Colorado

[Rockpile99]

Sorry, can't take any cute little fuzzy ducklings...

But tell me more about this Greeley swap? Is it a farmers market or a poultry deal?

 

[Dances with Ducks]

This will be my first time there so I can't tell you too much. It's the first Saturday of the month and it starts at 7:30 am. Pretty early for me with an hours drive. Anyway here's the link, if you watch the box with the scrolling info it will come up.
http://www.jtfeeds.com/

 

[alpinefarm]

Pretty mama...kinda reminiscent of a delicious edible treat from an easter basket, eh?!

Can ducks and chickens co-habitate? With the addition of a water tub? How 'bout in the winter...do they need to be near water year round? Do domestic ducks fly? So many questions...I don't *know* ducks!

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Quote:
I guess that's why they call them Chocolate Runners!
Most domestic ducks don't fly though there are a few breeds that do like Calls, Muscovy, and domestic Mallard. It's usually the bantams.
They can get by without water in the winter, except they must have deep enough water to be able to dip their beaks in up to their nostrils to keep them clean. We have some mild days on the front range where I set up the pool or a large water basin for them to jump in.
As far as ducks and chickens, I never tried it but here's some postings on that topic . . . whoa - I found way too many, guess it's a common question.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=190812&p=1
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=167399
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=185079&p=2
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=192203

 

[Wifezilla]

I filled up a 10 gallon tub for my ducks all trough the winter. It could be 20 below and they were still out there playing in the water

Now I have a pond. The water circulation kept it from freezing except for one particularly cold night.

 

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
I guess that's why they call them Chocolate Runners!
Most domestic ducks don't fly though there are a few breeds that do like Calls, Muscovy, and domestic Mallard. It's usually the bantams.
They can get by without water in the winter, except they must have deep enough water to be able to dip their beaks in up to their nostrils to keep them clean. We have some mild days on the front range where I set up the pool or a large water basin for them to jump in.

I once raised a wild mallard baby (until he flew off)...I remember it as being a much "wetter" experience than keeping chickens!
We live at altitude (8500') and have pretty serious winters, but I really want to "do" ducks someday...will have to think through how I could keep enough water heated for them. The wild ducks don't hang around up here for the winters, but we love having them come back to our wetland/marsh in the spring.

 

[Dances with Ducks]

8500 ft altitude! Have you found ways to grow much there, or is it mostly livestock? My brother in Evergreen tries almost every year to grow a tomato, never succeeds. I keep telling him to build a little greenhouse on his deck, but I guess that would interfere too much with his barbecues.
Ducks are actually supposed to be more cold hardy than chickens but keeping water unthawed is an issue.

 

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
The first year I tried tomatoes up here, I kept my "Big Boys" in walls-o-water *all* summer long. By early Sept, I was rewarded with 4 marble-size tomatoes!

I do have a pit greenhouse almost finished and will be thrilled to experiment with it soon. Essential equipment up this high. Hope to have some good three season growing and some hardy winter crops, as well.

For now, I grow things that do well underground...potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, etc. And some herbs manage very well. My garlic crop is fantastic!

I *love* your brown duck! Someday...

 

[Dances with Ducks]

When you get your pit greenhouse finished please post some pics, I would love to see that.

 

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
When it is finally ready, I'll be itching to show it off, I bet!

I finally have some pics of the Ameraucana rooster, Gonzo, that I'm wanting to find a good home for. I hatched him from a beautiful blue/green egg w/brown speckles. I don't know the breed and I don't know how representative he is. Nice guy, likes to follow me around: