The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: piggy on May 20, 2010, 10:22:39 pm

Title: Ducks
Post by: piggy on May 20, 2010, 10:22:39 pm: Hi

Went to store to buy stock fence and have come back with 8 duckling due to feeling sorry for them!

We have lots of chickens and geese but i know nothing about ducks.

Been told that their Aylesbury ducks about 3 weeks old,have got them in a very old fenced pig pen at moment with baby sand pit filled with water dug in ground until there bigger to go on pond with geese?

Am feeding mixed corn at moment is that ok and should it be ad lib?

Hopefully some will turn out to be female,when do they start laying?

Do i need to worm them?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: doganjo on May 20, 2010, 11:09:33 pm: I worm mine the same as my chickens with Verm-X, I feed them the same as my chickens too - layers pellets, mixed grain, bread, vegetables, noodles, rice, worms, slugs. The pond you've given them is fine - you should be able to sex them at about 10 to 12 weeks, possibly earlier, by their voices, the girls will start to quack, and you need to stand and watch so you know which ones are quacking, the boys just make a pathetic squeaking noise ;) ;D, and they start to lay about 6 months like chickens. The eggs are fantastic for baking! or eat tehm teh same as hens eggs
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: jameslindsay on May 21, 2010, 06:33:29 am: Good for you. Ayelsbury ducks are known as lazy ducks whose only purpose in life is eating but they are beautiful ducks. Hope you manage to get a high percentage of girls. :)
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: doganjo on May 21, 2010, 06:49:57 pm: They aren't White Campbells are they - I often mistake them for Aylesburys
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: supplies for smallholders on May 21, 2010, 07:01:21 pm: Hi,

Just make sure that you dont feed them any feed with ACS in it.

No comment on the worming - there are those far more knowlegeable than me who can answer that ;)

Thanks
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: Helencus on May 21, 2010, 11:08:59 pm: What's ACS?
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: Hermit on May 21, 2010, 11:20:52 pm: I have Aylsburies and they taste great. Mine are free range though on a burn so I just feed layers when I lock up at night and add flaked maize in winter. I worm the same as the chooks with Flubenvet. I breed for meat so it does not matter about sexing as when they are old enough to kill the males have the curly tale feather anyway. The eggs are large and white and great for baking and fried but I dont like them scrambled or omlettes etc as they go too rubbery for me. Just had 15 hatch this morning and another twelve on the way.
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: piggy on May 21, 2010, 11:27:44 pm: Thanks for the replys

What age are they ready for eating?
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: Hermit on May 21, 2010, 11:31:01 pm: Never really timed it , when the tail feathers show on the males and they feel meaty enough is what we go by.
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: supplies for smallholders on May 22, 2010, 08:43:04 am: Quote from: Helencus on May 21, 2010, 11:08:59 pm
What's ACS?

Basically an additive found in normal chick crumbs / rearer and chicken finisher - but not in layers pellets.

Prevents Salmonella, listeria etc.

But not good for Ducks systems

Thanks
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: piggy on June 11, 2010, 12:23:58 am: Pics at last.
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: piggy on July 27, 2010, 06:51:46 pm: Out of the 8 there were 7 females and 1 drake,its typical that as i wanted 2 or 3 drakes there was only 1.
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: jameslindsay on July 27, 2010, 06:59:18 pm: Quote from: piggy on July 27, 2010, 06:51:46 pm
Out of the 8 there were 7 females and 1 drake,its typical that as i wanted 2 or 3 drakes there was only 1.

Be careful what you wish for Piggy, next time you may get 100% drake hee hee :&>
Title: Re: Ducks
Post by: hennypenny on July 29, 2010, 05:22:33 am: We have 2 Aylesbury's and 3 white 'Whatever' ducks (bought at auction). They all get on well, and make a terriblemess and thoroughly enjoy themselves!
We just tried 4 eggs in the incy for a friend who is pestering about ducks and one really cute wee thing hatched...so now weve got 12 in for both her and ourselves. God knows what we are going to do with them...eat them probably....