Advice on ducks - indian runners & chickens before i get

Hi sarah,

I can help answer a few questions  however I am very new to ducks myself!
Firstly I have 4 runners, they are quite fascinating! real timewasters!  

My little broody hen managed to hatch them without any problems at all in fact she is still in the run with them although they dont need her anymore.
They also wander around with the chickens so far they sort of ignore each other.

I think you possibly could house together but I think IRD need a lot of room cos they are rather messy,head height as they are tall  their pop hole would need to be large as well as a gently sloping ramp to help them in.I am looking to get a duck house around 3x4 just for them. If I had them in together would probably opt for a shed.

Feeding I have had mine on chick crumb until they were 3weeks then gradually switched them to duck growers and will probably keep on until about 16 weeks or so.

As the weather has been good they have been out in a  small covered secure run more or less from day one,although they are ducks you have to make sure their fluff doesn't get waterlogged as they coould catch a chill-I have to say mine spend ages in the water without any probs and i reckon in about a week will be more or less fully  feathered.

Hope this helps -there are some experienced ducky people here that will be along shortly with advice!

Hens can incubate or foster ducklings very well but don't expect them to teach their children anything related to water! The hen will be scandalised by the way they throw water about and we tend to remove the hen after two weeks or so so prevent her having a nervous breakdown.

Melton Mowbray market won't let you sell ducklings without a mum or foster mum under two weeks old so I guess that is a significant date.

The ducklings need lots of water to drink but do be careful to prevent them getting water logged. They can go outside from 2 weeks on (weather permitting) but if they are fostered don't let them on a pond until they are fully feathered as they will sink! Once they start to get feathers they will need water in a bowl deep enough to allow them to get their heads under water to prevent eye infections.

I don't know about keeping ducks and hens together. The main problem I can see is water. You don't want the hens to get too wet.

We give our hens layers pellets and corn mixed but the ducks just have mixed corn but both free range during the day and also get scraps. We tried the ducks on special duck feed. It was mighty expensive and they didn't like it! We give ducklings chick crumbs and they love it. They also love lettuce, but do cut it into thin strips when they are little. Chives also go down well with chicks, ducklings and guinea fowl poults.

Indian runners are wonderful. They lay well and are so funny. Added advantage - they can't fly.

We put the corn into a cat litter tray (clean!) and cover it with water. Ducks do need their food wet and need water nearby when they are free ranging.

Indian runners aren't at all noisy. If you want noisy - get some guinea fowl. When they are doing their 'last thing at night bicker' you can't hear yourself think!

You will LOVE being a poultry keeper. Hours of fun.

I found Katie Thear's books a huge help. She got one called Starting with Ducks and several hen ones.

No idea about the interaction with the rabbit but my two cats avoid the poultry but have been known to catch a pheasant. How they know the difference I don't know. (Or maybe the pheasant was road kill and they were trying to trick me into thinking they are great hunters!)

Happy poultrifying!

DL

Oh right! I'll look both them up at my library (then decide whether to buy both!!)