[Wizard]

Annie Gavo The rest of the shed is nice clean bedding they are bedded with nice wood shavings or chopped straw every morning.The CVF ducks have a lot of room compared to some chickens I have seen on deep litter.A very short life of luxury.Plenty of food and drink and a nice bed.

[Wizard]

Annie type in the google box Cherry Valley Duckling and follow the pictures One lot shows the cold store and freezer prep lines

[gavo]

But they don't get to exhibit normal behaviour ie dabbling in muddy puddles; having a good [nose] beak in the mud and immersing their head under water to clean and preen and having a swim.

[northfifeduckling]

Womble, as you know I wouldn't want to be without my ducks. But I had to say goodbuy to my lawn, as they found a spring, created a stream and now are determined to build a pond...the duck house is harder to clean than a chook house, but I do it less often. The ducks eat less than the new chickens! So it evens itself out, really...And aren't our birds having a great life! 

[marigold]

This article shows cherry valley in quite a good light. This farm had 300 cherry valley ducks.
Maybe they run a franchise business. This made me feel better about them - what do you think?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-446357/Resilient-Stumpy-legged-duckling-steps-limelight.html

[Wizard]

Although its a very short life and they don't go outside They want for nothing in the growing sheds The shed has continuous food water and is maintained nice and warm about 70 F Yes there are several farms who have CVF ducks where the ducklings are brought to the farm,All the needs are provided for the ducks the farmer only has to look after them.

[gavo]

Ducks are designed for an outdoor life;and as egg producers are not picking up all those little extras that make their eggs special and full of goodness if they live in a shed.Why must mankind force animals to live totally unnatural lives?I have customers who have previously bought shed produced duck eggs and after eating our free range eggs would not go back.Not only better for the customer but even better for the duck.

Sorry to get on my soap box[family call me the food police].

[Wizard]

There is a fairly simple answer Gavo Money!

[gavo]

I keep all my livestock free range and still manage to make a profit [not huge] but a profit. Not just money but greed and the self important belief that we are the only species on this planet that matter; and the thought we can plunder what we like with no consequences;are to blame. I don't charge an excessive amount for my eggs either £1  per half doz which seems to be the average quoted on here;and much cheaper than the supermarkets.

[marigold]

The more I watch my animals the more difficult i find it to eat any animal that hasn't lived a free range life. I do wonder if I will end up vegetarian. I hope not. But the ducks are so sweet I'm really not sure about killing them. I wish we had a local despatcher as on the 'accidental' thread.

[Wizard]

Sorry Gavo No intention of quarreling but can you think of how much space you would need for a million ducks think of the mess they would make free range think of the labour involved instead of £6-£7 they would be X 10 I think a few in the yard is a different thing.Like you Marigold but one does become attached and children think like the Bambi story I posted

[jameslindsay]

So Wizard, because it makes it easier for man it is acceptable to keep too many animals caged up in appauling conditions?

[marigold]

I hope we're you're all still going to be friends at the end of this debate?

[Wizard]

No james not at all just cheaper to the mass consumer Of course we are we are airing our views arn't we james

[jameslindsay]

Oh Wizard ofcourse we are just airing our personal views. Although from time to time we do get some good heated arguements debates on here.