PURE BREED INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS
At Dovecote Farm, unlike others, we don't do large numbers, we don't do factory level ducking production, and certainly don't do heinz-57 mongrel cross breeds !
We do however raise what we believe to be some of the best Indian Runner ducks in the UK - We only hatch in small numbers, typically 15 or so ducklings at a time, all are hand reared and cared for in those small groups.
All of our birds are from unrelated, exhibition quality parents that have our entire farm to roam free over - happy ducks mean happy (and healthy) ducklings
Originally we started to raise Apricots, as seen in the photos below, and they still account for 90% of our ducklings, but we also have a great choice of grey and white, both ducks and drakes.
RUNNER DUCKS
Originally bred and kept in Indonesa and the far east, their main role for Indian Runners was to wade through the rice and other crops to clear all the slugs, bugs, snails, spiders and insects.
In much the same way that Police can be seen in a line combing a field for evidence, Indian runner ducks will always be seen together as a team.
On the farm here they have full run over our 10 acres, and (when not sleeping!) are constantly working through the grass and undergrowth all around the farm here, keeping all of the nasties away.
OUR HATCHING
New for 2023, we have a new computer controlled veterinary grade incubator for our ducklings, complete with monitored CCTV camera!
After they have spent their 28 days developing, the baby ducklings will hatch in this highly controlled environment.
Both temperature and humidity is constantly checked and adjusted to give the ducklings the best chance of hatching without all of the risks involved in the wild.
Once hatched, after a day or so, they are moved over to one of our brooders, which again is fully heated and where they will be monitored and checked.
After they have grown sufficiently, they will join the enclosed and safe environment of our our young juvenile flock.
LIKE A DUCK TO WATER...
One of the misconceptions about ducks, is that you must have a pond (or a lake!) in your back garden. Although your ducks will love you forever, it is not a requirement, and Indian runners in particular are happy enough just to, er, Run!
Regularly changed clean water is of course needed, and will need to be deep enough for them to get their heads underwater, as they use this for cleaning.
We use simple plastic buckets, and dot these around the farm, as they are easy to change, keep clean and refresh each day.
For feed, they do forage, but will need normal Waterfowl Goose & Duck growers pellets (similar to chicken food) but with the all important added Niacin that all waterfowl need to remain healthy.
If you feed them occasional treats of garden peas this also is a great source of Niacin, and they love them so much they can easily be trained to eat directly from your hand!
SOCIAL CLUB
As with all birds, Indian Ducks love to be in a group, both for a sense of protection and for their social life.
Having one drake in a group is ideal, as his presence not only persuades the ducks to continue laying further into winter, but you are also more likely to average at one egg per bird having him around.
More than one drake in a group is not normally a good idea, as they can sometimes fight between them for the ladies - however keeping drakes together in a batchelor flock is quite successful.
They will live well alongside chickens and other birds, as Indian Runners will generally keep themselves to themselves in their own small groups.
Unlike chickens, they won't dig holes in your gardens or flower beds, preferring just to forage through grass or undergrowth for the bugs !
As they cannot fly, you dont need to have tall walls or fences, a couple of feet high will ensure that they dont stray too far
BIRDS AVAILABLE FROM 20th APRIL 2024 !
For the welfare and health of the ducklings, unlike some "factory farms" we choose not to hatch during the colder winter months.
The first eggs of the season will be started in March, hatch in April, with unsexed ducklings ready to leave from the end of April
As we are one of the very few breeders of Apricot runners in the UK, our ducklings are in very high demand, we may not have sexed juvenile birds available all through the season.
If any birds remain from each hatch, our ducks are available as sexed normally from around 10 weeks old, as by this time their feathers are coming through, and so a reasonably good decision as to their sex can be made
For collection, please bring some suitably sized boxes or carriers to transport the birds - Dark boxes are best, allowing the ducks to settle and relax during the journey.
None of our ducklings require additional heat, or to be fed on specialist duckling food - they are suitable to be housed outdoors, and fed on normal DUCK & GOOSE Grower feed.
SEXED PRICES: (if available from 10 weeks old)
GIRLS - £45 ea GUYS - £20
TRIO -(2 ducks, 1 drake) - £100
UNSEXED DUCKLINGS PRICES:
DUCKLINGS - £30 each
FOUR DUCKLINGS - £110
COME VISIT !
Visits are by appointment only
Please always ensure that you contact us before travelling to confirm that we have suitable ducks available and to arrange a time to meet the flock and collect.
The mobile service here is poor - To contact us, the best way is to use the form on this page, or if you prefer please send us an email
We also a Facebook Page, and you can contact us through that, or via Facebook Messenger or via SMS message.
When travelling, use the Directions link from this website, you will be in a field if you use the postcode!