Discuss all aspects of raising poultry. No topic is too small
Runner Ducks?
Just been browsing about, like ye do. Can't help noticing, it appears to be 'Runner Duck Season', again. Everyone's at it: " Runners Available " ~ 'Ooh, I'll take six, please!'.
Yes, and then *What will ye Do with them?* Valid question. What Do people want them for, please? Is it eggs? Eat the ducks? Do they Race them? What?
And why Runners, particularly? I barely see a mention of Mallards. Khaki's don't even come up a fraction of Runners.
Totally wysiwyg question. I'm genuinely curious. Is it just that people Like these ducks, like I happen to Like my bantams? Just occurred that this is a total blind spot, for me.
Glyn? Kwackers? Anyone?
Ratcatcher
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 They look cute, lots of different colours, and don't make a racket like call ducks. They lay really well, but are a very odd shape to eat. Unlike some other ducks they never fly so you can get away with low fences. Breed good ones and you can get good money for them.
Glyn
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 Good god! *Thanks*, Glyn! What an absolute answer :D
Weee! Just re read that, a few times. Letting it filter through ... Cute? Undeniably. Colours? Yep. It must be said, they have that going for them too. And Runners, because ...
Okay, come on. Fess up: What's the Down side ~ and don't say ye don't know eider!
What about water? And, surely, all those runny, smacky, cute little feet must play havoc with the ground?
Oh, and stoats.
Ratcatcher
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 They need enough water to get their head in or will get eye infection, ideally enough to swim.
They are filthy when they eat as they like to put the food in the water and the whole place soon ends up a stinking mess of soggy feed.
On heavy soil they dig every time it rains and will soon plough up every plant leaving nothing but a muddy mess. That's why I don't keep them here.
They are like crack cocaine to foxes who will do anything to get them, I think they find the hypnotic waddling irresistible. I even had a fox jump out a bush and grab one whilst I was hand feeding it in the middle of the day.
On the plus side they are the only poultry that made me more money than they cost to keep.
Glyn
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 3 other downsides I forgot to mention.
Copious amounts of semi-liquid shit if you are used to hens.
They don't seem to have a clue what nest boxes are for and will lay wherever they are when the urge comes on them, even in the pond.
The drakes are randy little sods and will mate with anything that moves, including hens (especially if reared by a broody hen), often harming them.
Glyn
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 Cheers, mate. Yeah. Following my ~ admittedly, somewhat knee jerk and excitably 'Drunken' response, last night (An odd phenomena, as I don't drink! LOL!) I did the decent thing and scanned 'Duck Duck Go', incredibly. LOL!
Yeah. Duck, Ducks had *Gone*, by morning :( 1. I genuinely wouldn't know what to Do with so many eggs! 2. It says they can live ten years? *That* sort of nailed it. I can't guarantee *I'll* make another decade. 3. Too Long. I realised, three foot of duck? Naah. The Half Ducks? 15"? That I could live with.
Searching for unwanted eggs though, amidst a sea of liquid duck and raped chickens? Jesus. Remind me again, please: Where the hell is there Any appeal in these damn things?! LOL!
What it is, Glyn: I lost my lot. One of those great, universal piss takes of truly cataclysmic proportion. Now, I have my MEG's, in their ground cages. And ... Well, Space! Big, empty chicken pen. Box that nothing lives in. It needs filling. Yeah?
I've been working my way through the card. Peacock. Guinea's. Naked Necks. Aseel! Now, Runners. Hmm. Naked's are still good. I'd Really Love a Turkey too. Brown one. We could do turkeys next? :D
Ratcatcher
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 I've got a batch of wild turkeys under some broodies. Awesome things, they fly like phesants.
Glyn
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 Please, don't Ever mention " Wild Turkey " around me, Glyn. It was decades ago. But, my god ....! LOL!
Blow! Even before I'd finished reading that, I was scheming how to get halfway down the country ~ Again! 'Fly like pheasants' though? Drat and curses! Foiled again!
Grrr! No Top Netting, see, mate? *Bought* one. Could never figure out how to erect / secure it. Sat there, now :( So, that means anything flying can go over the fence / hedge. Hedge is behind the fence. Behind the hedge is a pack of Dogs.
Bugger. What can I *Have*, Glyn? This troubles me! LOL! Nature abhors a vacuum ~ and I'm about as natural as they get.
How about these 'Heritage' ones? Sort we only see in old fashioned kiddies books. They capable of going far, off the ground? It's sort of that, Vs an Omlet door.
Got incredible news about my MEGs too! :D I pulled it off, mate!
Ratcatcher
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 Domestic turkeys don't fly but I found the heritage ones could jump quite high, upto a 4ft perch without even opening their wings.
Have you considered geese, they are like guard dog lawn mowers.
Glyn
Friday, June 6th, 2025 *Four Foot Jump?!?* Dear god, Glyn; How does Anyone contain the buggers?
I dunno. I was pondering, yesterday, hanging a bit of my unused net, like a screen, between their fence and the hedge? I could take it as high as might be considered needed ... Dunno.
Geese? Yeah. I've *Thought* of them. Pictured myself, slopping and sliding through Liquid Goose. Everywhere. All over the Limited grass supplies I have available. Competing with the horses ... Naah.
Ye know, I'm extremely aware of how much I might be coming across here, as one of these lunatics who Hoards creatures. Simply Has to have some of everything. Like that.
Just to say, I'm not, actually. Far more pragmatic. Simply looking at what I've got ~ in Every respect ~ and trying to figure a plan that fits it :)
No. I've got finite resources. A nutter would have just rushed out and bought anything to hand. LOL! I've got one, last shot at this. I want to get it a bit right.
