Mystang's Homesteading Circus

CntryBoy777

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@CntryBoy777 @B&B Happy goats I know neither of you live close to us, but do you have a recommendation for a reputable source for getting the ducks from? Do you recommend starting with ducklings or grown ducks?
We ordered ours from Ideal Hatchery out of Missouri...I believe it was around Joplin or Springfield.....the one thing about KCs is that they are naturally skittish....I really like bonding with my animals and always prefer to raise them from young to maturity, so they are use to me and a routine as they grow....cause ya never are quite sure how or what others have done with them previously.....if ya wish to handle them, I'd go with the hatchlings so they would grow use to that somewhat...especially with the children....just so they don't get freaked out having the jumping, running, and noises of them scaring the ducks....they do grow very quickly and ya will see changes in their size overnight....the best thing to do with older KCs is to go about your business, ignoring them....they will be very attentive to what ya are doing and before ya know it they will be right beside ya chattering away....they are not the extremely loud quakers most expect....if they get loud it usually signals something strange is around or they feel threatened.....they will start laying at 17-20wks and will avg between 300-320eggs per year....if ya wish to raise them, then ya need to have a drake for every 3-4 hens for assurance of fertilization....we found this out from experience as we only had 1 drake for 10hens....if ya get them now they would be okay to brood outside after the first couple of wks, to help with the mess and for easir cleanup line their brooding area with an old shower curtain liner under some hay substrate....we used the cabinet liner that looks like netting for their footing and to keep their sharp like nails from putting holes in the liner....I do have pics that I can post if ya wish to see what I'm talking about....just let me know....but, if ya get day olds, just try to get them from closeby so they are not so traumatized by the shipping....others may have better breed "genetics", but if they aren't being shown or bred for hi $ sales, then it really doesn't make much difference....especially on a "learning flock"....your kids will really get a kick out of watching them, for sure!!.....and ya will be laughing more at them....than at Mystang.....:)
 

Bruce

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Unless she's laughing at Mystang chasing the ducklings around!

Ideal is in TX, that is where I got my first batch of 12 chicks. Been getting them from Meyer in Ohio since then. The Ideal birds were fine but their website sucks big time, it didn't in 2012. Why go backwards??? Little information about the breeds and no pictures. Now if you already know what you want that can be OK. Google says Cackle, Estes Farm and Heartland are in Missouri.
 

farmerjan

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The only thing is many places will not have ducklings available in the fall or winter....the same with turkeys. You need to check with whatever hatchery you are interested in using. Even the Rural King stores that advertise they have chicks all year round, have a sign posted that no more ducklings or turkeys until Spring.....
If there are any fairs in the area, go to them and check. Sometimes 4-h projects are sold in the fall. Research any purebred poultry shows in your area.... there are usually waterfowl shown, might be some KC's, and you don't want fancy show stock, so some of their "culls" due to color, size or something that does not meet the standard, would still make a good farmstead duck.
 

mystang89

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Darn rain. Flipped the hay. It rained. Flipped it again it rained. Lol. I'll see if it dries out today and might flip later in the evening. It seems like I'm only going to have 2 days off no rain then the chances increase again.
I feel like I love my life with the mantra, "we'll see" haha
 

mystang89

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3rd sheep died. Last from the same breeder. All three were. I pray that the last of them. We really don't know what to do next. She died in the same way as her ram lamb.
 
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