What to do with old hens?

[allergymama]

Yikes! An honest question, perhaps a nice reply?

Please don't release your old ducks into the "wild". (there, that was nice, right?)

Other things that might work (I get you...yes, they get old and yes in the back of your mind you knew this day would come, but ALSO they are now friends who have provided you and your family with wonderful sustenance for years!)

1. Do you have a hunter or farmer friend who might be willing to use them? Even someone that gets the "they were part of the family" part who likes duck? It could be a nice gift for someone.

2. We have a little old lady who lives a ways from us who takes in unwanted farm animals and just keeps them through old age and death. She sells whatever eggs they still manage to produce and just likes their company. (You should see her farm...all these old ducks, turkeys, chickens, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats...it is a REAL retirement farm! LOL)

3. We have a place that processes ducks and chickens near here, I haven't tried this, but if you have something like that, they may know someone who will take/buy them from you.

Good luck!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think the first reply was nice but when that was followed up with

Quote:
That's probably what set everyone off.

 

[buff goose guy]

Quote:
No they are actually in the worst health and die in about 2 years usually

 

[ChickenCanoe]

http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/

http://www.carolinawaterfowlrescue.com/

 

[needlessjunk]

You either keep them, eat them or find a new responsible home. Releasing them is illegal and not fair to the ducks. When you brought them home they became your responsibility till the end and dumping at a pond is just that dumping them. I'm sure some will live but most will die, is that really what you want for your ducks? And it doesn't matter the type of bread, bread is not very good for them. They need duck food or be born in the wild and know how to find their own. Domestic duck don't just automatically know how to find food they are domestic and rely upon us to feed them.

 

[Sid Post]

It's not a bad idea, it's a terrible idea.
......
Living a life of terror, starving and dying a violent death is so much better than the stewpot.

And are you serious about your last sentence?

I grew up in rural Oklahoma. I hated to see domestic dogs (Poodles, Chihuahuas, mutts, etc.) loose on the side of the dirt road several miles from asphalt. How on earth do they feed themselves (they don't)? How do they avoid the Coyotes (they don't)?

I'm still stunned by people that think "releasing them back into nature" is a good idea. It is seriously more humane IMHO to put them down than releasing them to fend for themselves. This is true to for all domestic "pet" livestock except for reptiles (snakes especially, just ask someone who lives in Florida).

 

[fethr37]

Yikes! An honest question, perhaps a nice reply?

Please don't release your old ducks into the "wild". (there, that was nice, right?)

Other things that might work (I get you...yes, they get old and yes in the back of your mind you knew this day would come, but ALSO they are now friends who have provided you and your family with wonderful sustenance for years!)

1. Do you have a hunter or farmer friend who might be willing to use them? Even someone that gets the "they were part of the family" part who likes duck? It could be a nice gift for someone.

2. We have a little old lady who lives a ways from us who takes in unwanted farm animals and just keeps them through old age and death. She sells whatever eggs they still manage to produce and just likes their company. (You should see her farm...all these old ducks, turkeys, chickens, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats...it is a REAL retirement farm! LOL)

3. We have a place that processes ducks and chickens near here, I haven't tried this, but if you have something like that, they may know someone who will take/buy them from you.

Good luck!

Nice yes

No I wouldn't ever consider releasing them in the wild. Wild is one thing for domestic ducks but public areas with lots of slugs and clover is another. I agree tho I hate to see people feed them white bread,but there is a few health-minded grannies out that feed them the good stuff. And from what I've seen those ducks look healthier than most penned ducks that are'nt aloud out to forage at all.. Domestic ducks are still natural foragers and will find the available natural protien if aloud so.

Stew it is.....but maybe I'll wait till next year

 

[Sid Post]

And they seem to be happier and healthier than most held in captivity hmm

They were either dumped illegally, or the state commerce will buy ducks to make their lakes and parks seem nice and beautiful.

No they are actually in the worst health and die in about 2 years usually

Unless the public pond/lake ducks and geese are actively managed by the state, county or, local government agency that released them, as "buff goose guy" states, they have short lifespans, a poor diet, a low "quality" of life begging for food, and a difficult life avoiding dogs and people who will harm them.

 

[buff goose guy]

point is that those ducks at the park will die 4 years earlier than ducks without bread, any kind of bread is just as bad, white may be worse but same effects,( liver fails from the fat ( possibly) ) or early death. and those people who dont let their ducks forage is just about as bad.

 

[fethr37]

So they are going to be better off and happier being used for stew since they are passed prime anyhow. Life isn't going to get any better either way.2 cents