to try a few things mentioned and I will buy some flubenvet.
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You can buy the pellets from Marriages with Flubenvet already in - they're layers pellets so if they're used to layers, that should be a breeze. Only thing is that is must be the only thing they eat that week (or as close as possible) so no free ranging at the same time.
H
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Ducks are generally way more healthy than chickens and aren't prone to half the diseases but I'd think seriously about keeping ducks unless I could give them space to give them lots of free range. Mud isn't good for them and their feet don't really get on with prolonged periods on a hard surface. I'm sure that some people keep them happily in small areas but they thrive best with lots of space.
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They have a lot of room to run about and not muddy at all but just don't look 100%, I tried to get marriages food today but could not find any, I phoned the company they told me the closes place was 42 miles away I said that was bit to far so they told me they would get a rep to phone me in the next 30 mins that was at 1.15 still waiting on that call. :&> :&> :&>
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What do they have underfoot if it's not grass and not mud? Just curious!
I get the Marriages on line from Farm & Pet Place. They charge £2.50 for delivery of a 20kg sack but, like you, otherwise I'd have to drive miles. For the Flubenvet one, they have a vet call you up just to check usage but I find they just run through everything to comply with the regs. Delivery is really fast too.
H
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I've got 4 indian girls in a pen but they are let out 3 or 4 days a week to a paddock. They are on layers and do fine.... but I might take some precautionary tips off this thread and worm them!
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Underfoot they have gravel, ivy, railway sleepers and other plants there is a little mud but it is not muddy and wet.
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Are you sure it's not squabbling and mating and stress making them look a bit seedy? Two drakes is one too many I'd say. There is nothing more rampant in the poultry world than a drake in my opinion - talk about rape and pillage! :-J If you feed layers mash rather than pellets you can stick a bit of cod liver oil in there too - the Vits A & D and essential fatty acids in it may help. You can get fishmeal too in small-ish tubs. Try SPR Poultry site - the founder (impressive poultry background) is a big advocate of fishmeal (though I can't bring myself to feed it to my chucks) They'll make a fine mess with mash but mine prefer it. My runners are 11 today ! Hatched on my daughters second birthday...how time flies.....
I'd agree that ducks are normally very healthy and a relative doddle to keep compared to any other poultry. :wave:
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Got my marriages today will give them it for the next 7 days and hope all is well, will try one thing at a time and see if I can solve the problem. Yes I would agree the drakes are very rampant but it is both drakes and ducks that are not 100% so that make me think it is something other than a randy drake but worth a mention one dark to many.
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Hi, just a quick update on my Indian runners got more air going in to the pond water, feeding with marriages pellets with flubenvet and a little more free range, so far there is a small improvement only been a knew days but things are looking up I will keep you all posted and thanks for all the info.