I have seven hybrid layer ducks and today I found 2 eggs. So the other girls should start producing quickly right?
I looked all over the yard and only found 2.
It has been freakishly hot here. We have had a heat index of over 100 for a couple of weeks. I started to spay my rabbits with a hose every day but I noticed that it draws FLIES. Like a lot of flies. Will they hurt my rabbits?
I guess I could stop spraying them but it is so hot and I...
Well as the title says, I did my ducks. They were hard and made me cry a bit.
They were very big. The plucking I can definitely do with out. The first one I did, I scalded the skin too much it tore. So I skinned that one and the other three went pretty well. I don't think I got out all...
I have 4 Jumbo Pekins that are meat ducks. I THINK I need to contain and keep them contained so that they can gain some weight and be ready to be processed. Currently, they are roaming my yard with the rest of the flock of layer ducks. But they look so happy with the rest of the ducks.
If I...
I just processed all my meat birds and would never do it again. Rabbits are way easier. They are easy and almost cleaner to process. They don't stink. And I don't have to raise them in a brooder or any of that.
I was thinking of giving them up but after all day of butchering those stinky...
I finally did all my meaties. Overall it was a great experience. I don't keep track of the feed or the other cost due to absolute lazyness. And from what I read they are more expensive than store bought meat so cost doesn't really matter. I also didn't weight them but they got up to an...
They are 7 weeks and look a bit smaller than the whole chickens in the market? I thought they were supposed to be huge...
I guess it was the feed. I have been using chick starter cause that was all I had access to. What give?
I built a little shelter for my 11 ducks. I was watering the garden when they came quaking and started to dance into the water. That was awesome. I love them. They just moved up to the top list of my pets. They are so cute.
I have 4 meat ducks and although they are bigger than the layer ducks I got they don't look that big (especially when you compare their growth to meat chickens). They are jumbo Pekings from Mcmurry. I have been feeding them chick start cause that is all I can get.
I think I am supposed to...
My meaties are 7 on Monday. In my opinion, they are big. I have never seen a meaty before so I think they look big enough to eat. Can I do it now?!! Please. Or should I wait for maximum growth? I have been feeding them chick starter (that is all the feed store carries except for layer...
I have successfully raised and butchered two litters. I started with six adults and reduced the herd to one male and three females. I culled based on personality. Overall the meat is good and they are not that much work.
I am feeling a bit distraught though. It seems like the kids just...
So My Ducks are a couple of weeks now and I had some more questions.
1. I think my ducks vomit whenever I pick them up. Why and is this normal?
2. I am trying to keep their brooder dry but..............I seems like their chest is weird like maybe wet or dried not sure how to describe and...
My ducklings are dirty. They make a mess of their brooder beyond belief. How often should I change them or how can I keep them clean. They are in with some chicks I got. Will the wet bother the chicks?
I had a doe that had a litter yesterday. She ate all the babies though. She was a biter.
So I culled her today. The only thing is her intestine was bloated and filled with air. Is she ok to eat? Her liver also had a sac attached that was filled with a green liquid. I don't remember seeing...
So my meat rabbits are Cal NZ x s and they are 7 weeks old. They don't look like they would be big enough to be butchered yet.
One of my does had only three and they are like twice the size as the babies from the doe that had 5.
I have read that economically speaking 6 weeks is cheapest but...
Are they a better tasting bird than chickens? Are they a delicacy? Are they easier to care for and process?
I am doing my first batch of meaties right now and have some meat ducks comming. I also raise meat rabbits. I am just wondering if quail would be easier and why people like them so...
So I currently raise meat rabbits. I also have 25 broilers in progress. I also have 10 ducks coming three of which will be meat ducks. But I was thinking of geese. Maybe for my next project like after the broilers and pekins are gone. What do you guys think?
I live in suburbia so I would...
I have three jumbo pekins coming from McMurry next week. At what age should they be processed? I think from my reading they should be treated the same as broilers. Am I correct?
I have read that we can give chicken table or kitchen scraps. At what age would you do that for meaties? I was hoping to keep some of the feed cost down. Any recommendations as to what or what not to give them?