which breed!!!!!!! Anconas... Or swedishes!!!!!!!!! Help!!!

[DUCKGIRL89]

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I know im completly confusing, and I know that your probably upset with me (i would be for getting, and rehoming all these ducks) Im just trying to figure out WHAT exactly I like... Ya know? And im just glad I didnt have any more anconas before I found out I didnt really want them..... Im not getting the buffs by the way.... I still want the swedes, but PLEASE trust me, im gonna keep think about this BEFORE I get them.... I have ALLLLLL winter to make up my mind..... Thanks guys

 

[duckyfromoz]

My concern is that you do jump from one thing to another in a sort time. May I remind you that this was a post you wrote here just hours ago, but in such a short time you have decided something different.

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This was the second post you wrote here when you joined the site about 5 months ago.

but i LOVE the muscovy's and im sticking with them

Where are those muscovies now??


I cant help but feel that often - as like many other teenagers- you think before you act- you speak before you know what you want to say and write without truly thinking about the words that people will read. Asking questions and learning is a good thing, but you really need to start thinking about the animals that are in YOUR care, they are not toys to discard- they are living things, and being a little more responsible about them in the long term is extremely important.

I am not upset with you- just trying to show you that slowing things down and REALLY thinking about your situation is needed before posting 5 questions a day here about different breeds. I somehow get the feeling that with the number of postings here- and all your questioning that you may not have the right level of parental guidance to help you in your decisions. Researching WITH your parents could be a great project for you all to do together and your brother or sister- maybe they can be involved too. You need to have someone that holds more of a stake in the issue to give you some guidance about what you do with your ducks since its not us here on the forum that have to pay the feed bill and house the ducks in the middle of winter when there is 2 foot of snow on the ground. Coming here for information is great- but you really need to get one plan decided on and commit to it. You can change the brand of breakfast cereal all you want when you get sick of one or want something different- but when it comes to animals you really need to be serious about them.​

 

[70%cocoa]

I must admit that I have been thinking the same thing as Duckyfromoz. The responsible thing to do before getting any animal is to do a lot of research, planning and preparation so you can make a good decision about what to get and, more importantly, your capacity to care for it and then also to make a commitment to the animals you get to keep them healthy and happy, and not to discard them just because a different breed suddenly appeals to you more. It is not fair on the ducks.

You obviously do love ducks but I really hope that you just hang onto the ones you have and give them a long, happy life. Stop thinking about other breeds (like Swedish). They are not really going to be that different. Just love and care for what you have now

 

[DB_Tex]

I agree, slow down and take your time. Winter is long. For all you know you'll be wanting balis or blue magpies by then. I did 3 months of research and I still *slightly* regret what I ended up ordering from the hatchery but I've made a commitment to my birds and I've nursed them through colds, injuries and had more than my share of casualties for the year in ducklings. Knowing what I know now, I probably would have taken a different path, but all those lessons were lessons I needed.

 

[Farmgirl09]

I agree with the rest, but also, these are her birds... Correct?...... I would think that she can do whatever she wants with them... Since they are HERS.... Yes, I dont think its a GREAT idea to be getting and reselling birds, but we all must remember, these are hers.... And she can do whatever she wants with them... Not saying anything against ducks, but they are ducks, and will be happy where ever they are as long as they are fed... Watered... And have a safe shelter....

Good luck on what you plan on choosing to do DUCKGIRL89 I hope it all works out for you

duckyfromoz: if you read some of her other posts you would have found out that her "muscovies" ended up being rouens.... Which (i think) she is keeping....

 

[Oregon Blues]

If you do end up getting Swedish, the blacks are not a recognized color.

I've got show Swedish which are very difficult to find, and I've ordered Swedish from a hatchery, which are all now in my freezer. The temperaments on the hatchery Swedish were not good, nor was their conformation, nor was their coloring.

Swedish is a breed where it really matters where you get them. Even my show Swedish, which have excellent temperaments, are not nearly as calm as my other breeds and I keep them for their looks more than anything.

Is it possible for you to find someone local who has a few different breeds of ducks that would let you spend some time with them, without buying? I'm afraid you are on the path towards being an animal collector if you aren't careful.

Ducks can't actually do anything for your life. They can't make you special, they can't give your life meaning, they can't define who you are. So owning rare breeds or special colors does nothing to make you a special person.

Have you sat down and made a list of everything you want from a duck? If you have it in writing, sometimes it helps you focus.

I have to say, I don't see anything wrong in spending a lot of time investigating a lot of different breeds. Gathering information is far different from buying and discarding breed after breed.

I myself do that. I'll see some new breed of chicken, or dog, or horse, and think "Wow, I really want one of those." So I research and research and after a few months I realize I don't really want to be taking care of any more animals.

I do keep myself a list of "someday I am going to own" but not until the current family pets and livestock live out their lives and it's time to replace them.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

I have to agree with the others. You are young, have admitted you are too young to work currently, so this leaves your parents footi g the bills.

Stick with what you have, learn the basics of all around good duck care covering everything from feeding to illnesses to proper housing. Don't over crowd an area they have to free range in with lots of breeds. This includes turkey, geese, and chickens who might share the space too.

Be happy with what you have to learn from and grow with. It is good to be excited, but better to start slow and learn all you can. Even more so when you aren't the one covering the bills.

My son (13) is hatching his first eggs this fall. He is focused on 1 breed of chicken to make his own flock. We have invested in some of the best bloodlines for him to start with. So far he has logged 20 hours of research on the breed, how he wants to house them, medical care and feeding. He has done odd jobs around here putting in work to be ready for the eggs hatching. He also knows any chicks or future hatching eggs he sells he has to set aside a percentage to cover their feed and other needs.

This might be a good plan for you as well as a young poultry keeper.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I have something else to say.

There is nothing wrong with having a mixed flock. Lots of people keep one or two examples of many breeds. They like the variety.

However, those people are not breeding and hatching and selling chicks or ducklings. If you would like to have one of each breed, then do it. But that is a conflict with your desire to hatch and sell ducklings and to sell hatching eggs.

It is something you could do, however. Keep many breeds, learn which ones you like, and give up the idea of breeding ducks until you have discover which breed really sings to your heart, and then concentrate on that one breed.

The people here who are worried about your being so fickle about breeds are actually paying you the honor of thinking that you are going to be a serious breeder and they are trying to guide you in that direction instead of into being just another backyard poultry keeper with a mixed flock, mutt hatchlings, and no goals.

 

[JulieNKC]

Yes I agree it's slightly irresponsible to get ducks then rehome them a few months later over and over. The thing is, as long as she is taking good care of them, and finding the ducks homes instead of just dumping them somewhere what's the big deal? Would it be more responsible if she culled and ate the ones she didn't want? What's the difference between what she's doing and someone who orders/hatches more than they want and either sells the extras or butchers them? Ducks are livestock, not dogs or cats, they just care that they are taken care of, not who does it. I got a pair of pekins at the beginning of spring, they didn't fit in so I rehomed them. If the drake I got doesn't start doing what he's supposed to do he will either be rehomed or sent to freezer camp. I plan on hatching some ducks in spring when everyone wants ducks, and selling them. I do not think I am being irresponsible. I also think it would be unfair to keep an animal I didn't like and possibly started to resent if they were in the way of getting something which might fit in better if there is a home out there who would want and appreciate them.
Yes, she should slow down a but, but what bugs me is if she put all her ducks in the freezer and reoordered whenever she needed it would be ok, but selling them is not.

 

[aineheartsyou]

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This is an excellent idea!