[Raine]

 


We are looking at what project to do next on our smallholding.  We have a few options, but I am hoping for some advice on what would be involved with setting up an area for ducks or an area for turkeys.
We have a beck running through our property, so water isn't a problem for waterfowl.


Ducks would be for eggs, meat and pets (8ish breeding stock)
Turkeys for meat (6 max -none kept for breeding)


Any advice greatly received.

[mentalmilly]

We have 3 muscovy ducks and one drake and one aylesbury drake with 3 khaki x aylesbury ducks. Breeding stock we hope.The khaki lay eggs for us to eat and the muscovy are for meat.  Lovely meat and we hope to hatch our first eggs this year.  Kept turkeys for xmas last year, they ate a lot, but not bomb proof like ducks.  Found the ducks take less looking after and highly entertaining.  Lovely things. So impressed with ducks ( our first year ) that we hope to get some silver appleyards as well.  We have a pond for them all and lots of space so they all get on quite well. Good luck.

[HelenVF]

We have runner ducks, as well as khaki campbells and crosses.  Mainly for eggs and just because.  We also have turkeys.  We have a walled in area, which is gated where they are at night, but the turkeys roost up the apple tree.  We open the gate in the morning, and then they are free range.  We have a small stream running across the field where they mainly go and I quite often watch them paddling around in it.

The turkeys go where they want but usually wander around the road, or come into the garden.  I have found them to be pretty easy to keep but I think the fact they are free range helps a lot as they do forage for a lot of their own food.

Helen

[fairhaven]

Ducks... We keep muscovys, aylesburys, mallards & appleyard - all for meat & eggs. The muscovy ducks are more like sirloin steak, with a very firm, meaty texture & good flavour. The others are all pretty good for meat, the aylesburys are my personal favourite for meat (Hubby prefers the muscovy meat, being a 'steak' man!)   All are great fun to keep, the muscovys are quieter as they don't quack.
Turkeys... we have only kept Norfolk Bronze for 2 years, but as they provide more eggs than the chickens, in the end we decided to keep them for eggs & breeding instead of eating them!   They are only noisy when disturbed (or complaining to me when I forget their treats  ) 

Warning... All of the above are highly addictive!   

[HesterF]

I've got the duck bug - I got a few silver appleyards last autumn and they're brilliant! Ducks are currently laying each and every day - like clockwork - not like the chickens (Orpingtons) who faff around, sometimes laying lots,sometimes none. They don't lay all year round but they started coming into lay in January and I think should lay through until October/November time so that's not bad. Only problem I've had is that my original pair was supposed to be 2 1/2 but I suspect they're older and the drake's fertility is not good. I was hoping to breed more this year but virtually every batch of eggs I've tried has been infertile - so far I've only managed one duckling (fortunately with a broody so he's not too lonely). I'm hoping he is a he so that I can use him for breeding next year. That's just my problem though - not a breed problem. They're also fun to watch although ours are not that tame.

Meantime I've just ordered some Utility Aylesbury and Cayuga hatching eggs so fingers crossed we'll have three breeds of ducks by next year. My husband also far prefers the ducks to the chickens - he's positively encouraging which is unusual.

I've got turkeys on my 'to do' list but need to have a bigger fenced off area (away from the hens) first so interested to hear how you get on with them. I was never a big fan until I went to pick up a pair of ducks from a place that had turkeys and they were very cute and I loved the chatty noise they made (quite gentle sounding).

H

[Blinkers]

All I can say is - buy Turkey Poults rather than hatch your own or buying day olds etc - they are the most horrendous idiots for committing suicide in every way, shape and form.   Once they get to 6-8 weeks they seem to develop a brain and are OK.