I am a new duck owner & I have to take up for cooprunbuilder here a little bit.
This forum is wonderful, and many people are VERY supportive, but... there are also a lot of people who have a "my way is the only way" attitude. This can often make posting about sensitive topics intimidating - to put it mildly. There are tough choices I have made on my own recently, and may have to make even tougher ones over the next few weeks. After reading posts from people in similar situations and the often overwhelmingly judgmental replies (that often seem to be the majority of responses), while I would love some help from the community, I have not posted for fear of other people making me feel EVEN WORSE than I already do. I agree that there is a need for public info, but I think we all need to be mindful of the fact that some things are personal.
I appreciate that someone with so much experience is willing to take time out of their busy day - we're all busy in this day & age - and answer questions. The forum is also a place for people to find answers of all kinds. With every decision I make, from getting my birds to today about my backyard flock, I study my Storey's guides, articles on the internet & in magazines, Agricultural extension articles & BYC forums. Despite that I have often wished I had someone with years & years of experience who's opinion I could ask as well. I have recently moved & begun my making my homesteading dreams a reality, but in the region I am in I have had a hard time finding local farmers who will even smile at me, nevermind talk to me. (Stoicism runs deep here in New England.) There is no such thing as too much info, and responsible owners need all the help they can get.
I thank you for taking the time out of your day to offer advice to those of us who may want it. I will be emailing you over the next few weeks, unless the situation here in my corner of the world miraculously fixes itself.
