I can't resist!

[FenDruadin]

You are going to LOVE duck eggs. My friend, a personal chef, came and bought four dozen from me today because she adores them for baking with. The first time she made an angel food cake with them, she gloated for weeks over how amazing it was. lol

I like them better for eating, too--they're firmer and richer. Now when I'm forced to eat chicken eggs, they seem watery, pale, and tasteless to me. And sometimes, if they're not a very good quality--like from a restaurant or something--they even taste a little "off" because I'm so used to the superior flavor of my duck eggs.

You know--if you buy the babies now and raise them, they'll start laying for you in the spring, instead of having to wait until next FALL for duck eggs... just a thought.

 

[Birdcrazy]

In my pen I have chooks and muscovy ducks

Never had any problems and they get along fine.
Congrats on your future duckies!

 

[LizGled628]

I'm a student during the school year, and I want to be able to give them all the attention they need. I also want them to get big and healthy before our bitter winter comes around. But believe me, it would only take a small amount of convincing....

 

[FenDruadin]

Quote:
Well, you've come to the right place for that... Duck Enablers Anonymous!

So... I know you don't have a lot of time, but ducks are not time consuming like a puppy or kitten. If you care for them in the morning in the evening, it's about 30 minutes total invested per day. Plus five minutes here and there to give them treats so they'll come running to your hands. They won't suffer if you don't pay them attention for a few days (as long as they have fresh water, food, and clean bedding) like a cat or dog would. And besides, everyone needs a break from studying once in a while. I find it incredibly soothing, while working on an article or marketing copy or other project, to look up from my computer and gaze at the sweet little duckies doing their thing. They don't ask anything of me, they just look cute, act cute, and are ready for cuddles whenever I am.

And if you get ducklings now, they will be 12 weeks old by the end of October, and will be fully feathered and almost as fat as they'll get (another five weeks past that and they'll be fully mature). I don't know what your winters are like, so I won't try to give advice on that score. Here in the warm Southeast, 12-week-olds don't need supplemental heat at any time of year, but then we don't get temps much below 20 F, ever.

Now, to be fair, there is some time investment involved in prepping their home, even if you already have a chicken coop. The chickens will need their water hung or otherwise protected from the ducks because the ducks will make the water gross and chickens like clean water. And I'm sure there will be other considerations along the way that I'm not aware of because I don't have chickens.

But you've got a couple weeks, right?

So there you go. Was that enough convincing?

And now, to undo my hard work, I'll just add: I don't really want to convince you. You are the best judge of your situation and personally I have never regretted waiting to do something I wanted to do, but have many times regretted rushing into something when I wasn't quite ready. So if waiting is the best choice for you, then I think you should wait. I will just add one more thing: There is a certain charm in raising birds in the Fall and having them start laying as soon as Spring hits. That's how I prefer to do it...

 

[LizGled628]

This forum is going to be the death of me!!!

Truly, I would love to get them now. But we are moving our seven week old chicks to their new coop this weekend, and we haven't even begun to ready the little duck house. I'll be in baking labs from 7-1pm monday through thursday, in addition to my full time job. So I think it's best to wait till Spring when things slow down. I'm also studying in France for 8 weeks beginning in March. My husband is staying home, but he will be coming to visit at the very end and we'll be traveling for two weeks. I don't want to miss my very first duck eggs!

And I really like what you said about never regretting to wait for something. I think it will be smarter to wait, when I have a whole summer that I can enjoy and spoil the little babies. I'm also starting to sell fresh baked goods at Farmer's Markets, and I think it would be great to bring a long a few ducks (with those diapers/harness I've seen on here). I love teaching people about raising healthy animals and getting fresh eggs!

Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[FenDruadin]

That makes a lot of sense! I think you're right that you'll be happier by waiting. For one thing, ducklings are more fun to raise in summer--I actually like to raise them after it warms up, around May or June, because then we can take them on outings earlier and let them play in the water sooner. Also they're less work if they can be left in a portable pen outdoors and I think they enjoy it at a very early age (of course, then you have to have a portable pen...).

So, enjoy your chickies and look forward to next Spring for ducklings. And enjoy your classes! Will you be taking chicken & duck eggs to the farmer's market too?

 

[LizGled628]

Yes! I will be selling eggs along side my goodies. It's amazing how many people don't understand where eggs come from. Even my own siblings were like "You can't have eggs without a rooster!".