Re: Raising Ducks
[Re: Sheepdog1]
#7732741
12/02/22 04:29 PM
12/02/22 04:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,563 Worley, Idaho
Machias
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,563
Worley, Idaho
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Get Muscovy Ducks, NO noise, fantastic meat, great eggs and they are broody as heck if you want to raise more!
When things are Grim, become the Grim Reaper! Fred Moyer
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Re: Raising Ducks
[Re: Sheepdog1]
#7732766
12/02/22 04:50 PM
12/02/22 04:50 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512 Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
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I have had several breeds of ducks. So far my favorites by far have been Magpies.
I don't do much with them. They are 100% free range, usually choosing to sleep on the pond. I feed them a pan of cracked corn once a day, and that's it... they forage the rest. I DO have dogs though that patrol the yard... without them, I imagine I would lose more to predation. My biggest losses have been to young ducks... between snakes and turtles. The adult ducks are pretty much carefree but the little ducks are a pain...
They are MESSY to keep in a pen... no matter HOW you give them water they WILL find a way to get most of it on the floor, causing the pen to be a mess and you to have to water more frequently. I much prefer to let the hens set in the spring and hatch their own ducks... although even that's a pain trying to keep the snakes and other critters away from the nests until they hatch.
~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
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Re: Raising Ducks
[Re: Sheepdog1]
#7732809
12/02/22 05:40 PM
12/02/22 05:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,463 ny
gcs
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,463
ny
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"Here", was the home of the Peking duck in this country, Millions of them, They originally had access to water as all the farms were on creeks, then they started raising them on the dry lots. At the stocking rate used they were stinking , messy birds. The farms are all gone now, put out of business by property values and state regulation....Good eating but very fatty. I second the idea of Muscovy ducks though, Large birds, will raise big broods and are a leaner meat, ugly as sin though and they can and will fly.
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Re: Raising Ducks
[Re: Hutchy]
#7732965
12/02/22 08:50 PM
12/02/22 08:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,171 ny
upstateNY
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,171
ny
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You don't raise ducks, you shoot them! Hahahaaa me too.
the wheels of the gods turn very slowly
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Re: Raising Ducks
[Re: Sheepdog1]
#7732994
12/02/22 09:14 PM
12/02/22 09:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 327 Caldwell, ID
KTMracer
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 327
Caldwell, ID
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I've raised several hundred of them over the last decade or so. By far the best are the Muscovy for my operation. I just let them free range with kiddie pools around all summer. Dump them, spray them out, and refill every two days. Great meat and prolific layers. They multiply quick if you want them to. Most hens would set on and hatch 12-15 each time. Most would set a 2nd nest each summer. Quiet and easy keepers. I love the eggs.
All I can recommend is never consider geese. Just took seven of them to the butcher a couple days ago. Sure, they taste great, but the best part is the satisfaction of eating those noisy biting jerks after six months of dealing with them. Good eggs though.
"Not all who wander are lost" -JRR Tolkien
Just a man in search of all the old Pontiacs I can get my grubby hands on.
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