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Hi

A few weeks ago I acquired a pair of lovely runner ducks, very timid and anxious in regards to people but are getting better with a daily feeding of peas on offer.

I am considering getting a few more ducks, maybe an additional female runner and a pair of aylesburys who I've been told are varying ages from 8-16weeks.

My query is would I still need to be feeding them duck rearers at this age? Or can I change them to something like layers pellets or wheat.

And would it be hard introducing a lone female runner to a pair? Also would aylesburys and runners be able to live together happily? They would be sharing the same pool and run for the time being. For they be able to share the same hut space? As I have what is essentially part of a larger shed which I am hoping to house all the ducks in together for nightime.

Sorry for the many questions, I've more experience with keeping chickens than ducks!

[jamima]

Are your pair runners male or female ,my book says only keep one male runnner to a number of females to aviod injury to females when mating, also dont see why you cant keep different ducks together and you can feed them growers pellets or layer pellets when they are about  four to five  wks old, and of course a nice pond , i have five call ducks live together great 

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Are your pair runners male or female ,my book says only keep one male runnner to a number of females to aviod injury to females when mating, also dont see why you cant keep different ducks together and you can feed them growers pellets or layer pellets when they are about  four to five  wks old, and of course a nice pond , i have five call ducks live together great 

Ah it's a male and female, so we're thinking of having another female. I know having more than one drake isn't a good idea because of fights. I just wanted to check that ducks don't pair off and will exclude another female in a group.

[two webbed feet]

Hi there!  I have a pair of aylesburys (one drake and one duck), plus a female runner and a streicher (and two new additions - another runner, and another possible abacot ranger!).  The aylesburys live happily with the runner (although the runner hatched the two aylesburys).  The drake aylesbury definitely has his favourite girls - the other aylesbury and the runner, but they do all live happily together 

Be warned though aylesburys are a greedy breed and will eat everything and anything so put any favourite plants well out of reach!!

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So I'm thinking, having 1 runner drake with two runner girls and then an aylesbury drake with an aylesbury girl would be an acceptable combination? These would be all in the same run/duck house to begin with.

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I'll watch out for that next season, of course I was thinking that the breeds may stick to their own for breeding but that's a navie assumption to make! We'll consider if when we have a look around as to what we decide to go for in the end.

How good are runners at sticking around a yard? We are considering having them free range with their own house eventually and have the ayleburys penned up with chickens.

[RichardA]

we have 1 campbell drake in with  1 campbell duck and 4 aylsebury ducks. He will attempt anything - they do not stick their own breed when the mood is right he just goes for the nearest, size is not a problem.
Incidentally we are looking for 2 or 3 more POL campbells if anyone knows a trusted source. We are in North Lincolnshire.
R

[two webbed feet]

All my ducks free range but the runner is the friendliest and spends much of her time watching the back of the house to see if I'm coming out - I know it's not me she wants, it's what food I might have!!  Often I'll go in the kitchen to find Dora the runner standing on the door mat quacking for food.  She's the most tame out of all the ducks and feeds from my hand but if she doesn't want to be caught (if we need to check her for any reason) she is the fastest duck in the West!! 

Don't think you'll have any problems if Dora's anything to go by! 

[jamima]

Apparently runners like to forage a lot so hope you got lots in your yard to have a go at not just concrete !

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All my ducks free range but the runner is the friendliest and spends much of her time watching the back of the house to see if I'm coming out - I know it's not me she wants, it's what food I might have!!  Often I'll go in the kitchen to find Dora the runner standing on the door mat quacking for food.  She's the most tame out of all the ducks and feeds from my hand but if she doesn't want to be caught (if we need to check her for any reason) she is the fastest duck in the West!! 

Don't think you'll have any problems if Dora's anything to go by! 

That is very cute haha. I think our runners won't ever be that tame since we don't know their background of upbringing but they are very timid towards people but are slowly getting use to us.

I think we are going to end up with some aylesburys which will live with the current pair of runners for now.

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Apparently runners like to forage a lot so hope you got lots in your yard to have a go at not just concrete !

Ah at moment their run is a mixture of worn dirt but when I mingle them with the chickens they will have grass and all sorts. Our main yard is concrete but we have a large field going off from it and a lawn so plenty of places to wander. I am not sure abou freeranging them yet due to their timid nature at current and we also have some veg growing for ourselves that we want to keep in one piece!

[Caralou]

One thing I would say if that you should have at least 2, ideally 3, ducks to each drake when you have more than one drake. I have two drakes to 6 ducks (and a few female youngsters running about) which seems to work well. Come spring time two active drakes to three ducks will likely lead to injuries for the females. Also, if keeping Aylesburys the drake is very large compared to Runners. I just had a nasty drowning accident with my Aylesbury drake and a young Runner duck and Bumble is gentle compared to a lot of drakes so it came as an awful surprise. My Aylesbury Drakes are so friendly and I love the breed so don't be put off from the above, just caution is needed a little when more than one drake or with different size ducks together