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Our New Boy is Home - Silver Appleyard Drake
Quick Update: Sir William is doing great--an model drake. They eat and then he eats. Always looking out for everyone! -
Our New Boy is Home - Silver Appleyard Drake
Yesterday, after a few days of see-don't-touch, we introduced Sir William to the flock without any barrier between them. He wasn't quite sure what to do with himself at first, but he (and the girls) all did a great job! After a little while, he decided that the girls were not paying enough... -
Our New Boy is Home - Silver Appleyard Drake
Today is the day!!!! Sir William headed out on this sunny, 45F day (with winds gusting to 40mph...oh well) to meet his ladies. This is a see-but-don't-touch-visit. He will come in tonight and go back out again tomorrow. We're supposed to get a few inches of snow tomorrow night, but if it's not... -
What feed do you give your ducks? How much per duck?
We feed Mazuri Waterfowl feeds and pay $47 for a 50lbs bag from Chewy. No supplements are needed, and we've been thrilled with the results. They have layer, maintenance and starter. We feed free choice, and interestingly, our guys eat less in the winter even though they are not foraging (we... -
Thoughts on ordering ducklings with current bird flu situation.
It's not up to the farm, is it? My understanding is once AI is identified on a farm, everything has to get culled. -
Winter Layers?
Our silver appleyards lay through the winters their first few years and then they progressively take longer breaks each winter. We do not push laying (e.g., supplemental lighting, etc.). Given the other attributes of SAs, we find them to be a great bird...and they recently moved from... -
Introducing new ducks
There is some good advice above. When we bring a new duck onto our farm, we quarantine the new duck. Depending on myriad factors, that QT may last 10 days or a full 30 days. There is some great info on BYC about QTing, and it tends to be a little easier with ducks, but if you have... -
Our QTing Duck is a Great Gardner!
If you are curious to know more about Bill and his QT, there is a thread over the duck area. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/our-new-boy-is-home-silver-appleyard-drake.1656200/#post-28493089 -
Our New Boy is Home - Silver Appleyard Drake
Great News! Day 10 of Sir William's QT, and we just got home from the vet (we have the most amazing avian vet, and her office is less than five minutes from our house....how lucky are we?!). The bottom line is that Bill is great! His heart sounded great, his breathing is "boring" (Yay!), and... -
Our QTing Duck is a Great Gardner!
Thank you so much. Yes, we are quarantining him inside, and he's doing great! He's a silver appleyard, which is the breed with which we work, and they tend to be quite social and mellow ducks in our experience. They are around us a lot daily. Bill seems to be exceptionally chill and social though. -
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Our QTing Duck is a Great Gardner!
QT = Quarantine. We are adding a new drake to our flock. He is a very handsom boy! -
Our New Boy is Home - Silver Appleyard Drake
A week ago today we brought Sir William home. We are so pleased with this handsome boy. He's settled right into the routine around here--from baths to naps to cocktails, he takes it all in stride. We can't wait to introduce him to the girls. As I'm sure you all know, QTing a duck takes a lot... -
Our New Boy is Home - Silver Appleyard Drake
Day 7 of Sir William's QT! Today's bath was full of firsts. First, as soon as we let him out he went straight to the bathroom on his own (through a door, down a hall, through another door, pass by the kitchen, and into the bathroom...lol). Then he waited to be picked up and put in the tub. Then... -
New addition to my ducks
I'm not sure what "on the wing" means in regard to sexing. -
New addition to my ducks
So you are adding a chicken to your duck flock? Do you have any drakes? If so, the chicken hen will likely need to be separated from your drake(s). -
Three Amigos….or three a$$holes?
We raise silver appleyards exclusively (thank you for working with the breed!). As others have said, separate them from your chicken hens for sure. As a boys club, they should be able to work out their pecking order--just keep an eye on them. I'd suggest getting some silver appleyard hens, but... -
Our QTing Duck is a Great Gardner!
We are currently QTing a silver appleyard drake to add to our wee flock of silver appleyards. We were concerned about QTing a drake by himslef, but this guy has turned out to be very social! We are QTing him in the room where we start all our seedlings, and so we are with him most of the day... -
Our New Boy is Home - Silver Appleyard Drake
Today marks day six of Sir William's QT, and we couldn't be more pleased. We were quite concerned about QTing a single drake, but he has done a great job. We do make an effort to be around him as much as possible. It helps that it's seedling season here at Three Bird Farm, and Bill is QTing in... -
Our New Boy is Home - Silver Appleyard Drake
QT continues for Bill. I told my dad we had named him Bill, and my dad was appalled. He said Bill was such a basic, plain name, and Bill is so regal. He has since said that he will only refer to him as Sir William, and he wants us to make him a crown that he can wear (my dad breeds cows and is a...