Hi Dawn, I got this from the site link below. A lot of good information in short form for the beginner. Something there for all the organic gardeners and animal keepers.
Quote:
You don't need a pond for ducks, but so much the better if you have one. Even a sunken bathtub will do, but make sure there's a shallow end so the ducklings can get out again, or they could drown.
http://journeytoforever.org/farm_poultry.html
The truth about ducks and water is that if you have heavy breeds such as show bred deep keel Rouens, Aylesbury,or Giant Pekin then you need at least a shallow pool for them to mate in because of mechanical problems with these breeds. Below is another site link where you can see a short video clip of some British bred Aylesbury ducks. Once you see them in action it becomes evident why they would need water for mating. It also reminds me why I don't have ducks at the moment
after seeing the mess they made of that henyard. Once that movie is over you can watch one about their flock of Indie ducks.
http://www.harrisonswaterfowl.co.uk/exhibitionrouens.htm
Many people haven't a clue of what all the fuss is about with show bred fowl so I have added another link to some fine poultry and Call ducks. http://wyandottesonline.com/
To see some really outstanding pictures of White Calls go to the side bar and click on Calls and wait for it to load. Super short bills is a mark of a good Call duck and you rarely find any of decent quality at a local swap.
I have raised ducks off and on again for around 50 years with great success [actually at times too good]. I have raised them with and w/o swimming water and found little difference in their reproduction or health. When they wanted a bath most of them just crawled up into a big watering pan and made a mess of the chicken yard.
With the rest of the breeds swimming water is optional. Mallards can fly as far as they feel like and have been known to leave and not return if they are allowed to mingle with a wild flock.
I used to have 10 colors of show bred Call ducks and had to keep a wire cover on their individual pens to keep them from flying around and/or mixing indiscriminately with each other. I had a few that flew something like 200 yards to the nearest pond before gracefully skimming to a slow stop on the surface. If they are not overly fat they can fly as well as any Mallard.
I had some outstanding Black Indies until they located a cattle feeder
3/10ths of a mile from their yard and the drake died from eating cattle feed laced with antibiotics. I have seen them take off and think that they were never going to return but they always did. Dean
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gothchickenlady <gothchickenlady@...> wrote:
Marla
I house my 3 Gray Calls in a 2 hole rabbit hutch. The back faces the North to keep out the wind.
The front area has wire bottom and sides, 2 doors on the front. The "sleeping" area is completely covered and the back of the hutch swings up to open. That are also is open and in not divided up.
I use a mixing pan, bought at Lowes for their pool. They spend more time in it that they do anything else. Regardless of the weather. I've broken the ice off of it and they still spend the day regardless of the cold. It is supported underneath with metal strapping and is flush with the floor. Love the sink idea. But beware of how you plan on draining it. Ducks are stinky lil poop machines. I bale mine and then dump it.
Depending on the breed they may need water to breed in. I've only seen my Calls do it in their pool. Same with some of my larger breed ducks. I had a Rouen and a Pekin, they used the pool. My Runners don't need that option.
I use containers like Cool whip size for their food and water. That way they can dip their bills. Oh and that get's nasty too and I change 2x a day.
I'm planning on ordering Indies when I order more Runners. They are gorgeous birds!
Also, Calls can fly. Not to far or high, but they can. Found that out from personal experience, but that's another story.
Feel free to email me outta group with any other questions, Google Call Duck habitats. There are some really over the top one's out there. Where we are now is only temp, so I'm keeping it simple.
Dawn aka Gothy
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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