The Duck Thread

[BLT79]

A couple years ago when we had 70 chickens who laid all winter, we donated a lot to the animal shelter for food. We also found we could freeze eggs in the shell and use them in baking - didn't try thawing them and using for omelets although there's no reason why they wouldn't be fine as long as the shell stayed intact. You can also prepare recipes using eggs such as cake, pancakes, french toast . . . and freeze them.

eggs can be frozen?

 

[Amiga]

In the deepest freeze of winter, I bring the ducks fresh water in their 2 gallon stew pot. The first hour they spend washing up. Then I replace that water, and the rest of the day they drink out of it. This was their idea, I just observed and caught on. Then on unusually mild days I will fill a swim pan for them.

Draining the hose in the late afternoon is key for me. I did it last night, but not properly, so I filled the hose with water this morning and it froze. drat. I will get my winter mojo back.

And eggs can be frozen. I open them and stir them up, mixing yolk and white, and then freeze them. Some folks use ice cube trays, one could use custard cups, cleaned-out small yogurt cups. I like to freeze things in them and then pop them out into a gallon-sized freezer bag.

Some folks write that you can dry the eggs in a dehydrator using the fruit leather tray, then put pieces of that in a blender and make powdered eggs. Extra effort, but you don't lose it when the electricity goes out (which it has hear more and more often).

 

[BLT79]

In the deepest freeze of winter, I bring the ducks fresh water in their 2 gallon stew pot. The first hour they spend washing up. Then I replace that water, and the rest of the day they drink out of it. This was their idea, I just observed and caught on. Then on unusually mild days I will fill a swim pan for them.

Draining the hose in the late afternoon is key for me. I did it last night, but not properly, so I filled the hose with water this morning and it froze. drat. I will get my winter mojo back.

And eggs can be frozen. I open them and stir them up, mixing yolk and white, and then freeze them. Some folks use ice cube trays, one could use custard cups, cleaned-out small yogurt cups. I like to freeze things in them and then pop them out into a gallon-sized freezer bag.

Some folks write that you can dry the eggs in a dehydrator using the fruit leather tray, then put pieces of that in a blender and make powdered eggs. Extra effort, but you don't lose it when the electricity goes out (which it has hear more and more often).

thanks for that info. Do you have to mix it up?

 

[Amiga]

thanks for that info. Do you have to mix it up?

My understanding is that for dehydrating, yes, you mix them up first.

 

[SarahMG]

I work at a Miniature Horse farm, that also raises ducks. Talk about a ton of ducks! One mother with her 14 adult babies (6 female, 8 male), 14 adult orphans(9 females, 5 males), 2 other females, and 7 adult males. And when you call them to be fed, they come running, waddling, and FLYING out of every direction!!!

 

[BLT79]

My understanding is that for dehydrating, yes, you mix them up first.

do I have to mix them prior to freezing them?

 

[Amiga]

do I have to mix them prior to freezing them?

Yes, that is recommended. That is how I did it.

 

[Betsy57]

I just came home and found my Black Cayuga drake dead in the nest with his grieving gals sitting beside him. His neck ripped open. I am so mad and upset. I have them in a 5' fenced in area with electric fence. Don't see any holes in it or where whatever dug under. Must have gone over. Thank goodness all the chickens are okay but now I am worried this critter will come back again to get more. I HATE THIS part of raising animals. Any suggestions to help protect the chicken/duck yard better?

 

[Amiga]

I just came home and found my Black Cayuga drake dead in the nest with his grieving gals sitting beside him. His neck ripped open. I am so mad and upset. I have them in a 5' fenced in area with electric fence. Don't see any holes in it or where whatever dug under. Must have gone over. Thank goodness all the chickens are okay but now I am worried this critter will come back again to get more. I HATE THIS part of raising animals. Any suggestions to help protect the chicken/duck yard better?

Awful!

May be an owl. And most predators come back. I have used half inch metal hardware cloth. Across the top, you might get away with something bigger as long as weasels are not a problem. But thinking about it, it could have been a weasel. But those often kill the entire flock. Sorry for the remark - but that is what I have read. There is a Predators and Pests forum, too.

 

[BLT79]

I just came home and found my Black Cayuga drake dead in the nest with his grieving gals sitting beside him. His neck ripped open. I am so mad and upset. I have them in a 5' fenced in area with electric fence. Don't see any holes in it or where whatever dug under. Must have gone over. Thank goodness all the chickens are okay but now I am worried this critter will come back again to get more. I HATE THIS part of raising animals. Any suggestions to help protect the chicken/duck yard better?

so sorry to hear that.