Recent content by Michael P

  1. Michael P

    Hatcheries with welsh harlequins?

    Yes, except during the hottest part of the summer and during the molt.
  2. Michael P

    Hatcheries with welsh harlequins?

    I have never kept careful records, but with 3 original hens and now 7, I always have extra eggs to give away to friend and neighbors.
  3. Michael P

    Hatcheries with welsh harlequins?

    Unfortunately none available. Two weeks ago I gave some hatching eggs to a local school for a class project. Those may come back to me at some point. I also can save hatching eggs for you if interested. Here is a photo of some of my drakes when they were younger.
  4. Michael P

    Hatcheries with welsh harlequins?

    I have 5 drakes available that were hatched last year. My original birds came from Broken Paddle Farm, and their stock came from Metzer. I'm no expert, but I believe my birds meet the standard. One drake has a wry tail; he had difficulty hatching and was a help-out. The only reason I am...
  5. Michael P

    Question about raising mullards

    Thanks!
  6. Michael P

    Question about raising mullards

    If you raise mullards for meat, do you use a Muscovy drake and a Mallard-derived duck? Will the reverse work? Thanks for any answers.
  7. Michael P

    Drakes Eclipse/Nuptial Plumage pics

    I have two cells for solitary confinement and two drakes--sorry no room! When the molt starts and the testosterone storm subsides I hope they can go out on parole.
  8. Michael P

    Drakes Eclipse/Nuptial Plumage pics

    Good timing. I was looking at my Welsh Harlequin drakes today and thought, "You guys are a little rough in the feather department." It doesn't help that they are both in drake jail for serial spouse abuse.
  9. Michael P

    quieter ducks

    I don't have other breeds to compare them to, but my Welsh Harlequins are almost never annoying. They quack quietly to themselves and only raise their voices when there is a real threat. I have both drakes and ducks.
  10. Michael P

    Duck Enclosure.

    Do your dogs react properly to hawks and other raptors? Just wondering because some dogs are great with terrestrial predators, but don't recognize the flying ones as a threat. I've had both types of dogs. Other than that possibility, it sounds like duck heaven.
  11. Michael P

    Ducklings wanted in Dallas area

    The Tractor Supply in Mesquite did have ducklings several weeks ago. You could call them, or the Wylie and McKinney stores which are usually better stocked.
  12. Michael P

    Pond/Pool Layout

    Trex and other plastic/wood fiber composites conduct heat better than wood, so "feel" much hotter to bare skin. One way to lessen this is to use the lightest color Trex you can find. Light colors absorb less solar heat and feel cooler. My guess is that the ducks will splash so much water on...
  13. Michael P

    Do these ducks look good?

    The Pekins are dirty and in poor feather. But part of that may be age.
  14. Michael P

    Wild Duck becoming tame?

    OK, since she's not a native duck and her presence doesn't interfere with the purpose of the reserve, then just enjoy her tameness. Ducks learn the difference between humans and predators, so I don't think you are putting her in any increased danger.
  15. Michael P

    Wild Duck becoming tame?

    I assume since you are working in a kiwi reserve she must be a native duck. New Zealanders are strict about these things! Do the native ducks lack fear of humans as some other New Zealand wildlife does? Are there are wildlife biologists around that you can talk to about this? They will focus...
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