NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

Isn't there the risk of something digging under and getting the ducks?  

If I build a coop should I consider a hardware cloth floor?  

Yes there is always that risk but I haven't had any predators here yet. I had a raccoon try to get into that chicken coop last summer but it soon gave up and never returned. It's like as soon as we secured out garbage and placed paver bricks around the coop they left and never came back. I would do the same with the duck coop, placing pavers around the outside edges.

 

[horsekeeper]

Rancher, I know this wasn't directed to me, but thought I would answer anyway

.

How do you collect eggs? Do they lay in the same place? They like to lay in a protected spot just like a chicken. If you provide a nest box the are likely to use it. If you keep them confined until later in the morning the eggs are easy to spot.

What about if they go broody? They love to go broody and will raise their ducklings very well if you allow them to set. It takes 32 days for muscovies. If you do not want them to, just collect the eggs every day.

Do they just hatch wherever they feel like it.? I keep mine confined to the coop and run until they have established a nest spot, problem solved.

Have you eaten any ? Yes. If you separate the breast meat it can be pan fried like a steak and eaten rare. Absolutely delicious and tastes like filet mignon. Can roast the entire bird and enjoy with way less fat than other duck breeds. Makes an excellent soup. Really liked removing the breast meat, roasting the rest of the bird, eating the roasted drumsticks, and simmering the rest for soup. Have also heard that the breast meat is great for making duck bacon. Costs $20 a pound at the grocery. I processed a couple of mature drakes last year and their breast meat was almost the size of a turkey breast.

 

[JayinCohoes]

Hi All,

I have a lot of catching up on my reading of posts on byc. I don't know where the time goes but I never seem to be able to find it. I hope all is well and your year is ending on a good note. I'm looking forward to sitting back in January and reading the last 6 months of posts. This is my fourth year of following NY Chicken Lovers and I tell everyone how helpful you all are whenever someone needs some advice or just wants to see what can happen when you have chickens. I love telling how I spent a year reading your posts before I finally got chickens of my own.

Anyway, I'm still in search of a farmstead in NY to retire on. I'd be happy with 10 acres and a rundown farmhouse within 50 miles of Albany. If you hear of anything I'd love to check it out.

Happy New Year!

Jay

 

[Gramma Chick]

JACKPOT!!! Man they are ugly!

Patients is a virtue!!

They sure are !
Have you let your duck see the opossum ? Depending on his reaction you should be able to tell if it killed his friend .

 

[Lynzi777]

Just broke my heat lamp!

Was cleaning out my laundry room and dusting around the area where the chicks are and knocked it over. The bulb cracked right off the base. Ugh They should be fine in there without a heat lamp by now shouldn't they? It wasn't even directly on them, probably hung up about close to 2 feet above the brooder. They're almost fully feathered out. Just wondering if I should take a ride out to get another one or just let them be.

 

[Lynzi777]

FROM ARIA:

Everyone talking DUCKS. These were our Call Ducks setting on eggs. They were very messy and we had to drive them in ...evenings. We have a pond and they wanted to stay in the pond. Strange how everyone prefers ducks. We prefer Silkie Chickens. Rancher, ducks are a lot of work and they are very messy. Regards, Aria.

 

[Lapeerian]

Or soil and water? Something was down on route 11 in LaFayette, may still be there.

I almost think Soil & Water Conservation Service (SWCD) moved, but maybe I'm thinking of Skanteatles Lake Watershed group. But SWCD would be the right agency to talk to. If I was at work, I'd have the number handy or could email one of them.

 

[Lapeerian]

And the chick that was lost/found has died. Hubby said she was still alive this morning when he opened up the coop. Found her this afternoon curled up in the nest box. Hubby wants 12 chicks this spring, most of them sexed, to replace those we have lost and the older girls that don't return to laying. Judging by combs, I have 3 red hens and 2 BR laying. Only getting 2-3 eggs daily, and Luna was one of the layers. The other 10 hens are slacking off. I have 22 total including the Roos and younger kids.

 

[rancher hicks]

Just broke my heat lamp!

Was cleaning out my laundry room and dusting around the area where the chicks are and knocked it over. The bulb cracked right off the base. Ugh They should be fine in there without a heat lamp by now shouldn't they? It wasn't even directly on them, probably hung up about close to 2 feet above the brooder. They're almost fully feathered out. Just wondering if I should take a ride out to get another one or just let them be.

I have two hatched last time about 6-8 weeks and moved them to a crate so the new chicks could have the brooder. Not heat and they're fine, except they both may be roos. combs are redder than I'd like. Ugh!

Oh and I always keep some spare lights on hand, cuz they can break easy. I now keep two over my brooder just in case.

 

[elieugene6]

My concern is our property borders a creek.  I'm not sure where they would roost.  How do you collect eggs?  Do they lay in the same place?  What about if they go broody?  Do they just hatch wherever they feel like it.?  Have you eaten any ?  

They don't have to roost but your house would work. Lol. Mine rarely land in trees. Man made seems to be preferred. Mine lay in the chickens nest box. Nice really because it helps to seperate the eggs. I keep my welshies locked up around breeding season but the khakis are free since I just eat their eggs. Although I never had a mix between the two. The Muscovies try to stay away from the other ducks they're snobs. Lol.