New ducklings ship on Monday!

[ducksgomarching]

I might at some point be able to raise birds for meat, and I certainly don't have anything against folks who do, but for now I'm still too much of a city girl to go through with it myself XD If I ever do get a batch of boys, they'll all have to be named Dinner from the beginning! At what age do you process? How old does a bird have to be before the meat hits 'stew-pot' status?

And maybe you and I will get ducklings on the same day! Unfortunately, my last shipment from Metzer arrived on Thursday, and I'm not even that far from them (CA --> OR). I'm reeeeeeaaally hoping this replacement package arrives tomorrow instead o_o I don't want anymore sad mail, USPS!

 

[CountryGirl1120]

I might at some point be able to raise birds for meat, and I certainly don't have anything against folks who do, but for now I'm still too much of a city girl to go through with it myself XD If I ever do get a batch of boys, they'll all have to be named Dinner from the beginning! At what age do you process? How old does a bird have to be before the meat hits 'stew-pot' status?

And maybe you and I will get ducklings on the same day! Unfortunately, my last shipment from Metzer arrived on Thursday, and I'm not even that far from them (CA --> OR). I'm reeeeeeaaally hoping this replacement package arrives tomorrow instead o_o I don't want anymore sad mail, USPS!

I have never done meat birds before. I have 5 2 almost 3 year old hens that arent producing what they used to for eggs and unfortunately with the 14 young girls and the ducks I can't afford to keep feeding them with no eggs in return. Not to mention when I started with chickens I had the mind set anyways that that was going to be the plan. I've just read that with the older birds they are better for slow cooker recipes verses grilling up because the meat it tougher. I know actual meat birds you only keep around for 6 to 8 weeks. Those are next years adventure. I did a little math the other day and if I raise 25 of them after purchasing the birds and feed (which I guessed on) the chickens will only cost about 1.20 to 1.50 a lb. Which I thought was pretty good. I dont have much land here but I am working my way towards as self sufficient as I can get. I also plan to do a couple turkeys and pigs next year as well.

Oh no! Replacements? How many did you end up losing? What are you getting for replacements? I will keep my fingers crossed for you that they arrive safe and sound tomorrow.

My anxiety may have just spiked a bit. I've never had any issues with chicks being shipped to me. But then again they were coming to me from Ohio so not that far. But they always arrived when they said they would. Now I'm getting a bit worried. With the way my luck has been going I guess I shouldnt get too hopeful.

 

[ducksgomarching]

Aaagh, I shouldn't have said anything :x From the threads I've read on this site and others, people very rarely lose birds; I just had unusually bad luck and lost a total of three out of ten. Metzer's customer service is great though and they're sending me another Chocolate Runner, Fawn-and-white Runner, and Cayuga. If you can find them on here, look through some Metzer review type threads - the vast majority of people had no problems even on the other side of the country. I'll be crossing my fingers for us both!

52 chickens! Yeah, feeding 52 little beaks is a bit much if you're not getting the eggs you need to o_0 With all the ducklings we're only going to have 14 birds. Buuut I was also looking into what raising up a turkey for Thanksgiving would entail, because frankly I don't like turkeys nearly as much as ducks and could probably handle sending one tom to freezer camp. Plus I would love to have all those feathers for crafting!

 

[CountryGirl1120]

No its fine. My anxiety has been high about them coming anyways. My luck has been horrible since I came back from vacation in June. One thing after another going down hill. I have read the review about them on here it was why I decided to order from them and not someone else. Hahaha, I dont have 52, sorry the break between what I wrote mustve been hard to see. I only have 20 chickens all together but 5 of them are coming up on three years old. So I only get if Im lucky 7 to 10 eggs a week from all 5. But I also have 5 ducks with the 6 more coming, 3 dogs (even though one is at the puppy hospital at the moment

), two cats, fish, and then theres 7 people that live in my house and instead of paying rent to my parents I usually buy the groceries. No one but my boyfriend helps with chicken/duck feed so for me keeping them after theyre done laying isnt economical. Im happy that their customer service is that awesome. It takes some of the worry away knowing that if anything happens to any of mine that it will be okay one way or another.

Thats my plan with the turkeys next year, one for thanksgiving and then another just because. I am one of those people that loves turkey. I wish it was eaten more often instead of just major holidays. And the feathers are gorgeous! Ugh. I wish I had a turkey breeder around me that way I wouldnt have to buy a minimum of 5. But Im looking to see if maybe someone else will go in on the order with me so I can only get the 2 that I want. But I have heard poults are iffy to raise. More research is needed there. But Im doing all this because I want my daughter to grow up knowing all this. And besides, who doesnt love fresh eggs or meat? Wait, dont answer that. I have had people turn me down for eggs because they dont eat fresh eggs. My inside response to that was "Okay, 2 month old eggs from the grocery store for you then." Ugh..

 

[CountryGirl1120]

ducksgomarching- My ducklings showed up this morning. All 6 alive and well. Eating drinking and running around now as we speak. The ones I had gotten from Tractor Supply had to have been a week old I think because these are tiny compared to them. I hope you got yours this morning as well. Fingers still crossed for you.

Now for a couple pictures

 

[ducksgomarching]

They are so cute! What is it with ducklings and immediately running to the sides of their brooder and digging under the bedding?? My girls got here this morning too, all safe and sound (whew!). I had been kicking around the idea to name them Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, and now that they're here it's set in stone - Buttercup is definitely the toughest fighter! I had to put her in with the week-olds (who are twice her size!) for a few minutes just so her 'sisters' could eat and drink in peace, and all Buttercup did was run around pecking everyone. She seems to have finally calmed down a bit, haha.

