Maine

[yankeehill]

Muscovy are not a production breed and they tend to be seasonal layers here in Maine. Mine lay April through October (earlier if we have a warm spring). And they typically lay and set (they are the absolute best broody duck) so you would have to collect daily to keep them laying (and they will try and hide thee eggs from you if you keep taking them).
If you want ducks for year round laying, I would suggest khaki Campbell's or welsh harlequins. Both breeds out lay my golden comet hens!

I have 3 Khaki hens as well as a Golden Hybrid hen. Our Drake is a Rouen. I'm happy to hear that what we've suspected is true - they'll outlay some chickens! Why does everyone seem to like the Muscovy them?

 

[yankeehill]

Does anyone know if ducks and geese will drink out of those chicken waterer nipples? This week we'll be setting up a heated automatic watering system for the rabbits and chickens, and I'd love to set it up for the ducks and geese as well.

 

[Widget]

I have 3 Khaki hens as well as a Golden Hybrid hen. Our Drake is a Rouen. I'm happy to hear that what we've suspected is true - they'll outlay some chickens! Why does everyone seem to like the Muscovy them?

They are good meat ducks and they are quiet. No quacking. Just more of a hiss. Plus they are a but different looking. I hope to get some next year to add to the flock. Missed out on getting some this year.

 

[buckabucka]

I'm back. We lost power for 24 hours. We got the generator going for a while yesterday afternoon so we could fill some containers with water and shower, but then the generator quit, and we realized we hadn't ground the coffee beans!

DH went off driving around this morning to find coffee, while I got ready for work by candlelight. What a pain. And then I was totally stupid. I went out in the chicken coop to see the heated dog dish all frozen and thought "oh no, this stupid thing is broken" and started fiddling with the cord. It was not until I encountered the second frozen dog dish that it dawned on me that heated dog dishes do not work without electricity. Unfortunately, we have 4 of them and I did not save enough water when the generator was on, so we had to boil some water and just top off the ice. Still, I feel lucky that the ice was not in my toilet, ashandvine!

I use snow fence for a winter run on the hoop coop. I think it was $40, and it seems sturdier than deer fence (although it is quite ugly, but it fits in well with the old electric blanket scraps stapled to the top of the hoop coop).

SCG, I'm not sure when you could milk your goats, but if you get up any earlier you'll need to go to bed before it gets dark! Too bad the goats that supposedly have the best milk are the noisy ones.

Izzy, I have not had an issue with pecking on extension cords, but they can only reach it when they are on the roost. The dog dish cord itself is covered in wire, so they can't get at that.
This post is getting way too long, so I'd better go!

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

I'm back. We lost power for 24 hours. We got the generator going for a while yesterday afternoon so we could fill some containers with water and shower, but then the generator quit, and we realized we hadn't ground the coffee beans!

DH went off driving around this morning to find coffee, while I got ready for work by candlelight. What a pain. And then I was totally stupid. I went out in the chicken coop to see the heated dog dish all frozen and thought "oh no, this stupid thing is broken" and started fiddling with the cord. It was not until I encountered the second frozen dog dish that it dawned on me that heated dog dishes do not work without electricity. Unfortunately, we have 4 of them and I did not save enough water when the generator was on, so we had to boil some water and just top off the ice. Still, I feel lucky that the ice was not in my toilet, ashandvine!

I use snow fence for a winter run on the hoop coop. I think it was $40, and it seems sturdier than deer fence (although it is quite ugly, but it fits in well with the old electric blanket scraps stapled to the top of the hoop coop).

SCG, I'm not sure when you could milk your goats, but if you get up any earlier you'll need to go to bed before it gets dark! Too bad the goats that supposedly have the best milk are the noisy ones.

Izzy, I have not had an issue with pecking on extension cords, but they can only reach it when they are on the roost. The dog dish cord itself is covered in wire, so they can't get at that.
This post is getting way too long, so I'd better go!

Hi buckabucka... Sorry to hear you lost power for so long, especially during this cold snap we've had.

I couldn't help but notice you're from Fairfield, that isn't far from Skowhegan, is it ? My wife and I travel to the beautiful state of Maine every summer and last summer we randomly happened upon Skowhegan and Fairfield... I remember eating ice cream at something called "Island Dairy Treat" or something like that , located right in Skowhegan. We're from Nova Scotia and just love camping and touring ME each summer... I'd love to have a summer home over there somewhere !

 

[lazy gardener]

There's a sign down the street from me offering free Muscovies. I don't know if they are all drakes or what the deal is. PM me if interested, and I'll try to find out more info.

