"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[Sprinkles212]

BTW Sprinkles, Where are you located?

For eggs, I'd recommend Peking ducks. They lay a large white egg. I let mine loose in the backyard with a kiddie pool. They run around all day and eat bugs. They don't require lots of food because with all the bugs they eat they're pretty self sufficient. If you're near Lake Charles I have some extra babies. PM me if you're interested.

Enabler! There are simply way too many enablers on here! I'm in big trouble.

 

[Sprinkles212]

My husband says anything but a cow. No cows.

 

[Sprinkles212]

In order to eat/bake with duck eggs, do I need to provide a coop, nest box and pool? A run? I can let them free range, just want to be able to find the eggs.

How often do all of you duck owners change the pool water?

 

[NonnasBabies]

Oh my word!!!!!!! They are so adorable!

I know!! I had to zoom in on them to get that pic cause their so skittish as soon as you start walking close to the brooder theyh hurry up an jump out!! Crazy little things!!

 

[NonnasBabies]

In order to eat/bake with duck eggs, do I need to provide a coop, nest box and pool? A run? I can let them free range, just want to be able to find the eggs.

How often do all of you duck owners change the pool water?

Yes to all the above and since I really have no clue on the other I would hazard a guess to at least once a day. We change the pan of water in the brooder about 10 times a day if we're home. If we're not prob about 5 or 6. But it's so small that after one little playtime it's almost empty!!

 

[grambysfarm]

Enabler! There are simply way too many enablers on here! I'm in big trouble.

Nah; not an enabler! You see, I'm really a hatchaholic and now the day of reckoning has come because I've had so much fun hatching this spring that now I'm overrun with chickens and ducks.

Also, someone on the board was asking about Coronations. I have quite a few extras. If anyone is interested pm me.

 

[Sprinkles212]

Grambysfarm, I PM'd you about the ducklings. We are in Deridder and so an hour from you. I can come down to you anytime in the evening Tuesday through Friday this week or anytime on Saturday. What day works best for you? I need to run by Sam's and let the kids eat Chik-Fil-A so we were heading to Lake Charles sometime this week anyway. We have VBS until noon all week but other than that we have no plans.

I need to go get some kiddie pools!!!!

 

[grambysfarm]

In order to eat/bake with duck eggs, do I need to provide a coop, nest box and pool? A run? I can let them free range, just want to be able to find the eggs.

How often do all of you duck owners change the pool water?

If you use a small kiddie pool (once they're big enough to get in and out of one) you should change the water once a day. However, if you don't change the water for 2 - 3 days because you need to go someplace for the weekend it's not the end of the world. I figure that if they can stick their head in a mud puddle and suck on the mud then having yucky pool water shouldn't be a big deal. I think it's disgusting to us more than it is to them. I have three females and one male and changing the water once a day is adequate.

As for a coop and run -- that really depends on the environment around your home. Although, I'd provide some type of housing or run area until ducklings reach near adult size because as ducklings they are in danger from household cats. I've had the ducks for a year now and they have had the run of my fenced in yard since the time they reached adult size. I've had my geese for about four years also running loose in my backyard and have never lost a one to a predator attack. Can't do that with my chickens though -- that's a whole different story. With that said, I can tell you that I'm having to build super strong housing to move my animals onto our property because they would disappear in a matter of days because they would be hunted by coyotes, bobcats, owls, hawks, raccoons, and whatever else is hunger in the woods. So, you really need to assess the dangers around your house.

A dog house makes for a nice nesting box for them. I tried using an old plastic kennel that I had but that didn't work out so great. The ducks liked it and used it but when it rained it rained in the kennel and the eggs and nesting material would get nasty. I didn't like it. The Pekins lay lots of eggs. I read that it is fairly normal for them to lay 200 eggs a year. The Pekins are bad about laying all over the place but I've learned that if they have a doghouse (or nesting box) they'll use it. Without the doghouse or nesting box, they'll build they're own nesting area but it may be a while before you find it.

If it were me, I'd provide the doghouse and train them to use it.

With the three hens and one drake that I have I've hatched about 60 ducklings this spring and in addition have had plenty eggs to eat.

 

[grambysfarm]

Grambysfarm, I PM'd you about the ducklings. We are in Deridder and so an hour from you. I can come down to you anytime in the evening Tuesday through Friday this week or anytime on Saturday. What day works best for you? I need to run by Sam's and let the kids eat Chik-Fil-A so we were heading to Lake Charles sometime this week anyway. We have VBS until noon all week but other than that we have no plans.
I need to go get some kiddie pools!!!!

I can meet you in Sulphur on HWY 27 anytime Tuesday - Thursday. Let me know what time you're heading home.

I'll post pics of what I have after while.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Hey Terri how's your Guinea eggs doing??

One of the member on the Guinea section tagged a photo for me with the colors that I have. Seems I got a few different colors!!

Cool! I can't wait for mine to hatch! I guess they are doing OK. I tried to candle but didn't see much, so just letting them rock along - as long as I don't smell anything "iffy" when I open the bator I"m not fooling with them. I think they are all pearls - I love the polka dots!!!