I hope your puppy is okay Sounds like you've got the whole menagerie - sounds a lot like my house, honestly. Five people, four dogs, two cats, one parrot, and now a total of fourteen ducks. Have you checked Craigslist for turkey poults? It's different from place to place, but I've had good luck finding animals on that site. Heck, in my area you could probably keep your family stocked on chicken for the year just picking up all the free roosters that get posted by people who can't or don't feel like processing their birds themselves.

"I have had people turn me down for eggs because they dont eat fresh eggs."

0_0

What?

I mean, I know each of the words in that sentence, but when you put them together like that my brain just short-circuits. Just... what? People are strange.

 

[DuckGirl77]

I don't have Khakis, I actually got a breed that's based mostly on Khakis called "Golden 300" from Metzer Apparently Khaki Campbells don't lay as well on large farms or something (?) and so the commercial farms bred some other types of duck into the line and produced a hybrid that 1) can be sexed at birth due to coloring, and 2) lay a metric heap-ton of eggs. I don't think they're too different from the Campbells though.

Also, BABY PICTURES! Always to share

Bath time!

Truffle the Chocolate Runner, Smudge the Cayuga, and Suga' the Fawn-and-white Runner

And here are the four Golden Girls, so far called Eenie, Meenie, Miney, and Moe because I can't think of better names yet, lol

Oh my lord they are so cute! I have 2 of the golden hybrids coming (they were my boyfriends pick). I try to keep him included with the choosing of the ducks and such. He seems much happier when I get more when I include him. Little does he know I may be tricking him. Now I am going through withdrawals and want mine to be here. No phone call for me this morning so it looks like a tomorrow delivery. I love the names you picked for all the duckies! I have to admit I dont name any of my birds. I am one of those people that plans to use them after the laying period is done, so my chickens will be soup and other slow cooker meals since I know they get tougher the older they get. I've thought about naming the ducks however since I know they lay longer than chickens and I've also heard there is no good way to cook older duck slow enough to make it good to eat again.


DuckGirl77- I am kind of sad that they arent good around me. They were for the first day or two I had them as babies, let me hold them, were pretty calm and such and then one day it was like a switch flipped because all of a sudden they didnt want anything to do with bath time or being held. I tried treats in the tub for weeks, treats in the brooder, nothing warmed them up to me. So thats why I went with some calmer breeds this time around. Not to mention my daughter loves the ducks and I feel like she is slowly losing interest because these ones wont even let you near them.

That's too bad. Mine were a little the same, but some of them don't mind people too much.

ducksgomarching- My ducklings showed up this morning. All 6 alive and well. Eating drinking and running around now as we speak. The ones I had gotten from Tractor Supply had to have been a week old I think because these are tiny compared to them. I hope you got yours this morning as well. Fingers still crossed for you.

Now for a couple pictures

 

[Birdydeb]

Yeah, day old ducklings from Metzer's are TINY.....and so stinking cute and adorable. Precious little cotton puffs I called them. I had no problems with Metzer's and they came all the way across the country which had me worried. So glad everything went well for you all. Hug a duckling for me!

 

[CountryGirl1120]

They are so cute! What is it with ducklings and immediately running to the sides of their brooder and digging under the bedding?? My girls got here this morning too, all safe and sound (whew!). I had been kicking around the idea to name them Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, and now that they're here it's set in stone - Buttercup is definitely the toughest fighter! I had to put her in with the week-olds (who are twice her size!) for a few minutes just so her 'sisters' could eat and drink in peace, and all Buttercup did was run around pecking everyone. She seems to have finally calmed down a bit, haha.

I hope your puppy is okay Sounds like you've got the whole menagerie - sounds a lot like my house, honestly. Five people, four dogs, two cats, one parrot, and now a total of fourteen ducks. Have you checked Craigslist for turkey poults? It's different from place to place, but I've had good luck finding animals on that site. Heck, in my area you could probably keep your family stocked on chicken for the year just picking up all the free roosters that get posted by people who can't or don't feel like processing their birds themselves.

"I have had people turn me down for eggs because they dont eat fresh eggs."

0_0

What?

I mean, I know each of the words in that sentence, but when you put them together like that my brain just short-circuits. Just... what? People are strange.

Love the names! I am so happy all of yours made it safe and sound! The puppy is going to be fine. Hopefully coming home tomorrow. I have checked craigslist but never have any luck with anything but older birds which i dont want because they would be too tough I think. I do have the menagerie but you know I wouldnt change it for anything. I am an animal lover by nature and just realized I may have an addiction to farm animals in particular. Chicken Math has struck me hard this year. But oh well not much to do about that.

Yes people are strange, offered the same people a free turkey after raising and butchering it for them and got the same response about not liking fresh turkey. Its whatever at this point. Doesnt do any good to argue. More good food for me.

Any pictures you can grace us with?

Yeah, day old ducklings from Metzer's are TINY.....and so stinking cute and adorable. Precious little cotton puffs I called them. I had no problems with Metzer's and they came all the way across the country which had me worried. So glad everything went well for you all.

Hug a duckling for me!

Metzers has definitely earned my business I think. Especially since I like the fact that they sex their ducklings and still are reasonably priced. Every where else I looked was ridiculous. I wish I had more places closer to me that offered a variety of chickens and ducks so I didnt have to order. I know the feed stores will order for you if you fill out a form but they usually go through the places that require 25 birds at once and well, at one time I never thought I would need 25 birds in one sitting. Now Im debating that. I will absolutely hug a duckling for you.