The Quack Shack

[Luv Ducks]

I am Blessed to be able to communicate with Miss Lydia and I let her know all the time how much she is missed on here. She misses us just as much as we miss her but she is doing well, just sad that she cannot get on here.

 

[Supercow]

Hi friends, and a special long distance hello to @Miss Lydia in her internet exile I hope at least she and everybody around her are able to cover the other necessities of life well enough in this situation. @WannaBeHillBilly I hope your health is at least stabilized with a hope of getting better .

Over here we've had the third semi-serious frost of the season, -3 C again. The ducks have noticed and have lowered egg production a little. We offer sunflower seed, corn, wheat and layer pellets. Today for the first time this autumn I've had to break ice on their various buckets and basins.

We have spelt, a local variety Murska Bela, on our main field with the hope of a good harvest in the summer, everything is already arranged for de-hulling, drying, storing etc. Good for ducks, good for people.

There are 250+ young trees along the border of our main field to eventually provide shelter against the wind and a friendly habitat for wildlife. So far it's going well since the trees have only been planted in February 2022 and the bravest of them are already 4 m tall (the black locusts of course). When they grow taller and denser we'll also be opening another part of the area to ducks so they can explore and fertizile

 

[ruthhope]

Hi friends, and a special long distance hello to @Miss Lydia in her internet exile I hope at least she and everybody around her are able to cover the other necessities of life well enough in this situation. @WannaBeHillBilly I hope your health is at least stabilized with a hope of getting better .

Over here we've had the third semi-serious frost of the season, -3 C again. The ducks have noticed and have lowered egg production a little. We offer sunflower seed, corn, wheat and layer pellets. Today for the first time this autumn I've had to break ice on their various buckets and basins.

We have spelt, a local variety Murska Bela, on our main field with the hope of a good harvest in the summer, everything is already arranged for de-hulling, drying, storing etc. Good for ducks, good for people.

There are 250+ young trees along the border of our main field to eventually provide shelter against the wind and a friendly habitat for wildlife. So far it's going well since the trees have only been planted in February 2022 and the bravest of them are already 4 m tall (the black locusts of course). When they grow taller and denser we'll also be opening another part of the area to ducks so they can explore and fertizile

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Sounds great for you and the ducks. Is 'over here' in Canada? I love that you are planting trees along your fields. I am old enough to remember hedgerows in England, from my rural childhood. My son's pekins in Florida have already stopped laying for the year. (I only have drakes but I love the spring and summer when my son has eggs to spare)

 

[Canadian Wind]

Sounds great for you and the ducks. Is 'over here' in Canada? I love that you are planting trees along your fields. I am old enough to remember hedgerows in England, from my rural childhood. My son's pekins in Florida have already stopped laying for the year. (I only have drakes but I love the spring and summer when my son has eggs to spare)

He's in Slovenia! Slightly better temps than I have.

Mine all stopped laying a month ago. Last one laying was a three year old scovie hen! Chickens are making up for some of it though. My Chantecler pullets are so far living up to their reputation of being good winter layers, although it's not winter yet but the ground IS frozen and right now there's only about 9 1/2 hours of daylight. It's too bad that out of eight chicks I only got two females!!!

I got a fair amount of female ducks this year though. Sold a lot of them, only held back five I think. I'm down to 13 scovies (3 drakes), 6 quackers (1 drake), 5 Calls (three drakes!). So, 24 going into the winter, although the Calls are more like half ducks!!!

Can't wait for Spring and more babies!

 

[Supercow]

Sounds great for you and the ducks. Is 'over here' in Canada? I love that you are planting trees along your fields. I am old enough to remember hedgerows in England, from my rural childhood. My son's pekins in Florida have already stopped laying for the year. (I only have drakes but I love the spring and summer when my son has eggs to spare)

Over here is in Slovenia, continental Europe where there is also a tradition of hedgerows. Sadly the majority have been thrown out in recent time to maximize field acreage.

Once I planted the young trees a neighbor told me that yes indeed there had been trees along our field before in the distant past - so I'm glad to bring them back.

 

[ruthhope]

Over here is in Slovenia, continental Europe where there is also a tradition of hedgerows. Sadly, the majority have been thrown out in recent time to maximize field acreage.

Once I planted the young trees a neighbor told me that yes indeed there had been trees along our field before in the distant past - so I'm glad to bring them back.

I wondered whether Europe but as yet my family in England haven't complained of winter freezes. Yes, in the UK too there has been huge loss of hedgerows and the result has been great loss of biodiversity and decreased productivity of the soil. I am so happy to know that you are reversing the trend in Slovenia! Very best wishes to you and your endeavors!

 

[Jenbirdee]

He's in Slovenia! Slightly better temps than I have.

Mine all stopped laying a month ago. Last one laying was a three year old scovie hen! Chickens are making up for some of it though. My Chantecler pullets are so far living up to their reputation of being good winter layers, although it's not winter yet but the ground IS frozen and right now there's only about 9 1/2 hours of daylight. It's too bad that out of eight chicks I only got two females!!!

I got a fair amount of female ducks this year though. Sold a lot of them, only held back five I think. I'm down to 13 scovies (3 drakes), 6 quackers (1 drake), 5 Calls (three drakes!). So, 24 going into the winter, although the Calls are more like half ducks!!!

Can't wait for Spring and more babies!

ah yes spring. and spring babies. the things to dream on through the winter.
I am thinking that if I get a broody chicken again, I will put duck eggs from my Cayuga and from my fawn and white runner under her. Since my Drake is half Cayuga and half fawn and white Runner, we might get some three-quarter each breed birds.

 

[Canadian Wind]

ah yes spring. and spring babies. the things to dream on through the winter.
I am thinking that if I get a broody chicken again, I will put duck eggs from my Cayuga and from my fawn and white runner under her. Since my Drake is half Cayuga and half fawn and white Runner, we might get some three-quarter each breed birds.

I haven't tried letting a hen hatch duck eggs. I worry the babies will grow up all confused!

 

[Luv Ducks]

I am praying that Miss Lydia can find someone to help them dig out their culvert and clean the mud slide off of their fence. They had gotten a call from Samaritan's Purse and they are unable to help them. Hopefully a nearby neighbor has some equipment that can help them do this. It would be a lot of work for her and her hubby.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I haven't tried letting a hen hatch duck eggs. I worry the babies will grow up all confused!

they might be quackpots?