[Lync]

    Just got 2 Aylebury's and 2 Khaki Campbells and wanted to  know a little bit more about ducks generally: what are their eyesight like of a night?, what is their general behaviour i.e do they just preen a lot, drink, bath and sleep, how much do they eat?, what "treats" can they have?  Have a book but looks at different breeds. housing, etc.  Thanks
 

[jaykay]

Well.

Yes, they can see better at night than hens. So they will stay out until you call them in. I pen mine around the house they are to live in to start with (a few days) and when I put them to bed at night, I call 'ducks, ducks, ducks' and herd them in. Then later, when they are free-ranging, they come to bed when called 

Mine spend a lot of time 'fossicking about' in the edges of the beck banks or in muddy patches. They love playing in the beck, washing and chasing about, then they do quite a bit of preening, and then they sleep for ages. They definitely need water, which they can play in and that you can keep clean. Running water is obviously ideal.

I've never had a duck get too fat, so I just feed mine layer pellets ad lib. That said mine are free-range so that might be different if yours aren't. Other people will be able to tell you that better and I've never kept Aylesburys which are a meat bird so might be designed to put on weight a bit more than the Khakis (and my runners and calls).

I give mine sultanas for treats, I throw them on the floor by my feet and there is a 'duck scrum' to get at them 

HTH for starters. I think I probably like my ducks the most of all my poultry, they are really funny. Enjoy yours 

[Lync]

Thanks for the reply.  They are currently in a pen where they have an old bath to bath in!  and have space to roam - they will free range (witht he chickens) once they have settled in and are used to us.  Currently we are trying to get them used to going into the coop at night!  They are getting used to us during the day and not running to hide - quite so much!  Wil ltry them on sultanas to coax them to be friendlier.    What is the best way to handle a ducK?  Thanks for your help.

[northfifeduckling]

European ducks are quite shy, you probably will not get them as tame as hens. Barberries (Muscovies) are an exception, but they are an American breed.
I would not let my ducks into any veg patch as they will tread anything to death (but will eat your slugs and snails ). I only handle mine if I absolutely have to, even hand-reared ducklings will be shy (others may have a different experience though!). If I need to catch them I try to grab them over the wings with both hands so they don't hurt themselves through struggling.
I managed to train mine to go to bed at night - although with a  little herding in the summer 

[graham-j]

Hi,I don't put mine away until after dark a couple of flashes of my torch and they get in a line and go flying in like funny little diddy men you have to shut them up quick though as they do a lap round there house and come flying out again still in a line.
for treats not that I'm into that sort of thing you understand mine love lettuce the iceberg type more than anything carrot tops they love as well.

Graham.

[Fowlman]

Oddly enough my ducks take themselves to bed each night.

[chris3000]

My ducks also put themselves to bed, on occasion when they need reminding I too shout 'duck duck duck and they come straight in.

As a treat we feed them banana - they love it

[Lync]

    Thanks guys - been away for work and catching up!  Good news the ducks now put themselves to bed!!  No more chasing and me fretting about stressing them out!  They are friendlier and great fun to watch.  Sure I'll be learning lots as time goes on.

[northfifeduckling]

any questions  - just fire away, we'll all try to answer as good as we can - after all these years I'm still learning new things each day! Enjoy your ducks 

[Lync]

    Another question or two!!  Do ducks and their houses have the same problems with red mite as chickens?  What about lice etc?!!   Also am going to worm them and assume that I can use Flubenvet?  Anything else I need to do for their care?  Thanks       

[Beeducked]

Flubenvet is fine. Ducks don't really get red mite or lice although it is possible.

[northfifeduckling]

I use the same premedicated flubnevet pellets for all the birds - makes it so much easier.
I never found evidence with other insectual pests on the ducks .I find ducks are much more "easy-care" than chickens in that respect, just a bit more mucking out required.  I use diatom powder for their house . 

[Bionic]

Am I the only person who doesn't have a duck house?  I only have 3 ducks and they live in large pen with 2 geese. There is a big pond and lots of weeds. I feed them corn and some bread a couple of times a day but thats all the care they get.
Sally
 

[northfifeduckling]

mine live in an old hen house - only renamed it  . we had to make a purpose built slope for them as abviously they can't climb steps but it's their home no question 

[Beeducked]

Mine live in a shed but I renamed it too.