[jameslindsay]

oops! trying to 'chat' in too many different threads at the one time me thinks!!!  yup, hubbards are chickens.....egglady slides off into the corner in shame....

Well done Laura

[darkbrowneggs]

I have found by far the best breed is hybrid white Muscovy. They are massive. One side of a breast fillet is easily enough for for two or three servings. They are quiet and don't quack and live quite happily on maize and what ever they find there selves. I keep them semi free range in an enclosure with a anti fox fencing. They are quite prolific layers too an have kept us and the in-laws in eggs. They have just stopped laying 2 weeks ago and will start again early spring.

LB     

Hi - that sounds interesting.  I used to keep Muscovies many years ago, but found the meat a little too meaty and not as ducky as I would have liked, so changed to Silver Appleyard, and now hopefully Rouen, but as yet have not had sufficient to eat. 

Your hybrid type sounds good.  What exactly goes into the mix, or do you buy in dayolds from somewhere. 


Tell me more - I am all ears (can't find a big eared smiley )

All the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi folks,

        thanks for all your feedback. I like the sound of the Muscovys. I used to work on a rare breeds farm in my youth and we had a number of them there. Seem to recall they were messy though but I think thats just a duck thing?

B

[darkbrowneggs]

   All ducks are messy - it goes with being a duck

All the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

[CarolW]

Hi, we have 5 campbell ducks and 1 campbell drake.  They share their a large run with our chickens (it's two runs really but with a dividing gate)and although they stick to themselves they've all been ok since we opened the divider.
They are still laying between 4 -5 eggs a day and you are welcome to a batch if you want.  We live near Selby, North Yorkshire.

[daniellestocks]

a friend says aylesbury/pekins are best for meat, and was also told white campbells lay more than khakis aparently 

[Elissian]

muscovies take 35 days to hatch so make sure she'll sit for that long

[Sylvia]

I keep Aylesburys for meat and White and Khaki Campbells for eggs. The Campbell drakes are dispatched for meat and though not a great deal on them are tasty. I would say the Whites are the most prolific egg layers.
A friend swears by Cayuga for both meat and eggs. Her drakes are pretty big.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks for the offer of eggs CarolW. Have sent you a PM.

 I have an a chicken coop and run that my hens are not too fond of that I think the ducks will like Its an apex one that is on ground level with a large pop hole ( like a dog Kenel) I know they wont use the nest boxes and I can remove the perches. What bedding matterials will I need and how high will the run need to be? In fact what will I need in my "duck starter kit"?

My broody probably would sit for the full term with the duck eggs (she sat for 4 weeks without any eggs ) However she is now busy with some hens eggs that a friend gave her which are due to hatch next thursday so I intend to have a go at hatching the duck eggs in an incubator that I hope to buy at the national poultry show in Nov.

Thanks as ever for the advice,

Buffy

[CarolW]

Just let me know when you're ready -hopefully they will still be laying - and we can sort something out.  Not sure if I mentioned 3 are White and 2 are Khaki - plus Charlie of course!  We don't have to herd them into their hut anymore on an evening, they go in on their own so we just have to drop the door.
And, most of the time, they lay their eggs in the hut! Which is brill.