[alanjack999]

Hi.
We currently have three gorgeous ducklings who are currently eating chick crumbs but can someone please let me know when they should be moved onto growers pellets?

Also how do you tell if you have male or female ducks?  Finally at what age can they be allowed out overnight as they will be moving down to our allotment at some point but want to make sure they are ok overnight first.

Would appreciate any help.  I have tried to attach a photo of the gorgeous things but don't know if it will work.

Many thanks
Denise

[darrena]

Hi,
I am just raising 2 welsh harlequin ducklings which are now 8 weeks old.
I feed them on crumb for way two long (7weeks) due to some poor advice. They should be moved on to growers at 3-4 week, maybe mix it with a little crumbs for the first few days.
I am still not sure if I have girls or boys at 8-9 weeks and I have been told that the only way you can tell is by their quack, signs at 5 weeks told me I have 1 of each, as one was peeping still and the other had a loud quack, although today the other has started to quack so who knows.
I dont think you can sure untill they are about 18-20 or laying eggs.

I moved my ducklings outside at 4 weeks during the day with netting over their pen to keep them safe from crows and then back in the garage at night but with no heat.
then after a week or two allowed them to sleep in their duck house.
They now put themselves to bad at night and are almost fully grown.

Are you ducklings pets or just for laying?

After some advice from Kate, we brought our ducks in every evening and they sat on ours laps for an hour, makes them much more friendly, they now hand feed and are much less spooked by us being around.

Hope this helps

Darren

[annie10]

i have 5 4week old runner ducks. 1 male and 4 female.
ive kept them in side and had them on my knee and used to my voice and they are so sweet.
ive had them outside for a few hours during the day and intend to keep them in a brick built 10*10ft outhouse int he next week or so if stll warm enough.
i think i'll put them in their new run when they start to feather up properly.

[poultrygeist]

Hi Denise.

Just to check, are you feeding them unmedicated crumbs ?  Any anticoccidiostats in their feed can make them unwell or kill them.
If you use duck crumbs or organic chick crumbs, I think you're ok.

Rob

[alanjack999]

Thanks for all your help and advice.  Yes the duck crumbs are unmedicated (thankfully as didn't know this before!). 
At the moment the ducklings seem to be doing quite well the youngest one was two weeks old yesterday and enjoy going out in the garden during the day (they have a secure play area to keep the cats and birds away) and are happy munching on the chick crumbs - will start feeding them on the growers pellets next week. 
Although these ducks are pets we will be eating there eggs and when old enough they will be heading off for their life on our allotment although I think I will bring their duck house down to the garden so that for the first week or so when outside overnight they are here so we can keep an eye on them.
Hope eveyone else's ducklings are doing well.  Just one last quick question (probably a stupid one but never mind) do Campbell ducks fly? as I know some ducks fly and others don't.

Thanks
Denise

[Kate and her Ducks]

Mine don't manage more than a foot or two. What are your other two ducklings with the bibs, they are beautiful?

[alanjack999]

Hi
All three ducklings should be Khaki Campbells as they all came from the same batch of eggs.  Would agree with you they are cute though.  Took them down the allotment tonight to meet the chickens and couldn't believe that the chickens did a runner as they were scared of the ducklings.  Will need to acclimitise them all before they go down there for good.
Denise

[Kate and her Ducks]

Not an expert as I have never hatched khaki Campbells but all the pics I have seen show them to be a pretty much uniform brown. Think you might have a bit of something else in there!

[alanjack999]

Will have to see what the next batch look like.