Posts by GrannyCarol

It can get quite cold here, though not yet this year. I have a mixed flock of ducks, Silver Appleyards, Welsh Harlequins, Saxonys, Anconas, Khaki Campbells and a few crosses. I bed down their "house" (a converted storage shed) with oat...

I would say that most drakes mature in the spring when they are about a year old, its pretty early in the season for him to be interested. Drakes are a lot more active in the spring. Give him a couple more months and he'll likely be...

I used to do about 2 duck eggs for a recipe that calls for 3 chicken eggs, but that's too much work to figure out. I just toss them in one for one, except for my really big eggs (my Appleyards and Saxonys lay 3 - 4 oz eggs!), I'd cut...

I have a Welsh Harlequin/Khaki Campbell cross that looks just like that in color. However, if your duckling is as big as the Pekin you have, it could be a Rouen. A Mallard would be quite small next to a Pekin, so I don't think that is...

Why would we cull golds? They ARE the original standard in England. The silvers came later and are considered incorrect in the country of origin. I love them both. :)

Please remove me from the Breeder's list. I'm cutting back and may or may not have eggs available next year, but I'm done with separating ducks for the summer! Thank you very much!  

If her neck/head is bald, he is probably mating her. Perhaps what you think is beating her up is actually mating? The male climbs on the back of the female and hangs on to her feathers until he is done. There is a good deal of flopping...

I would try giving it B vitamins as well as electrolytes. Ducks specifically  need Niacin and can develop neurological and lameness issues if they are deficient. Put 100 mg of Niacin in each gallon of drinking water or I've heard...

I find that by 3 weeks I can start to hear happy girl noises (but you have to know what to listen for) when they eat. Unfortunately, I can never tell which duckling is doing the happy chortle. :)  At 4 - 5 weeks I can start to...

I still have two of the three I got from Holderreads some 8 years ago. They are still beautiful and healthy. I like the breed, though I have others that I like better (mostly because of fancier colors!). Enjoy!