what kind of ducks?

[toadbriar]

Thank you! Wow, could an owl carry off an Ancona?

People really seem to like their ducks! I think they'd fit in well here. I've spent a lot of time looking at the shelters and enclosures folks have built - I love the inventiveness.

But really it's about the ducks

What colors have you got of Anconas Kathy? I haven't seen half as many as I've read about.

thanks again!
-Kim

 

[ancona91]

Hi There, Kim!!!
Owls can be quite pesky...and definitely lethal to ducks. When I first started raising ducks 8 years ago, I would find ducks with their heads eaten off (sorry for being so graphic....but I can't think of a nicer way to say it). One night I caught the owls "in the act". From that day on ALL my ducks,geese and
chickens are securely locked in at night. While I've never had an owl carry a duck off, some of my friends have witnessed this. As I mentioned before, just a safe ,secure shelter.
Anconas are great ducks!!! And critically endangered!! I have mostly black/white.... I want to get some Blue/white or tri-colored, if I can find them. Beautiful ducks with fantastic personality!!
I forgot to mention that most domestic ducks don't fly........except for domesticated Mallards and Muscovies. Other breeds may occasionally glide fairly close to the ground.....that's usually the extent of it. And ducks are highly trainable........mine have been taught to go into their barn/coop at dusk every night. Just a bit of persistence......and "treats" (smile).
Have a great afternoon, everybody!!!
Regards, Kathy in Frozen NY

 

[chicken boy sam]

I don't have any ducks, but i like the blue swedish because they lay eggs, are medium sized, look cool, and don't fly.

 

[ancona91]

Hello There, chicken boy sam!!!
I agree......the Blue Swedish are cool ducks!!! I currently have 6 of them. Nice ducks!! I also like that I also get Black Swedish, Splash Swedish and(of course) Blue Swedish out of Blue to Blue matings.......as in all poultry. Do you have chickens??! Maybe one day you can get some Blue Swedes!!
Sincerely, Kathy

 

[call ducks]

i have a breeding pair of saxonys and silver appleyards , love both breeds , my male quck more then the females.

 

[Amiga]

Anyone looked at the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy for ideas on breeds of ducks to select?

I am fascinated by the Aylesbury, but I am not looking for meat, just eggs - and these beauties are a bit on the large size for me. . .

Anyway, ALBC might be a place to look for ideas. I like the thought of raising animals that are in need of a boost in their population.

Enjoy the adventure!

By the way, I decided on runners - small, good layers, so cute, voracious eaters of slugs and Japanese beetles.

 

[ancona91]

Hello to Everybody!!!
Amiga, Runners are an excellent choice!!! They lay extremely well....and are very friendly and comical at the same time. I have 2 currently.....Gabrielle and Gwen.....they're now 6 years old and are a constant source of joy!!! They can always make me smile!!! Let us know what colors you're getting...and when!!!
Call ducks, Saxonies and Silver Appleyards are awesome ducks!!! Both are on the ALBC's "critical" list. I plan on getting more of each breed this year if all goes as planned.
The American Livestock Breeds Conservasncy is a fantastic organization....and they have a cool site online!! I'm a member. The site lists and describes all the endangered livestock.....poultry, pigs, sheep, cattle, goats, horses. Really interesting to read and learn about them!!!
Must go for now.....time to carry buckets of warm water out to the "quack pack" and all their friends. Not fun....but it goes along with the territory. It's 10-15 below here today with the wind chill. I'm trying to upload a pic of some Ancona ducklings I raised last May. Don't know if it'll go thru or not....I'm pretty new at all this "online" stuff(smile). If not I'll just try again later.
Sincerely, Kathy

 

[tia]

Runners I would say. They are good egg layers. I can't eat the eggs fast enough - I've been feeding all of my friends too!

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

Are Rouens quiet?

 

[Amiga]

In hopes to encourage those making decisions about their future ducks, here was my thought process (if we can call it that

)

(begin summer 2009) I love my new, expanded gardens! I haven't ever tried growing so many tasty vegetables!

Wow, these slugs keep getting harder and harder to control - and I won't use most pesticides (except for DE etc.) because I finally have toads and other lovely critters in the garden, and I don't want to poison them)

Bill Mollison wrote, "you don't have too many slugs - you have a duck deficiency"
(wrangling with self, then beloved, about practicalities)
What kind of duck would work? Needs to love slugs and other pests, enjoy foraging, produce fertilizer and compost additives, not be too big, and winter hardy.
(research)
Okay, Indian runners - meet my criteria and as a bonus, they lay upwards of 200 eggs per duck per year, and they are small, and mercy, those are the cutest ducks I have ever seen!

Start building foundation of night pen, with trenches filled with concrete block, hardware cloth underneath . . . . .
Now, what colors do I want? Which hatchery?

(more research)
The hatchery I want to do business with offers fawn & white, blue, chocolate, and black . . . hmmmmm - this is the hardest part!
A friend wants to order a few with mine, and she wants blue.
The fawn and white are precious looking, but there is something about the darker colors I really like. Chocolate? Black?
Inspiration: five of each!

females (90% guarantee, and if I get a drake or two, that should work out fine - the poultry expert at the land grant university says you don't have to have a drake for a happy flock)
Ordered ducks 5 black, 5 chocolate, 4 blue - all females (as close as we can get)

Okay, time to get that pen and shelter built!

(expected arrival date - 3/23)

So now I am slowly assembling the pen, soon the house, and saying prayers that the 14 little ones arrive safe and sound.
Brooder's ready to go, found a source for bedding and feed.