Some Quick Runner Duck Questions?
I instantly fell in love with the Runner duck when I first saw it, and I am thinking about getting a few for pets, but I have a few questions about them first…
1. Can they fly at all, what about when there are young?
2. Are they loud?
3. Do they need additional heat in the winter?
4. Do they over heat in the summer?
5. Something that oddly shaped seems like they would have problems with there legs and backs, do they? Any other health problem?
6. Are they friendly?
7. Will there get along with my chickens and other ducks?
8. Minium, how many should I get?
1. Some can, but they can’t get far up at all and can’t go long distances.
2. The females of any duck species are pretty loud, esp. during breeding season and after they have babies. males are very quiet.
3. Usually not, unless you live somewhere with extreme low temps.
4. Any ducks can overheat in the summer if you live somewhere hot. You must keep kiddie pools full of cold water out, most need o be changed every day in the summer to keep the water cold.
5. No.
6. It really depends on the individual ducks. You must understand their nature. You cannot pick them up, pet them, cuddle them, etc. like a dog or cat. You get the rare few who really bond to you that let you do those things, but most don’t want anything from you but food once they are grown.
7. If you have adult ducks in an already established flock, no. Most likely the adults will beat the new ones up and continually try to hurt them. They will get along with chickens.
8. The general rule is no less than 3. Ducks are flock animals, they NEED the company of other ducks, esp. ones their age that they can grow up with and bond with.