Recent content by Carisblues

You can build a water table for them if you really feel that they need water during the extra long winter months. During the rest of the year they really don’t need it overnight if you are putting them up about 9-ish and letting them back out early. (I think Holderread says they can go 10hrs...

1. If you don't care about getting eggs, then I would go with two males. Males are quiet, and females are loud. If you want eggs, a good quiet small breed is Australian Spotted (and surprisingly tameable). I have a breeding pair that you would hardly know exist, they are so quiet. My female only...

I have a drake that was hatched in May 2014 that I am looking to sell. I have one too many drakes. He is hatched from Holderread stock. Can post pics if interested.

Do you have any other animals? Ducks are a flocking bird, and I would be concerned about stress if it were by itself for so long while you are away. Not like a dog or a cat. Not that I'm suggesting putting the dog or cat in with the duckie! But you may want to consider two ducks to keep each...

For the bantam ducks, you might want to use the coated hardware cloth. That way it will not tear into their feet. However, it is too flimsy for a full-sized duck. I will see if I have a picture somewhere.

Yes! I had a broody Silkie hen that I slipped Australian Spotted Duck eggs under this past summer. She not only was a perfect broody, but hatched all of the eggs and raised those little guys like a pro! The only thing was that I had to take her off of the nest every day to go poop, eat, drink...

Last winter I built a wire platform (1"x1" wire) large enough to put the heated water bucket on and also for the ducks to come drink around it (approx. 2'x2'). Then I took a lid from a plastic food grade bucket from the grocery store bakery and cut a hole in the center and latched it to the top...

I've been searching this thread and other places, and I was wondering if laying ducks would need added oyster shell if being fed a flock raiser? My crazy Welsh Harlequins are laying straight through the winter, and they are housed with the drakes. I am using up the last of my breeder feed from...

Haven't posted in a while. I have a silkie hen sitting on 4 Australian Spotted duck eggs. She has been doing a great job so far. My last candling was Saturday the 5th. All four looked great. That was day 19. I will candle for the last time on the 24th day which will be the 10th. My question is...

Question: I just picked up some Doms this weekend: 3 hens and a roo. 2 hens and the roo were hatched out in October, and 1 hen was hatched in June. My existing flock, which is 1 year old, consists of 3 Ameraucana hens and 1 very sweet roo, 2 speckled sussex hens, 3 black sex-link hens and 1...

Thanks! I think I'll place my order today!!!

Can anyone tell me what they mean by "tend to stay close to home"? I would like to raise Anconas, but only have slightly over an acre. I let my chickens free-range after they lay for me, usually after noon, and they stay pretty close to the house and out of the road. Will the Ancona ducks do the...

Hi, we just went through an ordeal with our silkie chick. His middle toe was curled under but we doctored him with vitamin b and made him a boot with tape. After his foot healed up, he still would not put weight on the leg. After examining him closely, we found that his umbilical cord was...