Ducks
 

Does anyone here have any experience raising ducks?

For a couple years now my wife has been pestering me to keep a couple
chickens in the backyard for eggs.
After doing a bit of research I'm finding that something like a campbell
khaki duck is going to be lower maintenance and can actually be allowed
into the garden for pest control without destroying the garden.
But reading about it isn't quite the same as talking to someone that's
actually done it :-).

--
Chris Dukes

Ducks
 

On Mon, 1 Mar 2010 18:20:22 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

Does anyone here have any experience raising ducks?

For a couple years now my wife has been pestering me to keep a couple
chickens in the backyard for eggs.
After doing a bit of research I'm finding that something like a campbell
khaki duck is going to be lower maintenance and can actually be allowed
into the garden for pest control without destroying the garden.
But reading about it isn't quite the same as talking to someone that's
actually done it :-).

Are you looking for eggs from the ducks? I have a friend who once
raised ducks. The eggs inside were sort of green and had a strong
taste.

Ducks
 

On Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:58:58 -0500 in wrote:
On Mon, 1 Mar 2010 18:20:22 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

Does anyone here have any experience raising ducks?

For a couple years now my wife has been pestering me to keep a couple
chickens in the backyard for eggs.
After doing a bit of research I'm finding that something like a campbell
khaki duck is going to be lower maintenance and can actually be allowed
into the garden for pest control without destroying the garden.
But reading about it isn't quite the same as talking to someone that's
actually done it :-).

Are you looking for eggs from the ducks? I have a friend who once
raised ducks. The eggs inside were sort of green and had a strong
taste.

Err, the campbell khaki duck is a breed primarily used for egg production.

What exactly was this friend feeding the ducks? Compound feed,
or letting the ducks forage for themselves?
My intent is to primarily feed them a compound feed, but allow them
to supplement their diet with any creepy crawlies and weeds they find i
n the garden. Which would lead to eggs with stronger flavors, but not
as obnoxious as you indicate.
As for green inside... if those ducks were eating mostly plants
that might be expected. It might also be expected if they eggs
got warm enough to have hydrogen sulfide reacting with iron.


--
Chris Dukes

Ducks
 

Duck eggs are dee-licious. They will have brighter orange-ish yolks. As with
chickens, when they have access to bugs and veggies, the yolks have a richer
color but in no way obnoxious flavor.
Any egg when hard-boiled will develop a greenish 'skin' around the yolks.
Maybe that's what you saw and thought odd, though it's quite normal...?

I'd be interested in ducks too... though i love my hens.
Sue

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 1 Mar 2010 18:20:22 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

Does anyone here have any experience raising ducks?

For a couple years now my wife has been pestering me to keep a couple
chickens in the backyard for eggs.
After doing a bit of research I'm finding that something like a campbell
khaki duck is going to be lower maintenance and can actually be allowed
into the garden for pest control without destroying the garden.
But reading about it isn't quite the same as talking to someone that's
actually done it :-).

Are you looking for eggs from the ducks? I have a friend who once
raised ducks. The eggs inside were sort of green and had a strong
taste.

Ducks
 

On Mon, 8 Mar 2010 15:28:03 -0500 in Sue wrote:
Duck eggs are dee-licious. They will have brighter orange-ish yolks. As with
chickens, when they have access to bugs and veggies, the yolks have a richer
color but in no way obnoxious flavor.
Any egg when hard-boiled will develop a greenish 'skin' around the yolks.
Maybe that's what you saw and thought odd, though it's quite normal...?

I'd be interested in ducks too... though i love my hens.

Well, I've been drilling through the "todos"
Book on raising ducks read.
Space for housing and pasture calculated and a spot chosen in the back yard.
Triangle Horse Sports should be able to provide the feed.
And there's another option of supplementing chicken feed for laying.
Rough design for a duck house worked out.

Now it's a matter of getting parts together to build housing, a predator
proof run, and a dog free zone... Pick up a "duckling containment unit"
(Kiddie pool). Call the Wake Forest post office to make arrangements,
and order some ducklings.


--
Chris Dukes

Ducks