The Duck-ponics Experiment - Raising minnows

[tdgill]

going out now...

 

[Wifezilla]

Yes. Pics are a must

Here is my latest batch...

The little girl on the far left didn't make it. Mom did not do a good job with egg rotation so we got a really weird very staggered hatch. It's kind of amazing I got any healthy ducklings out of that clutch at all.

 

[Cetawin]

aaaaawwww Wifezilla they are precious as can be though. I have 13 eggs in the bator right now. hehehehe

 

[Wifezilla]

I have 16

Bad news...just lost Zoe too (the one with the dark face looking left). It has been really cold and wet here. Unusual for Colorado. I lost a duckling last year when it was cold and wet. Some fungus maybe?

 

[Cetawin]

Dang. I doubt it is a fungus or anything but most likely the little one got too wet and chilled. I know when they are really young and down covered, they are susceptible to chilling.

They are such beautiful babies.

 

[Wifezilla]

Gotta love Harlequins

Our weather has turned so it is warm and sunny today. I expanded the pen with some movable panels so the babies and mom have a yard in the sun. They were laying in fresh straw sunning themselves when I left for work. Hopefully the fresh air and sunshine will take care of any cooties. Go vitamin D!

 

[Wifezilla]

The latest pond garden photo...

I did have some string algae issues after we had some strong rains. No doubt run off combined with the boat load of maple and elm seeds that fell in the pond. I used the "toilet brush" method to get it out (you twirl a toilet brush in the pond and wind it up

). The algae then went on the garden so no waste there

I have about 8 rosy minnows living in the pond to eat any bug larvae along with some feeder gold fish. The duckweed I got from a local pond is doing well. I did have a break out by Shelley and of course she headed to the pond and tried to eat all the duckweed, but I caught her in time

 

[Wifezilla]

My last try with duckweed TOOK! It has reproduced to the point that it was covering half the pond. I scooped some of it out and feed it to the ducks. They LOVED it. This last batch even survived an unauthorized pond raid by Lexi and her 2 remaining babies (the other 2 went to live on a farm a few minutes from the house).

Guess what I discovered when I was scooping the duckweed? The fish have started reproducing! Yet more free duck food!

I do not even have to feed these fish. They live on the duckweed, algae and bug larvae.

 

[Wifezilla]

Lexus and babies raiding the duckweed. I got them out before they found the fish

The Rosy Minnows

The babies

Info on rosy minnows
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/rosies.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathead_minnow

 

[lakota_elder]

Wifezilla... I have to thank you.... this is the best thread of information, photos and entertainment I've read on any forum... By the way did Moby make it thru the winter..???