I have 3 month old Indian Runners, 3 ducks and 2 drakes. I'm raising them chiefly for the eggs. Does anyone know what kind of nests I should construct for them?

George Gunn
Palo Cedro, CA
ggunn@shasta.edu

My Runners tended to drop their eggs anywhere. When they get serious about nesting, it was always under something. Last time it was under a truck door leaning against a building.

The nesting box condos you get at feed stores are usually too small for the long runner duck. I provide straw and leaves near a larger 3 sided structure of the same or similar shape. They like to be well hidden, but also like visability. If scared off their nest often, they will abandon it.

I have also seen Runner hens co-parent when their ducklings hatch around the same time. One will babysit while the other bathes or goes foraging.

I was wondering if you could tell me if indian runner ducks like to have a pond to swim in. I just purchased a couple and was told that they don't need to have swimming water. Thanks, bearpaw

Indian Runners like most ducks do not need water to live they need drinking water that they can get there head into. They would probably like to have a small pool you can buy one of those small plastic kiddy pools they work great. If you are trying to breed your Indian Runners then you should get a pool becuase ducks breed on the water and the pool will help the breeding process.

My runners are free ranged on a river. They spend most all the time in the river. Although it is said they do not need swim water I can not imagine them without it. They are most happy in it. I provide a shelter with food & straw as our winters are very cold. As it turned out they prefered to only eat there. & chose to nest elsewhere. They are very friendly as they always come to me when I call them.

I have a male and a female. She seems to be a good layer but will not sit on the eggs. How long can she be off the eggs before they will not hatch? Someone told me she may come back to the same site several times to lay another egg and when she has a good number whe will sit on them. Is this true?

Hi Anne My husband and I breed runners and ours have never set their own eggs. We use an incubator or muscovy ducks to hatch them. We were told that they just don't sit on their own eggs and so far have found that to be true. Don't know why though. So maybe you might need to look for alternatives as well if she doesn't sit of her own accord. Good luck!

Thanks so much Christine. So far we have 1 duckling and she is still sitting. Will she take care of the chicks? Will they eat chick crumbles from day one? Anything else I should know?