Turkey, with a ball and chain? LMAO!
Ratcatcher
Friday, June 6th, 2025
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Runner Ducks?
Just been browsing about, like ye do. Can't help noticing, it appears to be 'Runner Duck Season', again. Everyone's at it: " Runners Available " ~ 'Ooh, I'll take six, please!'.
Yes, and then *What will ye Do with them?* Valid question. What Do people want them for, please? Is it eggs? Eat the ducks? Do they Race them? What?
And why Runners, particularly? I barely see a mention of Mallards. Khaki's don't even come up a fraction of Runners.
Totally wysiwyg question. I'm genuinely curious. Is it just that people Like these ducks, like I happen to Like my bantams? Just occurred that this is a total blind spot, for me.
Glyn? Kwackers? Anyone?
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025
They look cute, lots of different colours, and don't make a racket like call ducks. They lay really well, but are a very odd shape to eat. Unlike some other ducks they never fly so you can get away with low fences. Breed good ones and you can get good money for them.
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025
Good god! *Thanks*, Glyn! What an absolute answer :D
Weee! Just re read that, a few times. Letting it filter through ... Cute? Undeniably. Colours? Yep. It must be said, they have that going for them too. And Runners, because ...
Okay, come on. Fess up: What's the Down side ~ and don't say ye don't know eider!
What about water? And, surely, all those runny, smacky, cute little feet must play havoc with the ground?
Oh, and stoats.
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025
They need enough water to get their head in or will get eye infection, ideally enough to swim.
They are filthy when they eat as they like to put the food in the water and the whole place soon ends up a stinking mess of soggy feed.
On heavy soil they dig every time it rains and will soon plough up every plant leaving nothing but a muddy mess. That's why I don't keep them here.
They are like crack cocaine to foxes who will do anything to get them, I think they find the hypnotic waddling irresistible. I even had a fox jump out a bush and grab one whilst I was hand feeding it in the middle of the day.
On the plus side they are the only poultry that made me more money than they cost to keep.
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
3 other downsides I forgot to mention.
Copious amounts of semi-liquid shit if you are used to hens.
They don't seem to have a clue what nest boxes are for and will lay wherever they are when the urge comes on them, even in the pond.
The drakes are randy little sods and will mate with anything that moves, including hens (especially if reared by a broody hen), often harming them.
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
Cheers, mate. Yeah. Following my ~ admittedly, somewhat knee jerk and excitably 'Drunken' response, last night (An odd phenomena, as I don't drink! LOL!) I did the decent thing and scanned 'Duck Duck Go', incredibly. LOL!
Yeah. Duck, Ducks had *Gone*, by morning :( 1. I genuinely wouldn't know what to Do with so many eggs! 2. It says they can live ten years? *That* sort of nailed it. I can't guarantee *I'll* make another decade. 3. Too Long. I realised, three foot of duck? Naah. The Half Ducks? 15"? That I could live with.
Searching for unwanted eggs though, amidst a sea of liquid duck and raped chickens? Jesus. Remind me again, please: Where the hell is there Any appeal in these damn things?! LOL!
What it is, Glyn: I lost my lot. One of those great, universal piss takes of truly cataclysmic proportion. Now, I have my MEG's, in their ground cages. And ... Well, Space! Big, empty chicken pen. Box that nothing lives in. It needs filling. Yeah?
I've been working my way through the card. Peacock. Guinea's. Naked Necks. Aseel! Now, Runners. Hmm. Naked's are still good. I'd Really Love a Turkey too. Brown one. We could do turkeys next? :D
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
I've got a batch of wild turkeys under some broodies. Awesome things, they fly like phesants.
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
Please, don't Ever mention " Wild Turkey " around me, Glyn. It was decades ago. But, my god ....! LOL!
Blow! Even before I'd finished reading that, I was scheming how to get halfway down the country ~ Again! 'Fly like pheasants' though? Drat and curses! Foiled again!
Grrr! No Top Netting, see, mate? *Bought* one. Could never figure out how to erect / secure it. Sat there, now :( So, that means anything flying can go over the fence / hedge. Hedge is behind the fence. Behind the hedge is a pack of Dogs.
Bugger. What can I *Have*, Glyn? This troubles me! LOL! Nature abhors a vacuum ~ and I'm about as natural as they get.
How about these 'Heritage' ones? Sort we only see in old fashioned kiddies books. They capable of going far, off the ground? It's sort of that, Vs an Omlet door.
Got incredible news about my MEGs too! :D I pulled it off, mate!
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
Domestic turkeys don't fly but I found the heritage ones could jump quite high, upto a 4ft perch without even opening their wings.
Have you considered geese, they are like guard dog lawn mowers.
Friday, June 6th, 2025
*Four Foot Jump?!?* Dear god, Glyn; How does Anyone contain the buggers?
I dunno. I was pondering, yesterday, hanging a bit of my unused net, like a screen, between their fence and the hedge? I could take it as high as might be considered needed ... Dunno.
Geese? Yeah. I've *Thought* of them. Pictured myself, slopping and sliding through Liquid Goose. Everywhere. All over the Limited grass supplies I have available. Competing with the horses ... Naah.
Ye know, I'm extremely aware of how much I might be coming across here, as one of these lunatics who Hoards creatures. Simply Has to have some of everything. Like that.
Just to say, I'm not, actually. Far more pragmatic. Simply looking at what I've got ~ in Every respect ~ and trying to figure a plan that fits it :)
No. I've got finite resources. A nutter would have just rushed out and bought anything to hand. LOL! I've got one, last shot at this. I want to get it a bit right.
Turkey, with a ball and chain? LMAO!
Friday, June 6th, 2025