Author Topic: Ducklings (Read 8683 times)

doganjo · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2009, 10:36:31 pm »

My dog sitter comes and stays in the house, looks after my 4 dogs, 2 cats, 4 ducks and 10 chickens all fro £30 a day and only charges half that for the day at each end of my trip away - plus she left me a half bottle of pink bubbly and red roses and carnations her hubby had brought her for Valentines day. She might well do goats too - http://www.pet-royale.co.uk/

jameslindsay · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2009, 10:45:34 am »

I'm very lucky, we go away for 3 weeks every January and my sister has to look after;

3 cocker spaniels
7 Pygmy goats
2 Dairy goats
4 Miniature Shetlands
4 Rabbits
17 Ducks
3 Geese
1 Parrot
3 Goldfish

and oh almost forgot our business too - a busy small hotel!! Where would we be without her?

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2009, 10:01:38 am »

Hi James, We drove past your place a few times now, it looks like a really lovely little hotel! We saw the geese and a pony from the road. When it's a bit warmer we'll stop by for your beer garden and a chat about goats and ducks.

jameslindsay · « **Reply #18 on:** February 26, 2009, 10:52:52 am »

Thanks, you are welcome any time. My 2 Geese bring a new definition to the word "free range". They have the best of both worlds I suppose you could say. They are my geese and patrol my land and get very upset if any of the water fowl from the river decide to visit. However, they spend much of their time out on the river Eden like the wild birds.They have made friends with a bunch of Swans and often go off with them for the day. They have a brilliant time on the water and it is great to watch them. Some nights they refuse to come in so do not get locked up for safety, instead they stay out on the river but always come back early morning for their bread. We did have 3 but the Fox managed to get one a few months ago. I think they have a brilliant life this way though. Often if they are out of sight while on the river when I call on them they make such a racket to let me know they are ok.

jameslindsay · « **Reply #19 on:** March 04, 2009, 07:38:54 pm »

A week ago I set 12 eggs in the incubator. 6 are Indian Runner and 6 are mixed and I am hatching them for a friend. All eggs bought off e bay and when I "candled" them lastnight all 12 were showing signs of developing, so I am well chuffed. Good old e bay!

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #20 on:** March 04, 2009, 07:58:36 pm »

If you need any more "funny mix" fertilised eggs for friends, you can have a box of mine. I won't charge any more than if you eat them, lol! Our girls show no signs of broodiness, so I might come back to you in a few weeks time for ourselves - once we've built the new duckling accommodation. Time is so rare with getting the garden ready to plant at the same time....

jameslindsay · « **Reply #21 on:** March 04, 2009, 08:11:44 pm »

I have only ever had 1 broody duck, she sat on the eggs for the full 28 days but nothing ever hatched, which is why I bought the incubator. To be honest she was far too young, I think, to have hatched anything. No signs of broodiness last year at all, who knows what will happen this year.

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #22 on:** March 04, 2009, 08:21:36 pm »

We had one (of 5) in the nesting box! she sat on over 12 eggs, hatched 5 but failed miserably as a mother. We didn't have the experience either and failed as foster parents too...One of the lot survived and it hasn't decided yet if it's a boy or a girl lol. Another 2 ducks tried it in the garden, which was unsuccessful because we shut them in at night, stupid things! I think all of our ducks are over 1 year old. When it happens next we want to be better prepared or help mother nature a bit...

jameslindsay · « **Reply #23 on:** March 04, 2009, 08:58:31 pm »

Hatching them yourself is enormous fun. Last year was my first attempt and I made mistakes but learnt by them. I keep the ducklings in doors and under a hot lamp for a week or so. On day 2 I normally introduce them to water and swimming. It doesnt matter how much I handle them becasue as soon as they get outside with the other ducks you are forgotton!!!

I then move them and the heat lamp out into a shed as the mess is too much for indoors, they are eating and shitting machines from day 1. Depending on the weather at a few weeks old I put them outside in the enclosure with the adult ducks for a few minutes each day, gradually making it a bit longer day after day. While out here I have them in a wee run which keeps them safe from predators and escaping through any fence as they are still so small. It is good because the adult ducks come up and explore and after a few weeks they are friendly enough that when I eventually let them out of their run there is no trouble.

I love the whole experience with them and they just love lettuce from a very young age.