I have been learning from you all since March when we were given 11 cockerels that were sent as heating blankets with a friends duck order. They were dropped off to us at about 1 week old and we had fun raising them until their hormones kicked in and now we are enjoying them in yummy soup.
We did, however, fall in love with chickens so we quickly put in our own order to start a flock we could keep for eggs. We ordered 10 Black Australorps (1 cockerel) and 5 Buff Orpingtons and my husband really wanted ducks so 4 Khaki Campbells (1 drake). We thought we loved the chicks, but oh my goodness did we fall in love with the ducklings despite the incredible mess they make in the brooder. During this time of raising all the littles, I was constantly reading threads and articles on here getting all the info we needed for the care and housing of our new flock. Thank you all so very much.
Just a couple weeks after moving the ducks outside, we lost our drake, Merlin. He was found in the duck house (converted dog house) and looked like he was sleeping, but he was gone.
Merlin was my youngest son's favorite so he was heartbroken. Of course, he had to be replaced so started our "chicken math" as I've seen y'all call it. We loved the ducks so much, and the duck eggs, that we ordered 10... 1 Khaki drake (Merlin Jr. or MJ as he is called now), 5 white layer (1 drake) and 4 Rouens (those were st. run, but it turned out we have 1 drake and 3 ducks
.
My latest searches have been on keeping our flock healthy and happy during our frigid winters. Again, I have learned so much already from everyone on here. Thanks! Keep up the good work.
Valerie
We did, however, fall in love with chickens so we quickly put in our own order to start a flock we could keep for eggs. We ordered 10 Black Australorps (1 cockerel) and 5 Buff Orpingtons and my husband really wanted ducks so 4 Khaki Campbells (1 drake). We thought we loved the chicks, but oh my goodness did we fall in love with the ducklings despite the incredible mess they make in the brooder. During this time of raising all the littles, I was constantly reading threads and articles on here getting all the info we needed for the care and housing of our new flock. Thank you all so very much.
Just a couple weeks after moving the ducks outside, we lost our drake, Merlin. He was found in the duck house (converted dog house) and looked like he was sleeping, but he was gone.
My latest searches have been on keeping our flock healthy and happy during our frigid winters. Again, I have learned so much already from everyone on here. Thanks! Keep up the good work.
Valerie
and Welcome To BYC!
