I’ve never been a fan of water birds.
When Dave suggested adding ducks or (gasp!) geese to the flock, I was resolute. I was adamant that there was NO WAY we’d get birds that are that messy. The sheer volume of poop would be more than I could handle, to say nothing of the mayhem to be unleashed on what small amount of water we actually have on the farm.
Besides, we couldn’t properly care for water birds. Without a real pond for them to swim in, what would be the point of even trying? They are water fowl, after all. Plus, what’s messier than a pair of ducks? Maybe a pair of teenage boys playing paintball in a port-o-potty. Otherwise, not much.
So, when my friend cried out for help because her beloved drake was being regularly beaten by one of her roosters, naturally I volunteered to adopt him.
Apparently, I’m inconsistent and unpredictable like that.
Fluffers, the Drake, and his main squeeze, Chatters.
My only request was that she also throw in a lady duck to make sure he wasn’t lonely {It was a Noah’s Ark kinda thing). So, she showed up one morning with a pair of ducks who are now calling applewood farm home.
Another friend recommended separating the ducks from the chickens for at least a week. This is fairly standard protocol for any new birds being introduced to an existing flock.
The new duck turf.
Since a good portion of our chickens have taken up residence in the garage/barn, our smaller coop has largely been used for egg laying and not much else. This gave us a ready-to-inhabit duck abode, complete with fence and door.
All that was missing was somewhere for them to swim.
Enter: the kiddie pool.
And the pool was never clean again…
I have to admit, watching these two havoc-wreakers frolick in the pool has brought me around utterly on ducks.
They get in that pool and splash and dunk and play with everything they’ve got and it is crazy adorable.
And while it is true that I’ve changed my mind about these two water birds specifically, I still maintain a firm “hell, no!” when it comes to geese.
I think.
Dare I say it? Make Way for Ducklings!
My first pet was a duck, Honker. I was three and we lived in a suburb of Albany. I still remember him fondly. We later had a flock of ducks when we moved into the country. No way are they similar to geese. Totally adorable. I don’t eat duck.
Yeah, it was with a firm resolve like that that I ended up raising emus! (Talk about messy!)
check this out:
Evergreen Acres Goat Farm (Tres Pinos, California)
Free range duck eggs available now… Why duck eggs are better??
29 JAN · SUN 2012
Duck eggs vs Chicken eggs
Duck Eggs are an Alkaline producing food – Anti cancer food – much better
Farm Fresh eggs with a rich smooth orange yolk whether Chicken eggs or Duck eggs will surprise you if you have only experienced the colorless and flavorless supermarket versions. What most people do not know is that Duck eggs are far superior to Chicken eggs with the same taste and richer smoother consistency yet better than a chicken egg in many ways
1. Duck eggs have twice the nutritional value of a chicken egg and stay fresher longer due to their thicker shell.
2. Duck eggs are richer with more Albumen making cakes and pastries fluffier and richer.
3. Duck Eggs have more Omega 3 fatty acids ..something you can actually see in the salted pickled eggs the Chinese love to eat. Omega 3 is thought to improve everything from Brain health to healthy skin and
4. Duck Eggs are an Alkaline producing food, one of the few foods that leave your body more alkaline which is a great benefit to cancer patients as cancer cells do not thrive in an alkaline environment. Chicken eggs are an acid food leaving your body more acid.
All best Tim
I’ve thought of keeping ducks too. Whichever side of the brain it is that provides rationality has thus far prevailed. But the other side, the one that overrules rationality when a friend shows up with animals in need of a home, is waiting patiently for the opportunity to once again carry the day.
I kept geese when I was a kid. Messy, loud, sometimes aggressive.
I’m looking forward to the stories your new birds are going to generate.