Ducks

When you think of eggs, the first birds you think of are probably chickens. And that makes sense, that’s where pretty much all of our eggs come from these days! But that might not be the case forever… Ducks are becoming popular again in poultry circles, and in a big way. And yes, I’m talking […]

Before you commit to any kind of livestock, it’s important to learn what their waking hours are and, just as importantly, what their sleeping hours are. Because when your animals are awake it means that you will tend to be awake, because they are active and getting into things, there’s always something that will come

If you’ve been paying attention to homesteader circles and publications lately, you might have noticed a trend: ducks are quickly rising in popularity, particularly among people who have kept chickens for a while. Chickens are great, but in comparison, ducks tend to be healthier, more self-sufficient, and even more resilient in bad weather, and just

Part of taking care of any livestock is understanding how long they might live. When it comes to poultry like ducks, typical lifespan impacts things like overall health but also expected yearly egg output and tempo. Important metrics for flock management, to be sure! And, not for nothing, if you just have pet ducks or

One of the single biggest concerns for all poultry keepers is whether or not their birds can fly the coop. Although chickens are a lot less likely to take flight, many duck breeds can. One duck breed in particular is claimed to be the best flyers of all: Muscovies. However, some folks claim that they

If you started keeping ducks recently, congratulations, you’re joining the ranks of many homesteaders who are coming around to the advantages and benefits of them as poultry. But compared to chickens, ducks have a decidedly different diet. Don’t get me wrong, they eat a wide variety of foods, and you won’t be short of options

One of the best things about keeping ducks, just like keeping chickens, is getting that nearly endless supply of fresh, wholesome eggs. I know for me, and I imagine pretty much everyone else who gets started with them, the long wait until your hens start laying seems to go on forever. When you want those

If you’ve been paying any amount of attention to homesteading circles lately, you’ve probably noticed one topic coming up more and more often concerning poultry. Ducks are back, and in a big way. Well, ducks never left us, not really, but they’ve long been overshadowed by chickens in the United States. I don’t think they’re

It’s fun to think of our animals forming long-lasting relationships like we do. The idea that males and females will pair up and live out their days raising babies is certainly heartwarming. And as happy as it sounds, nature furnishes us many examples of exactly that happening, particularly among waterfowl species. Many mate for life,