http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ Farming Friends Forum: Forum: Ducks - Recent Posts en Sat, 25 May 2013 20:48:45 +0000 http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5162#post-23421 Sat, 25 May 2013 13:00:07 +0000 admin 23421@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I was wondering about this too.<br /> Hope everyone is well and their poultry and waterfowl are ok.<br /> Have a good weekend or bank holiday weekend for those in the UK.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5162#post-23420 Sat, 25 May 2013 08:11:03 +0000 duskhunter 23420@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Is this because of all the new sites that have sprung up on facebook now? </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5161#post-23419 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:35:35 +0000 m40mo 23419@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Yan if both ducks are equal size there shouldn't be an issue of drowning, to be honest im more concerned when mine do it on land as that's a lot of weight on the lower duck, legs can get injured on land<br /> my girls quiet often mount each other and yes its a dominance thing </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5161#post-23418 Mon, 13 May 2013 07:32:53 +0000 duskhunter 23418@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Yan,<br /> It is amazing how long they can hold one another under without any harm being done. For peace of mind perhaps you could time them by counting how long you think she is under water. It may well not be as long as it seems and if about the same length of time or no longer than a certain time give you more peace of mind about when you are not there. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5161#post-23417 Sat, 11 May 2013 06:40:39 +0000 yanky 23417@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Thanks Lorna-no both ducks. I did wonder if it was a dominance thing as always same one on top. As long as one doesn't drown the other??!<br /> Yan </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5161#post-23416 Fri, 10 May 2013 23:20:29 +0000 Lorna 23416@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Yan</p> <p>Is one of them a drake? as they like to mate in the water with the females. Or anywhere else for that matter! although the females can seem to 'mate' with each other which is more about dominance than anything else I beleive. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5155#post-23415 Fri, 10 May 2013 23:17:01 +0000 Lorna 23415@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Laura,<br /> Thanks for the kind words, Charity was a feisty wee character. Hope all your ducks etc are doing OK. </p> <p>Lorna<br /> xx </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5161#post-23414 Fri, 10 May 2013 20:17:06 +0000 yanky 23414@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi everyone<br /> I think I may be about to probably ask a really silly question!<br /> I have two runner ducks that are inseperable. However they do this weird thing that one gets on the others back &#38; starts quacking loudly. That's ok when it's on dry land but tonight one had the other pinned under the water-I honestl y thought she had drowned &#38; rushed out but she popped up quite happily &#38; continued to swim around. Is this normal duck behaviour. Newby with ducks!!<br /> Thanks Yan </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5160#post-23413 Fri, 10 May 2013 15:50:03 +0000 pinkpoultry 23413@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I've looked, on back yard chickens they said to just leave it, I've now separated it and will see of it improves </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5160#post-23412 Fri, 10 May 2013 07:01:19 +0000 duskhunter 23412@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>There are some poultry sites on facebook where someone had this problem, can't remember what the site was called but if you try to find them something useful is sure to come up if no-one can help you here. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5160#post-23411 Thu, 09 May 2013 17:06:28 +0000 pinkpoultry 23411@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>One of my Pekin bantam chicks has been born and has a big soft red lump where it's belly button is, we have tried to gently see of it will go back in, but it won't. It is in the incubator. Any ideas? Thanks :( </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5159#post-23410 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:49:00 +0000 dallascriftins 23410@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I have eight Ducks and an Acre field it did not take long for my Ducks to turn most of it in to muddy puddles, which now we have had a dry spell has become hard caked bare earth. Good luck with whatever you try to keep them in but just bare in mind the smaller the space the sooner it will look like something akin to a WW1 battlefield! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5159#post-23409 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:02:03 +0000 pinkpoultry 23409@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I am planning on a nice wooden fence, upright posts with 2 pieces horizontally (like post and rail style) then have smaller bits going vertically the height and down to the floor-quite close together, so you can see duckies but they can't escape and scoff your grass! Pretty and practical! When it stops raining and we get into our new garden we will keep the duckies out the human garden, as a BBQ the other day-ducks scoffed the salad off a low lying table... They seemed to like balsamic dressing!? Think I should put it on their grass! Lol! Xx </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5155#post-23408 Wed, 08 May 2013 19:58:55 +0000 pinkpoultry 23408@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Oh Lorna, just seen this. RIP beautiful Charity, my thoughts and prayers are with you, Faith and Hope. But wow! What an age! What happy well looked after, pampered ducks you have!