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Post by standychook on Sept 19, 2010 10:38:06 GMT 8
I've always wanted to have ducks...but hubby is not so sure of the mess they make. I'm sure that two ducks can't make that much mess...right?
But I have recently been told that ducks are great pest controllers in the vegie garden and don't cause the damage to plants that chooks do, so now have a chance of convincing hubby:)
I don't know much about ducks - other than I would LOVE to have a pair of mandarin ducks, but they fly off if you don't have them caged, so not such a good choice - the chook yard will be fully enclosed, but not the vegie garden where I want them to 'work'.
Could I clip their wings to prevent them from flying off or is that cruel? And are they difficult to get in WA?
Alternatively, what other small, friendly, pretty breed of duck would do the job of pest control in the vegie patch without making a huge mess of the chook yard? (I really don't like the ones that end up with the big growth looking things on their beaks!)
Michelle
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Post by ducknut on Sept 19, 2010 14:15:28 GMT 8
all small ducks fly i have. saxony bantam ducks. and thay do not fly thy are a medium duck and thay are lovely nature . have a look at them may have some for sale in about 8 weeks
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Post by rap on Sept 19, 2010 19:18:04 GMT 8
A pair of Pekins would be my choice make great pets [not small] but friendly. Pure white with orange bill & feet lay great eggs.Don't fly and will clear the snails from your garden.
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Post by standychook on Sept 23, 2010 21:20:53 GMT 8
LOL I have looked at photos of a few different breeds...I think I shouldn't have looked coz I would like one of each!
Are pekins easy to get as POL or young adults or will I need to incubate eggs?
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Post by funnyfarm on Sept 24, 2010 2:58:29 GMT 8
I picked up a trio of pekin ducklings about 4 weeks ago. They have required very little extra care, although they were not day olds. They just required to be put away at night out of draughts. we kept a light on them for about a week. They are terrific, so social, ferious bug catchers and I believe will lay eggs well when they are old enough. They follow me around when I transfer them from the day pen to the night pen. The lady I got mine from has ducklings at the moment, and she gave me plenty of good advice her email is: rubyslypprz@netscape.net
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Post by quambie on Sept 24, 2010 14:08:16 GMT 8
Hi standychook yep there great at it, "BUT " Do not let them near any new or freshly planted lettuce cabbage for that matter, or you will starve and they will get fat. Other to that I love them and I found out the hard way. It was easy to fix just fence of the bit you do not want them to go hunting in. Good luck Trev
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Glen
New Member
Grandmother of 6
Posts: 19
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Post by Glen on Sept 26, 2010 12:56:11 GMT 8
I have just started out with Ducks, my husband wasn't keen at first, but as he is completly enclosing fruit tree yard (parrots a problem), we decided to house them there, guess who has fallen under the ducks spell?. He has just about completed constuction on their pond, I now get asked what sort I am getting next.
Glen
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