runner ducklings, ex batts and baby chick questions

[lynda66]

i've been looking at ducks ..... i want some the more pictures i look at, the more i'm falling in love with indian runner ducks,

apparently they don't destroy the garden, they eat your slugs and snails, and don't fly, they will be living in a large run, but once the garden fencing is finished and if i eventually get the allotment, they can have the whole bottom of the garden in a foxproof run with a nice sized pond.

these will be as well as the chickens, the plan is to have 3 of each to start with.

so has anyone kept runner ducks, how noisy are they, will they we happy with the chickens, i'm planning to get them all as day old chicks, though at some point i want to get a few ex batterys too, so is it best to get the full grown ones first then add the chicks? or the chicks first then the big hens?? do ducks need treating differently from chickens?

Thanks

Lynda xx

[MaureenHall]

I haven't a clue about ducks but I love your idea!! I think if you're eventually going to end up with chickens from chicks and ex-battery, then I think I'd start off with the chicks, get them grown on to "adolescence", then get the ex-batts. Bet someone else will give you a better idea though.
How's the pallet-smashing-nailing-together-chicken-house coming along?

[lynda66]

the plan is to have white ducks, black chicks, and ginger ex batts, then that means i'll have tortoiseshell flappy things that match my kitten not sure how they will match the green roof, ...... but i could always paint that lilac and the walls black

[Maf]

Oh I so want some IRDs.
The ones I have met were very quiet. (Imagine a duck quacking in a library ???)
And very inquisitive (but not too pushy !!!)

[Nicos]

I've always thought IRDs are really elegant.
Never seen one in the flesh though- just carved wood in garden centres etc and on the TV

Here's an interesting site for them.....

Feeding Runners

[coomber]

I used to have indian runners, They need a pond cause they love it! and it stops them getting mites (i think). They are quiet most of the time but can be very noisy. No trouble to look after - do eat alot though! They can't fly but if they are scared and flap alot they can get quite high off the ground. But they are really lovely and funny! we had 2 and had eggs most days (yum!).
Awww I miss mine now and want some more

Don't know what they're like with chickens but the guy i got mine from had about 20 chickens in with 10 ducks and they seemed to get along fine.

[Flummery]

I've got a wooden Indian Runner Duck - my daughter and son-in-law gave it me for Christmas a couple of years back. It's no trouble, costs nowt to feed and makes no noise.

Aren't the real ones gorgeous though?

[lynda66]

i've been looking at loads, and i just think they are the cutest, and i always had a dream about having 3 white ducks on a pond with lots of little yellow babies now all i have to do id find black chickens ..... haven't really looked for any yet been too obsessed by the ducks.

they will have the old fish pond, and i suppose when they are in the garden they will use the new fish pond ........ maybe a stupid question, but do ducks eat fish, cos i'm now wondering if i'll have to block it off??

[Maf]

I want some and I want some NOW !

Will they get hassled/sh*gged by my visiting mallards ?

How do I know if I have foxes ? Foxometer ?

Do their eggs taste any different to 'regular' duck eggs ?

[lynda66]

for a visiting mallard a duck is a duck

I know i've got a fox cos it used to live out the back of my house, till its home was dug up, but he still comes around, anyway, my plan is to have a concrete base, wich will be covered in about 6 inches of soil/sand/ then i can just swap it with the soil off another bed, and the soil will be all fertilized for me. and also to have a roof, so theres no way of him getting in.

i think duck eggs taste mostly the same, dunno, i've only eaten a few lol..... but they do usually lay upwards of 200-250 eggs per year, which is more than a lot of breeds,

[MaureenHall]

That's 2 spammers this week!!

[Bephlam]

This pic is enough to make anyone fall in love with them...awww...all floating in a bucket!!!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1190/...250d59.jpg?v=0

[lynda66]

awwwwww they are so cute aren't they, i love having babies