<br /> Angela, a wonderful phrase :)<br /> Laura xx </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5153#post-23406 Wed, 08 May 2013 19:53:38 +0000 pinkpoultry 23406@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I bought them as German Pekins-but I did buy then as a pair and ended up with 2 drakes... So they could be anything!!<br /> Sara-I have no idea how guinea fowl still exist???? What do they do with their eggs, short of laying them in the tree I have Zero idea where they go? Think I've seen a handful from them! My favourite was right in the middle of the lawn! Not very private! Haha.<br /> I am going to incubate some Sir Francis eggs!!! Aww mini sir Francis drakes-well hopefully they will be mostly girls! He is such a sweetie, he is lovely to his ladies. Did u notice that one of the ducks lays a blue tinted egg!? I don't know which one it is but she mustn't be pure khaki Campbell? I love her all the same whoever it is! :) they are all doing fine though-Duffy is still always last! Haha. Bless her, she has a little bit of thinning going on around her neck-need a scarf! Lol.<br /> Hope all is good with everyone? Xxxxxx </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5158#post-23405 Wed, 08 May 2013 16:52:10 +0000 duskhunter 23405@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>It does sound as though this has been sorted Ani. As long as he is interested in you large duck and is leaving the smaller ones you don't need to worry. Your big duck may get a bald neck if he is too passionate with her but unelss it is very sore it is not a massive problem we have often joked about making them scarves as protection agains the amorous advances of the boys!<br /> They are funny they do not like being apart but suffer when they are together! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5158#post-23404 Tue, 07 May 2013 19:11:36 +0000 ani 23404@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>sorry, havent been on for a while :) we have sorted the problem (mostly.) do ducks tend to 'mate for life' like swans or something as our drake is obsessed with our other bigger duck. he chases after us and he puffs himslf up if we go near her. the 3 smaller ones are separated, one on eggs and i will have the other 2 together soon as one was recovering from a bad eye ( which is now completely healed!) but I fear that if i did separate the drake and female he is with now, it will affect both of them. They are happy waddling about in the garden during the day and they sleep in the same house. I'm hoping we have sorted this out now, and hopefully we will have some new additions in a few weeks! </p> <p>thank you all so much for putting up with me!</p> <p>ani xxx </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5158#post-23403 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:41:33 +0000 m40mo 23403@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>ani this has all been a shock for you and fully understand your upset, ok you are only 14 im 55 and still gets frustrated trying to keep them all happy and safe, they are clearly your pets but you are still a child you need help from your parents to try and sort this problem, you say you need drastic help we can only tell you what we do they need to sort this for you </p> <p>your drake is the issue, I see no point in getting rid of the girls you have and getting more, im not sure where you home your ducks but for now I suggest he is put on his own to give you time to think what to do, this can't carry on like this one dead duck is enough :(<br /> I've just looked back and seen you had the same problem last year, what did you do then ? </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5159#post-23402 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:24:13 +0000 duskhunter 23402@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Everyone is different, depending on how good you want your fencing to look I would google poultry fencing and see what comes up. It also depends on how secure you need it to be. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5158#post-23401 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:20:49 +0000 duskhunter 23401@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Ani,<br /> If you don't separate your drake from the gils he will just carry on doing damage. The small ducks will be most prone to it and it is not only heartbreaking it is not fair on the girls. It is his natural instinct of course but I had a drake drown two girls in breeding season so I separate them now unless I want to hatch eggs and even then I separate them after a while as the drakes can be just so heavy footed/beaked whatever the girls are entitled to live without injury from him. My girls go and sit the other side of the wire netting to keep the drakes company and then they are let back together around the end of October till about the end of Feb when it all starts again. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5159#post-23400 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:02:22 +0000 quackers1984 23400@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>getting the garden turfed soon, and want to keep the ducks off the nice new grass. Whats the easiest way to fence them in? Interested to see ideas on what everyone else has done? want the garden to look nice as getting decking and new turf.