[darrena]

Hi,

We are getting 2 welsh harliquin ducks in June as family pets, just wondered if they should be vacinated.
We don't have any other animals apart from a rabbit and live on a housing estate.

Regards
Darren

[cathangirl]

Hello again, Darren,
Are you getting them from the Breeder, or from a Dealer?  Either way, they should be able to help with that question - they may already have been vaccinated; depending on their age.
cathangirl

[Kate and her Ducks]

Never bothered with any of mine. Not really practical as the vaccinations come in massive batches and usually have to administered from the 1st day of life or so. Also tends to be more appropriate/nessasary for animals kept at high stocking levels where the spread of disease is more of a problem.

[MontyTom]

Don't bother.  Just keep housing, water and run clean.  Put an area of slabs to keep dry, which is easily scraped on a daily basis and gthen hosed down - that's what I do with mine.  Get a good quality feed and give green stuff for them to dabble on in the water to keep them busy.  Don't forget grit and for them too.  enjoy your ducks, they are brilliant!

[darrena]

Excuss my ignorance whats the grit for and what sort of greens do you put in the water?
My ducks will have a decking area which I can hose down and the remaining area will be concret or slabs unless we are home they will have the run of the garden so should keep its pretty clean of poo!

[Kate and her Ducks]

Wait untill you see how much poo!

Actually I don't think it is that bad especially if you can hose it down (yard broom with stiff bristles will be your new friend).
Mine have as much grass as they can eat in the summer (a lot), leafy greens in the summer, especially lettuce, spinache and the like which they adore. Don't always bother with putting it in the water but it does keep it nice and crisp for them not that it ever lasts long. I also give them a bit of grain in their water in the afternoon which they love.

And then there are tomatoes!

[darrena]

will the poo be that bad for just two ducks over an area of 10-12 sqr meters?

[Kate and her Ducks]

Think you'll cope! 

[Sassy]

Brill video. Would never have thought to give ducks tomatoes!!