After months of trying to convince my DH we need ducks he said if I want them I can get them, however....they will be my responsibilty, not his. He went to Home Depot yesterday and got 2x4s, hardware cloth (rabbit wire), chicken wire, hinges and hardware for the doors (he's putting one in each end of the run. This weekend he came home with a very large dog crate he got for $20, he said hopefully they will nest in it. He is going to go to Coastal Farm & Supply this weekend to check out watering troughs for a swimming pool (he feels a kiddie pool just won't last long enough); he said he will put a spigot of some sort at the bottom so I can attach the hose to drain it easily. He's already built a fence around the area where our veggie garden will be next year; the duck pen will be right next to it. He's done all this so far even though the ducks will be MY responsibilty.....yep, I think he's already becoming a duck slave.....LOL!!!!! I won't be getting duckies until spring, maybe February at the earliest, so it's going to be a long wait. Oh well, it will give me time to learn more and get everything ready, like a brooder.
This message was edited Aug 27, 2009 1:27 PM
Duck dream becoming reality! Woohoo!
Loreen!! I'm so happy for you, I think your right! He has alread become addicted and he is your's and doodle duck's slave already. I just love it when the man becomes the slave and thinks it was all his idea. I have done it, and it's so nice to have the company. LOL...Haystack
YAY! you will enjoy them. They are really fun to watch.
I already have two people wanting to buy duck eggs! I've told them it will be about a year before I have any. They said that is fine since they can't find anyone who sells fresh ducks around here they will be happy to wait a bit longer. The few Asian markets that carry duck eggs here only have balut or the salted ones.....icky. If all goes as planned I plan on getting the ducklings in late February, early March so I'm guessing they would start laying around this time next year?
Congrats LoreenH!
Have you decided on a breed yet? I've had Khaki Campbells and they are great layers(most of the year even during the winter) and I've seen at Metzer Farms the Golden 300 Hybrid duck which is supposed to be excellent layers(I haven't had this breed myself)
website for the Golden 300: http://metzerfarms.com/egg_prod.htm
I live on the east coast and have ordered through this hatchery with wonderful results(you're much closer!) Just some food for thought!!
I am probably going to get Swedes; I think I prefer the black over the blue. I am going to get them from Metzer's, I had already checked them out. Thank you for your input on Metzers, I've had others also tell me they are a good place to get ducks.
Make sure to post pics when you get them!!
Ignorance is calling -- what is balut?
Brigidlily,
Sorry, I should have put the description. I had to look it up on the web after the first store told me those are all they carry. They are fertilized eggs allowed to develop for 18 days, then hard-boiled. Not something I ever want to try.
Ew.
Thanks. I think. Somebody else can have mine, too.
one new duck owner to another
Congrats
Hoooray! I'm so excited for you! They are delightful to watch, especially in their pool. Fabulous! I don't know how you can stand to wait until spring and be so patient....I'd lose my marbles! Oh wait, I already lost 'em.
Hey Claire, I think I just saw one roll by!! lol!
Yes, it's going to be a long wait until spring but I have other obligations I'm getting finished with that need too much of my time right now. I know Metzers starts shipping in February so that's really late winter; it's also my birthday month so the duckies will be a birthday gift to myself. We will also be more financially able then too, and not have to cut corners as much. I just need to stop looking at all the duckling/duck pics people post on the forums I'm on (like that is going to happen.....lol).
Just to taunt you a little. I know Moxon ducks get to swim in the bath tub, but mine are having to make do with a wash tub.
Mine or rather Billys will make in Billys pool, he donated it to them today... Got two more, so now we have a total of 6. One Boy and 5 girls...
Awwww Porkpal, that's adorable! You are lucky that yours all fit in the washtub. I had too many, ergo the bathtub. So cute!
Very cute ducklings Porkpal. Someone in another forum posted a pic of their ducklings swimming in a roasting pan....lol!!! We had opportunity to get an old clawfoot bathtub but the pen is too narrow....it's 6x20....and we have no other place for it in the backyard, I think it would have been a cute idea. I thought about a washtub too, but it would be hard to empty since it will be in the pen; we are going to use a 40 gallon, or maybe a little bigger, stock tank. My DH will fix it so I can attach a hose to drain it easily.