</p> <p>Pictures would be appreciated </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5158#post-23399 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:46:57 +0000 ani 23399@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>well now i have a small duck with a bloody face as he has got hold of her :( i am afraid that if i dont get any drastic help i will have to re-home him... I have spent the last 3 hours crying as i have had such a bad weekend with my ducks (would just like to say i am only 14, so this is very hard as i am very attached to my pets) and I am devastated. I have now got a duck who is badly injured and very scared. I have attempted to clean her eye but she was so stressed i left her to calm down in a clean cage. She has water and i gave her some grass as she loves it. I am torn between keeping the girls or starting again with some new girlies... please help me as i am so upset words cant describe it... :'( xxxx many thankssss xxxxxx </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5158#post-23398 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:01 +0000 m40mo 23398@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>oh how I wish we could castrate drakes, I have 2 and once more mayhem has broken out as both boys want to claim each girl we havnt had injuries but eye damage is my biggest fear, last summer I kept both drakes happy together away from the girls but that would be so unfair for a single drake, im not sure it would be fare to pass him on to someone else though, is he a bigger breed drake than your girls ? would he be better with a bigger girl kept as a pair maybe away from your smaller ducks </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5158#post-23397 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:19:35 +0000 admin 23397@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Ani, So sorry to hear this. I suppose the drake could have been over zealous and it could have been too much for her. I am notsure what to suggest. I suppose you could separate the other injured ducks from him until they are better. Is he like this all year round or just as the breeding season gets under way?<br /> Hope he calms down.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5158#post-23396 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 16:44:31 +0000 ani 23396@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>hi guys, haven't posted in a while!</p> <p>any way, i have some very bad news. One of my female ducks was killed this morning, and i was very upset at the fact i was the one to find her whilst attempting to move some chickens. We aren't sure how she died, as there was no bite marks ruling out cat or fox. What i do know is our drake is very heavy handed and caused this duck to go blind in one eye. Do you think he might have killed her? He has also done damage to 2 of my new Call/Campbell females. one of them has some serious damage to her eye. it is red raw and all her feathers around her eye are gone. Her eyelid is pretty much destroyed and she has a small hole that she can see through. Luckily, her eye is fine underneath. She is sitting on some eggs at the moment, so she is in a separate house in the pen. I would like to know if there is ANYTHING i can do to stop this drake as this is really a LAST resort before i have to get rid of him, so please IF YOU HAVE ANY HELP OR TIPS FOR ME, REPLY AS I REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO LOOSE HIM TOO. thank you every one... </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5157#post-23395 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:44:04 +0000 admin 23395@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Glad you have them rehomed.<br /> Best Wishes<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5157#post-23394 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:27:23 +0000 duskhunter 23394@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Pleased to say the boys have now been happily rehomed in Cornwall with a new 'duck' family. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5157#post-23393 Sun, 14 Apr 2013 09:50:04 +0000 duskhunter 23393@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>On the off chance that anyone lives near me and would like two very handsome boys, last year's hatch. I thought I would post an advert here.<br /> Willing to deliver if not outlandishly far. Trying to downsize a little as currently on my own for some while whilst hubby is in hospital.<br /> One is a runner and the other khaki Campbell mum dad could be runner or khaki Campbell. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5155#post-23390 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:57:53 +0000 Lorna 23390@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi All,</p> <p>Thanks Mo, Sara and Angela for the replies and nice words. Yes wee Faith and Hope miss her but keep close to each other, altough they would never have been as close before, it was Charity and Hope who were friendlier towards each other. It was hard to lose her as I started with them just after Mum died and it is associated memories then.</p> <p>I am doing about my usual thanks Sara. Hope you and your family are OK.</p> <p>Regards<br /> Lorna </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=5155#post-23389 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:15:55 +0000 duskhunter 23389@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>It is really hard to lose a pet especially one that you have had so long and distressing seeing the others miss her too. I think the saying "Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all" is perhaps one of the truest, doesn't make it any easier though, so sorry.<br /> Angela </p>