The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Marketplace => Topic started by: Womble on January 02, 2012, 11:03:07 pm
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By popular demand, this Spring's project is to be rearing some table ducks (Pekin, Aylesbury, etc. etc.).
So, just so I know who to contact once we get a few broody hens, does anybody on here keep a flock?
Thanks in advance!
Womble.
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I am sure chap where we get Hubbard eggs also has table ducks. I shall be ordering Hubbards beginning of March. Could order some duck eggs at same time if required, just let me know.
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We would need to do a separate hatch for ducks, so would need a lot of folk interested I think but I think I can persuade a friend to leave his small incubator here a little longer if you want to hatch them yourself, David. It takes 10 duck eggs. I also have his heat lamp. Orders for Hubbards and Turkeys direct to Andrew please.
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Womble had mentioned hatching duck eggs under a broody, I also have an incubator which takes 18 eggs and could use that to do a duck hatch.
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That sounds really good Andrew - perhaps the best bet would be to fill your 18-egg incubator, and just take it from there. We'd be looking for about ten to try, and maybe other folks would be interested in some as well? (we could look after until off-heat if required). March is about right too - please will you find out about prices nearer the time?
What do you think?
P.S. The same chap doesn't do geese too does he? Only once the ducks are in the freezer, I'll be looking for a few of them as well! ;D
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WE reared a batch of day-old ducklings (for meat) last spring, they were an early March hatch and we found that half of them (5 out of ten) developed deformed legs/wings (we thought rickets). Two died fairly early on, the other three were reared but the roasts are a bit skewed, the breastbone looks somewhat off to one side, and they were not able to walk properly... and not as big as we would have hoped. The other five were fine.
I think the cause was probably not enough sunlight/good quality feed for the parent stock. These were layed as eggs in late January/early February - so for our next batch we are waiting for at least an April hatch!
Just something to keep in mind if you are using a large commercial supplier - all their stock will be inside at this time of year.
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I reared some cherry valley ducks a few years ago from day olds delivered to my door - £1.50 each - had to be ordered a month in avance. I got them from poulet anglais who is a commercial supplier - but delivers all over the country. I could find out the details if you are interested. There was 16 reared - one died - dont know why (only ordered 15 but always get an extra free) - no problems with deformation or limping upto table weight but 2 females we kept did eventually need culling as developed lameness - but they were over a year old - and they did lay well
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It is Simon at Poulet Anglais that we are using to get eggs from just now.
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Oh well - we have also got some chicks too from him - grew well and were very healthy