Would geese like it here? (pics)

[LinckHillPoultry]

you should get some sebbies and pilgrims!

^3 of my 5 sebbies. Adam, Eve, and Glenda.

^Adam, Eve, Glenda, and our Pilgrim Raymond. At this point we didnt have our other 2 ganders.

^baby Raymie.

^The Fro Fro Gang. 1 Crested female Rouen. 1 crested male silver swedish. 3 dark khaki campbells. 5 out of our 18 ducks.

 

[raindrop]

Haley, those pictures are adorable! I especially love the duckling/gosling pic (I can't tell the difference yet).
You seem to have several breeds of ducks. Are ducks like chickens in that some are more tame/mellow than others?
And if I get 4-6 straight run ducklings will they all live together okay or will I only need one male for several females?

Edited to add:
In the last picture, are those electric wires down low? Are those to keep ducks in? Do they work for predator control too?

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
Well if you are near Corvallis, you would be daft to not get your birds from the Holderreads. I think you can pick up birds at their farm (you're not allowed near the animals though for bio-security reasons). They're Mennonites, so don't let that freak you out at first!

Ducsk and geese are natural partners, especially if brooded together. During mating season, some of my ducks even think they're geese and will desperately try to get busy with some geese. They don't stand a chance, but they sure try!

Geese eat grasses and vegetables only. So they will mow your grass for you, muc like a sheep would do. Ducks will get about 10% of their diet from slugs/insects. It makes a good pairing. You just have to monitor them well to ensure they're getting enough nutrition, then supplement in winter.

I would stick with Pilgrims as a starter breed. Then you don't have to worry about seperating the breeds during mating, since Pilgrims won't be sex-linked if cross bred.

As far as ducks, if you are going to Holderread, go with teh Silver Appleyards. He has the best stock in the Country. If you go crazy and enter the fair with them, you'll surely win.

 

[ksacres]

It's not mine, but it's a gosling.

 

[raindrop]

Quote:

Thanks!

 

[raindrop]

Quote:
I went to Feathersite and looked at pictures of the Silver Appleyards- they are very nice looking. I am going to call Holderreads later this week to place an order to pick up later this month hopefully. Seems like just the sort of place I would like to support. So close and I had no idea!
I still worry about extra drakes since he sells everything straight run. Both my mother and I get violently ill if we eat duck so I will have to find something else to do with extra drakes if they aren't getting along.

 

[greyfields]

I currently have 7 drakes and 4 ducks. They get along fine. If they are all brooded together I wouldn't worry about it. A duck 'fight' is nothing. And actually, a goose fight is down right humorous. Imagine judo in extreme slow motion and then try not to laugh.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

geese and ducks are different in the fact that geese tend to be more friendly than ducks.
Raymond is a gosling in the picture.
Sebastopols are tame like pilgrims.
Also, the fences were not for the birds, the birds are actually on the Outside of the fence, thats the fence to the goat pen in both the pictures that you see that fence, my birds can get right through it if they really wanted to.

In a way, I guess you could say ducks are like chickens. I find geese friendlier then both ducks and chickens.

 

[MissPrissy]

I am sick with jealousy over that pond!! LOL How wonderful to have that area for water fowl!

 

[lacyloo]

I love the pond , I had toluse geese, very sweet