Ducks are a great alternative to raising chickens – and good companions for them if you want to raise both species!
Learn everything there is to know about this friendly livestock and how to take care of it.
If you own animals, for any purpose, it’s nice to imagine that they’ll be with us forever. But every adult knows that that just isn’t the case… Every animal will eventually die, but some animals live a lot longer than others. Some animals can live a surprisingly long time! Although most homesteaders think that larger …
What’s a Duck’s Lifespan? How Long Do They Live? Read More »
Ducks have been domesticated for ages just like chickens have, but they are making a strong comeback in popularity these days with renewed interest in self-sufficiency. Compared to chickens, ducks are larger as a rule, and many are still very prolific layers. Ducks also tend to be a good bit healthier overall, meaning they are …
Owning poultry is great, whether you want chickens or ducks. Lately, I’m all about the ducks: they lay just as many eggs as chickens if not more, and even better most will lay eggs right through the winter with no problems. And, of course, if you’re expanding your flock the old-fashioned way or just bringing …
How to Raise Baby Ducks: 17 Tips You Can’t Ignore Read More »
Winter is a time of slowing, of stillness, and sometimes of death. Everything slows down in the winter, with many animals hibernating or at least minimizing their energy expenditure. The same is true for our livestock. Chickens, for instance, will usually cease laying eggs in the wintertime. But ducks are known for their far greater …
If I were to say to you the word “egg,” the very next thing you think of would probably be “chicken.” And that’s for good reason! Chickens are indeed the main suppliers of eggs around the world. But what you might not know is that ducks can also be excellent producers of eggs, and they …
If you’ve got ducks of your own, they probably have to have some kind of pool or pond in order to thrive. Ducks are waterfowl, and they spend quite a bit of time in the water. More than this, they need water to get clean and also to help them eat much of the time. …
In the United States, eggs are so ubiquitous that you can expect to see them in anybody’s refrigerator. Whether you like them by themselves, as a topping or an ingredient in other food, eggs are truly a kitchen staple. Chicken eggs, that is! But there’s another bird egg that is steadily increasing in popularity in …
Duck Eggs vs Chicken Eggs: What Are the Differences? Read More »
Some of the most diligent mothers in the animal kingdom are birds. Female birds are well known for sitting on and brooding over their eggs through thick and thin, protecting them against predators, and keeping them warm and dry no matter how severe the weather conditions. It’s pretty inspirational when you think about it! But …
For many duck owners, one of the most exciting and precious times in their lives is raising newly hatched ducklings and keeping them warm. These precocious and adorable little fuzzballs are highly vulnerable though, because if they get too cold, they can get gravely sick or even die. Luckily, people long ago figured out how …
Ducks are waterfowl. Everyone knows that. And so they need a pond to survive, right? Right. It may seem like the answer is obvious, but it’s not always so straightforward. Ducks do spend a big part of their lives on land, and they nest and find food on land. So are they really just semi-aquatic? …
