Indian runner ducks

[frank4]

I recently aquired 3 indian runners about 2 years old 1 male who is very mean to any chicken and 2 females.I keep them penned up if the chickens are out .I was hoping I could use them to clean up under the fruit trees and slugs around the strawberries but there hard to herd.I have not put out any grit there is gravel all over, the chickens have been fine for the last several years. I have been feeding them layer pellets ,oyster shell and scratch.They have made a nest in a brooder house,but I have no eggs yet. Does anyone have any experience with these?

My thought process also was later in the year if things get worse I may not be able to get feed for the chickens if things get really bad, I hear the ducks are prolific egg layers and don't need as much special feed I have to 2 acres of greens here to eat.I wanted to have consistent source of protein for my kids to eat.

[Beaners]

We don't have runner ducks, we have Khaki Campbells and a Blue Swede. I'm very surprised that they don't herd well. That breed is actually used in herding dog trials.
I'd try slowing down and not putting so much pressure on them if they are spooking and scattering. They are a more flighty bird but they should stay together pretty well.

The feed they are getting sounds fine, we feed layer mash and cracked corn here. They should lay through the winter better than chickens, assuming they start laying for you sometime soon. Is there any chance they are laying somewhere else and you aren't finding the eggs? My own ducks don't make much of a nest, they just lay their eggs in their indoor pen in the early AM and I gather them when I let them into their outdoor pen around breakfast time.

It is possible that the move may have stopped their laying temporarily. How long ago did you get them? If they are about two years old they aren't in their laying prime anymore, but they should still be laying for you. I don't know how well they would lay without a consistent feed source if things get bad. They might be able to find enough feed to survive on, but I don't know if they would still lay eggs. I'm also not sure how much they eat compared to chickens and how much more egg you get. We are growing some corn to feed through the winter, but I'm not sure if we would be able to provide all the feed they would need to maintain laying from our property right now.

Kayleigh

[frank4]

I have had them about 4 days I guess I am expecting to much .When they do start laying should I should probably start incubating the eggs after about a dozen.I thought they would be in there prime.I will work on trying to herd them problem is they always go back into the pen and its hard to get them out of there once they run in.Plus I have a 3 and a 5 year old that are helping.I will work on it.

[packyderms_wife]

I have had them about 4 days I guess I am expecting to much .When they do start laying should I should probably start incubating the eggs after about a dozen.I thought they would be in there prime.I will work on trying to herd them problem is they always go back into the pen and its hard to get them out of there once they run in.Plus I have a 3 and a 5 year old that are helping.I will work on it.

Yep you are expecting WAYYYYYYYYYYY too much of your ducks that are new to your place. Leave them in the pen for a few days maybe even a week to get used to the place, noises, etc., and slowly introduce your kids to them. Think of them as being like a new puppy or kitten where too much exposure can stress them out and kill them.

Kimberly

[Beaners]

Haha, "helping" is sometimes not as helpful with the little ones involved, right? It is good that they are trying though. It's only been a couple days. I'd give your ducks time to settle in. Let them establish the area as their home, and then work on getting them used to the area outside their pen. Have the children stay in specific places with their arms spread wide. Then you move slowly and let the ducks travel at their own pace. It doesn't take a lot of pressure to move flighty ducks, as long as you don't let them get around you. It does take a while to get it right though. My neighbors have had a lot of laughs at my expense.

I don't think they are going to up and keel over on you or anything, they aren't ancient ducks. They have just laid for a year and a half so far and they won't produce as well as a brand new duck would. I'd wait till they have been laying for a little while before you collect the eggs for hatching. The first few eggs aren't as likely to be fertile. You will want replacements but it isn't too urgent. The only thing I would make sure of is that your hatchlings will be big enough to stay outside by the time it gets cold out. We had indoor ducklings for about a month and a half last winter and it was a very stinky adventure.

Kayleigh

[frank4]

So its been a couple months,3 weeks ago a coyote got the drake.I bought 4 more indian runners today 3 female and a drake over 6 weeks old they should start laying in about 3 months.when I went too introduce everyone today I found 2 eggs the size of a bantams eggs.We broke them open and it was just clear albumin no yolk.These girls have it all layer pellets,scratch,grit,oyster shell and all the slugs and all the greens they can eat does anyone have any ideas whats going on with the eggs? Do you think maybe they are just gearing up to start laying again kinda of like chickens when they start laying? The herding works well now I just start moving towards them with my arms wide and they head for the pen.

Thanks everyone for the help,

frank

[CrossCreekTX]

Yes, you should get good eggs soon. They frequently will lay wind eggs or double yolkers when they are gearing up. Runners tend to be nervous birds, but excellent layers. I don't try to hatch duck eggs in summer because the heat tends to decrease fertility. If you have a pond, get some duckweed for it. The birds will eat a lot of the duckweed for nutrition and the water will help keep them cool and improve fertility.

Don't let the ducks out too early in the morning so they will lay their eggs in the pen.

Find a solar light or two and put in the pen. It will draw insects at night and the ducks will feast on them all night. I don't coop ducks or geese. They always come to the yard light at night and the Pyrs watch over them.

[natty threads]

I've never had ducks lay through the winter. Here in AK they are very seasonal layers.

Our runner ducks were sadly not very hardy- we lost several the first summer we had them.

Bless up,
Natty

[goatlady]

I prefer the Khakie Campbells myself, not near as nervous and a bit heftier body, not near as inclined to "run" as the other name implies! My hens would lay out in the tall grass in the pasture not in the coop. Ducks don't seem to "coop" as well as chickens do. You do know the eggs taste a bit different than chicken eggs and have a tendancy to be "rubbery" when fried.