Duck Facts:
Here are some commonly asked questions and their answers:
Can I keep ducks with my chickens? Many people do keep ducks with chickens-I do. Chickens like to roost up on perches, and the ducks stay on the ground. But of course it depends on your particular birds -it's just like kids, some get along and some don't!
When can ducklings live outside? Ducklings can live outside when they are fully feathered at about 4-6 weeks. You can move them outside earlier if you provide them with an area to get out of the elements/drafts and add a heat source. An enclosed coop with a heat lamp would be fine.
When can I expect Ancona Ducks to start laying? Anconas usually start to lay at about 20-24 weeks. My birds hatched at the end of June started laying in February-I attribute their late start to the lack of daylight hours. As soon as the days started getting longer, they started to lay.
Can I keep just a single duck? It's best to keep ducks at least a pair of ducks (does not have to be male/female pair). Ducks enjoy the company of other ducks.
Molting: Ducklings are in a constant state of growing and losing feathers for the first few months of their lives. Ducklings hatch out covered in down which are soon replaced by juvenile feathers. By about 8 weeks the ducklings will sport their juvenile plumage where both sexes look a like, and then at 16-20 weeks their adult plumage comes in. After the Spring breeding season, adult birds will molt all of their feathers and will sport drab feathers for most of the summer with these being replaced in early fall with their breeding plumage once more.
What do I do with their eggs? Well you eat them of course? Did you know that duck eggs have many benefits over chicken eggs? No? Take a look!
Useful links:
How to tell if ducks are laying (works for chickens too)
Here are some commonly asked questions and their answers:
Can I keep ducks with my chickens? Many people do keep ducks with chickens-I do. Chickens like to roost up on perches, and the ducks stay on the ground. But of course it depends on your particular birds -it's just like kids, some get along and some don't!
When can ducklings live outside? Ducklings can live outside when they are fully feathered at about 4-6 weeks. You can move them outside earlier if you provide them with an area to get out of the elements/drafts and add a heat source. An enclosed coop with a heat lamp would be fine.
When can I expect Ancona Ducks to start laying? Anconas usually start to lay at about 20-24 weeks. My birds hatched at the end of June started laying in February-I attribute their late start to the lack of daylight hours. As soon as the days started getting longer, they started to lay.
Can I keep just a single duck? It's best to keep ducks at least a pair of ducks (does not have to be male/female pair). Ducks enjoy the company of other ducks.
Molting: Ducklings are in a constant state of growing and losing feathers for the first few months of their lives. Ducklings hatch out covered in down which are soon replaced by juvenile feathers. By about 8 weeks the ducklings will sport their juvenile plumage where both sexes look a like, and then at 16-20 weeks their adult plumage comes in. After the Spring breeding season, adult birds will molt all of their feathers and will sport drab feathers for most of the summer with these being replaced in early fall with their breeding plumage once more.
What do I do with their eggs? Well you eat them of course? Did you know that duck eggs have many benefits over chicken eggs? No? Take a look!
Useful links:
How to tell if ducks are laying (works for chickens too)
