Ducks

If you own ducks you probably already know that they’re quite self-sufficient. They are seemingly impervious to wet and cold weather, and that means it’s easy to keep them in a wide variety of environments, even ones that are truly frigid! But ducks aren’t invincible, and they still need a warm, safe shelter to stay … Read more

There are many varieties of ducks out there. Big and small, black, white, brown, and every color in between. If you are a duck fancier, there is a lot to love. But if you want an especially fancy duck, you might want to look at a crested variety. All crested duck breeds have a spray … Read more

Whether you keep ducks as pets or just as productive livestock on your homestead, I have little doubt that you care for your flock with all the love and diligence they deserve. And that’s why it’s such a tragedy when you come out one day and find one or more of your precious feathered friends … Read more

If you love and care about animals, it’s heartbreaking to imagine life without them. Once you invest your blood, sweat, and tears into raising them and caring for them, they can start to feel like a real part of you. But, sadly, death is a part of all life on Earth, for humans and animals … Read more

The most precious, adorable time in a duck’s life is when it is still a fuzzy little baby duckling. I’m telling you, there’s nothing on Earth cuter! But, they really do grow up fast and as much as we might want them to stay small and fuzzy forever, getting their feathers is an important milestone … Read more

No matter what you do in life, if you want to get good at it you’ve got to pick up a new vocabulary. Call it lingo, shop talk, vernacular, whatever. Sometimes it’s complex enough to border on a different language! Surprisingly, or maybe not, it’s the same with ducks. If you’ve ever listened to two … Read more

Understanding various developmental benchmarks is also crucial for timing when your ducks can go outside and for how long. Speaking of benchmarks, ducklings don’t cheep and peep for very long, either. When exactly do ducklings start to quack? Ducklings will start to quack anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks old. Various breeds develop at different … Read more

Ducks are always in chickens’ shadows when it comes to poultry. Though they’ve been domesticated for ages, the greater productivity of chickens in terms of meat and eggs saw ducks relegated to the specialty market for a long time. That status is slowly changing today since folks are coming to appreciate the richness of duck … Read more

Ask anyone who’s ever gone duck hunting, or even tried to photograph ducks, and they will tell you: these birds seem to have supreme eyesight. The slightest movement, even a little something out of place, and they will fly away. It’s amazing, but it can also be completely befuddling: how can any bird’s eyesight be … Read more

If you want to raise ducks, keeping the right ratio of males to females is crucially important both for the well-being of your flock and your own sanity. If you want lots of eggs, you’ll need plenty of females, but getting a good return of meat is best done with a flock that has more … Read more

I don’t know about you, but I can honestly say there’s nothing cuter than an adorable baby duck. That’s reason enough to get them if you ask me! But ducklings will eventually grow up into adult ducks, and if they’re going to get there, they need lots of help from you… Ducks are notable for … Read more

Most of the animals that we keep, whatever species they are, tend to follow the same schedule that we do when it comes to sleeping. They get up with the sun and go to bed or at least settle down at dusk. But that’s not always the case with ducks… Ask anybody who has kept … Read more

You hear about some pretty strange lore concerning ducks and other poultry when you hang around the scene long enough. Tales of drakes laying eggs, flocks consisting of nothing but hens suddenly producing ducklings, and more craziness besides. It’s easy to roll your eyes at such things, but now and then you’ll talk to people … Read more

Cute, precious baby animals are one of life’s greatest pleasures. But just like I always remember my parents saying, they don’t stay small for long. Babies tend to grow quickly, quicker than we expect, and before you know it, they have reached adulthood. That’s certainly the case for ducklings, but there’s a little confusion out … Read more

Do you want know what the very best part of raising ducks is? Getting baby ducks! Ducklings are incredibly cute and precious and I always love watching them grow and getting them to bond with me, but they’re also delicate and fragile. But as you might expect, baby ducks are particularly prone to chilling and … Read more

Our ducks exhibit all kinds of strange and sometimes humorous behaviors. They tend to be inquisitive and sometimes playful with people and each other. Some of my fondest afternoons are spent watching my ducks roam around and explore the yard. But for more than just fun, it pays to be acquainted with the way they … Read more