Mucky_Ducky
In the Brooder
- Feb 4, 2021
- 2
- 28
- 13
I stumbled on BYC whilst searching YouTube for video solutions to a potential problem I'll encounter whilst giving fresh water to the ducks In going to order very soon. The building is in 2 parts and almost completed. Overall it's around 50 metres long and flanked (conveniently) by 2 man made ponds. I'm excited by this but currently stuck in the UK whist the location is on a farm in Thailand. My 2 brother-in-law's are overseeing my instructions. One is a capable technician, IT savvy and livestock farmer keeping goats and rabbits whilst the other grows produce including rice, herbs and fishing for sale at local markets. All the land is owned by my wife. We also have a home which we built 11 years ago just a short walk to the land. The silver tin corrugated roof will go on in a week and water supply and electrics still to go in. I'm considering solar panels in due course if it's financially viable. We're not off-grid so we could potentially hook up to my brother-in-law's houses who lives on this land. I've found excellent quality water by drilling a 118m bore well and a 2.5HP submersible pump provides the required lift and more! Next step I'll need to install a 2m tank with float valve going into bespoke solution I found from one of your members (Frank Judes). The long pipe will be able to flush out the muck and dropped food to a Ā¹/ā“ inch outlet and feed the plants. The feeding pipe will be around 50m continuous with a section open at the top for ducks to stick their bills in. There's lots to think about but no ducklings will be introduced until everything is tested. The duck welfare is the most important thing here because I want this to be a decent blueprint for other Thai farmers to follow. My dilemma is whether to primer the cement floor or not. We have an abundance of rice and hence rice husk which will act as bedding and absorb their poo. It'll be cleared out and dried regular and can be used for crops, mulch and also can be sold to other farmers are a by-product. If I buy a rice husking machine there will be no limit to what we get. That will be a side business itself! Have ordered posts for the perimeter fence to keep wild dogs and snakes out. Hopefully done in 3 weeks from now. I'm planning on growing sweetcorn to add quality food for the ducks and barley wheatgrass to add to their feed too. I either need to buy a hand tiller or pay locals to sow and harvest for this but any feed we can produce ourselves will assist with the finances. We're lucky to have a 50m long pond which I may square out to 50x50 and introduce oxygenating plants, pump and aerators and small fish etc. Will look at filter systems too! 2nd phase in 6 months from now I hope to buy egg hatcher and brooder so we can sell ducklings as well as not buy them ourselves. In 12 months from now I'll hopefully build a much larger building on an adjacent piece of land and convert the duck house to a fish farm. The fish will love the duck poo! Hopefully I can setup a YouTube channel with actual technical details and any lessons learned. 2 years ago I was a very experienced technical project delivery person in the IT sector. Soon I'll have a sustainable business with more reason to visit Thailand.
Hello and welcome to BYC, You found an Awesome poultry Forum to be a part of with many great knowledgeable members who are more then willing to jump in and help you with any questions you may have. 
We are so happy you have joined us. Good luck with your projects.