 

[CoopChick719]

"Chickens have down and they will be okay." he he he Unless they are foolish like my one hen who is molting. I kept them all in the barn yesterday and today. Even the geese and ducks were sitting on their feet most of the day. We did get snow. Still have it. And ice in one of the bathroom potties. Oh yes, I said that. Tin warmers are plugged in, thankfully. I have to figure out something for the ducks. More than just a bucket. They need a bath now and then. Some of you might recall the pics of the pair I had in the tub last year. I wasn't fond of cleaning it after.

You are absolutely correct, Ash!! My sister's poor girls are all molting. She hasn't had eggs for at least 3 weeks. Her Speckled Sussex' wings almost looked skeletal. The other girls were picking at her so she was roosting near an outside wall with a draft. My sister tucked the her into a nesting box last night. Tonight sis went to close the pop door and didn't see the SS...found her in that same nesting box warm w/no one picking on her.

Yea!! Got another egg, today. But it's a pretty good sized egg. What are the chances? Could it be that one of my BOs laid 2 eggs or I'm thinking that my BA might be responsible for it? She's a pretty big girl, but it would be her first. Still really nice to see 4 eggs in the boxes!

Congrats on the egg!!

I'm back. We lost power for 24 hours. We got the generator going for a while yesterday afternoon so we could fill some containers with water and shower, but then the generator quit, and we realized we hadn't ground the coffee beans!

DH went off driving around this morning to find coffee, while I got ready for work by candlelight. What a pain. And then I was totally stupid. I went out in the chicken coop to see the heated dog dish all frozen and thought "oh no, this stupid thing is broken" and started fiddling with the cord. It was not until I encountered the second frozen dog dish that it dawned on me that heated dog dishes do not work without electricity. Unfortunately, we have 4 of them and I did not save enough water when the generator was on, so we had to boil some water and just top off the ice. Still, I feel lucky that the ice was not in my toilet, ashandvine!

I use snow fence for a winter run on the hoop coop. I think it was $40, and it seems sturdier than deer fence (although it is quite ugly, but it fits in well with the old electric blanket scraps stapled to the top of the hoop coop).

SCG, I'm not sure when you could milk your goats, but if you get up any earlier you'll need to go to bed before it gets dark! Too bad the goats that supposedly have the best milk are the noisy ones.

Izzy, I have not had an issue with pecking on extension cords, but they can only reach it when they are on the roost. The dog dish cord itself is covered in wire, so they can't get at that.
This post is getting way too long, so I'd better go!

Thank sucks about the power bucka!! Glad you're back online!

 

[buckabucka]

Originally Posted by Windy Bay Farm : Hi buckabucka... Sorry to hear you lost power for so long, especially during this cold snap we've had.

I couldn't help but notice you're from Fairfield, that isn't far from Skowhegan, is it ? My wife and I travel to the beautiful state of Maine every summer and last summer we randomly happened upon Skowhegan and Fairfield... I remember eating ice cream at something called "Island Dairy Treat" or something like that , located right in Skowhegan. We're from Nova Scotia and just love camping and touring ME each summer... I'd love to have a summer home over there somewhere !


Welcome Windy Bay Farm! I can run to the Skowhegan line (although Skowhegan is rather spread out). I love to visit the Island Dairy Treat! Skowhegan is an interesting place. Just around the corner is the Pick Up Cafe (only open on Friday and Saturday nights at the moment) which has all local foods from area farms. It is housed in the old jail, which has now been converted into a gristmill. We buy local flour there.

Canada is beautiful too. I've been to Nova Scotia and PEI a long time ago. Last summer we went camping on Grand Manan and hiked some of the beautiful trails along the cliffs on the island. Very nice. We hope to go back!

 

[MEMama3]

You are absolutely correct, Ash!! My sister's poor girls are all molting. She hasn't had eggs for at least 3 weeks. Her Speckled Sussex' wings almost looked skeletal.  The other girls were picking at her so she was roosting near an outside wall with a draft. My sister tucked the her into a nesting box last night. Tonight sis went to close the pop door and didn't see the SS...found her in that same nesting box warm w/no one picking on her.

I've had a girl that has been molting for three months. I brought her in out of sympathy from the cold, but when I put her back out on a nice day of the hen tried killing her. She reintegrated now with a full fleece coat (apron with wing cover). I peeked under yesterday and she is FINALLY getting some feathers on her. She too has taken up residence in the nest box at night.

 

[Jazor]

They are good meat ducks and they are quiet. No quacking. Just more of a hiss. Plus they are a but different looking. I hope to get some next year to add to the flock. Missed out on getting some this year.

Likewise. I'll be adding some ducks next year, or muscovy at the very least. Can't wait for that time of year people start ordering from the hatchery again!