Doug's Ducks- The Duckling Cam Winter/Spring 2017.
Duckling & Duck Eggs Available for Purchase- For more information doug'sducks@cox.net
Duckling & Duck Eggs Available for Purchase- For more information doug'sducks@cox.net
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Raising Ducks- An Overview
DOUG'S DUCKS
After much deliberation I have decide to raise ducks instead of chickens.If you can't decide on which to raise, perhaps the following will help.
A great resource on ducks is: Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks
The following are some excerpts for the book
- Ducks are very adaptable and less prone to disease than chickens and other poultry
- Ducks are very cold, wet and heat resistant
- Ducks are very easy to raise
- Ducks grow very fast- much faster than chickens
- Many breeds of ducks outperform in regards to egg production
- Efficiency life of duck hens 2-3 years as compared to a chicken 1-2 years
- Ducks make a highly effective pest patrol in the garden
- All domesticated ducks in North America are decedents of either a Mallard or Muscovie
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
The Pros and Cons of Raising Free Range Pasture Raised Ducks
DOUG'S DUCKS
The Pros & Cons of Raising Free Range Pasture Raised Ducks
Two years ago I moved from a suburban are of Rhode Island to a much more rural setting. I intended to raise a few free ranged pasture raised chickens for eggs, tick control and entertainment. Growing up in Western Pennsylvania I raised around a dozen chickens and pair of Pekin ducks so I knew the basic ins and outs of raising poultry, although they were limited to the chicken/duck run during the day and the barn at night.
But once I got settled into my new home I decided that I would raise ducks due to the fact that a little over an acre of my land is wetlands with a small natural spring winding its way through the area. I decided on Welsh Harlequin Ducks and I decided to purchase them from Metzer Farms.
FOR A RECAP OF MY ADVENTURES RAISING THE DUCKS FOR THE FIRST YEAR, CHECK OUT THESE PREVIOUS POSTS
DOUG'S DUCKS
FAST FORWARD ONE YEAR
After a successful first year of raising the ducks came the brutal winter of 2014/2015 both the ducks and I looked forward to springtime and getting 13 more ducklings to add to the flock. The happy hobby changed quickly as I started loosing ducks to the neighborhood dogs and a random predator or two. At first it was a drake who never came home, although not happy about the situation I knew going into this small farm project that a few ducks would be lost due to predators. I also knew that any ducks lost to predators would almost solely be lost while they were out free ranging and enjoying the land, because I built a very secure duck house. Then I lost a duck and a drake within a few days because of the neighbors dog. The first time the duck went on to the neighbors property and the second time the dog came onto mine. Then a few days later once again another duck didn't come home.
I don't raise my ducks as pets and I don't have a strong attachment to them, but I can't help but to be saddened and disheartened when within a few months I loose two drakes and three ducks. So do I stop letting them out of the duck house during the day and keep them in their pen? I don't find this a possible long-term answer. So do I just accept a certain inherent loss percentage every year to predators? At the moment I don't know what the solution will be.
Other than loosing ducks to predators I have enjoyed the first year of raising ducks, selling their eggs and the possibility of selling fertilized eggs, ducklings and processed birds going forward. I do this as a hobby, because I find enjoyment of raising animals in harmony with nature relaxing and sustainable. Plus raising duck (and chickens for that matter) is entertaining and fun.
PROS & CONS
PROS______________________________________CONS________________________
Fun Hobby Start-Up Cost-Cost to Maintain
Entertainment Predatory Threats
Selling Eggs, Meat and Duckling Constant Vigilance (Dog, Hawks, Coyotes)
Raising from Ducklings, Hatching 365 Day Job, Vacations = Finding Someone to .......................................................................................Watch the Farm
These have been my trials and tribulations of one year of raising ducks.
I look forward to feedback from others currently raising free range, pasture raised ducks and/or chickens and helping others decide if raising ducks is for them.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Earth Day- Where Did We Go Wrong?
According to Earthday.org Earth Day -- April 22 -- marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
I equate Earth Day to a terminal cancer patient who decides the best way to beat cancer is to only treat it one day out of the entire year. Every other day of the year they ignore the fact that their body is slowly dying due to radical changes going on within their body.
To celebrate one day a year where we organize groups to clean parks, plant trees just doesn't make environmental sense. The fact is that most of these same Earth Day "do gooders" are also the ones who spray their weeds with RoundUP and destroy the soil the weed was anchored to. According to This article in The New York Times explains the negative effects glyphosate has on soil, effects that include compaction and resultant runoff, the killing of beneficial microbes and bacteria, and the exhaustion of necessary minerals and other nutrients that plants require.Additionally we are just now re-discovering that some of the weeks we are trying to kill not only benefit the ecosystem where they grow, but some of them are edible and benefit out bodies eco system as well.
In a 2006 Bloomberg article entitled The Perfect Lawn: How Obsession Fueled a $40 Billion Industry we Americans are obsessed with our lawns, the shade of green they are and trying to have the best lawn on the block. We do this not only by dumping environmentally harmful chemicals on our lawns but we waste more and more water to green our lawns even when we are in a near drought.
Earth Day 2015 has the slogan It's Our Turn To Lead So Please LEAD everyday we only have one planet, just like a cancer patient only has one body.
And if all else fails follow this farmers motto:
Don't fail to treat the earth like you would treat your body, with respect, with intelligence, with patience, proactivity, love and care
Mind-Food-Body-Planet-Soul:
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Doug's Ducks- Farm Fresh Pasture Raised Welsh Harlequin Ducks
The Ducks are now laying their eggs and Doug's Ducks is now in business.
Doug's Ducks is a small Welsh Harlequin Duck farm located in West Greenwich, RI.
To provide wholesome naturally raised free-range duck and chickens to local consumers and businesses.
- Where do you sell your eggs?---We currently sell our eggs at our small farm by appointment. Please email us for more details. Limited delivery is available.
- How many birds do you have?---We have about 25 hens who are free to roam on our three acre farm, but our flock is always growing to meet the demand of our eggs.
- How do you house your ducks/chickens?---They have a duck house /chicken coop as well as a run, but during the day they are free to roam our 3 acre farm.
- What do you feed your ducks/chickens?---Since our hens are pastured they eat whatever is in the pasture or in our natural spring stream. The like bugs, worms, flowers, and grass. They are supplemented with layer pellets throughout the week.
- What is you favorite breed of duck/chicken?---We raise Welsh Harlequin Ducks & Easter Egger Chickens
- I have never eaten a duck egg before, how are they different than a chicken egg?----Duck eggs are very similar to chicken eggs in taste, look and how you cook them. Duck eggs except are typically larger in size than chicken eggs and the shell is harder and this keeps them fresher longer.
- The Welsh Harlequin is a fairly new breed, developed by Leslie Bonnett in Wales from two off-colored Khaki Campbell ducklings in 1949. They came to the United States in 1968 and were accepted into the American Poultry Association in 2001 in the Light Duck class. They are becoming a very popular breed due to their multipurpose characteristics. They have excellent egg production abilities due to their Khaki Campbell background yet retain the instinct to sit and hatch a nest full of ducklings. They are calm, inquisitive and excellent foragers. They seem to be the calmest bird on our farm.
- Harlequins are primarily raised for their wonderful practical attributes. "They are highly adaptable, outstanding layers producing 240-330 white shelled eggs yearly, active foragers, excellent producers of lean meat, beautifully colored and pluck almost as cleanly as white birds when dressed for meat." (Holderread, 2001)
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Raising Welsh Harlequin Ducklings- Week 22 The Duck Are Laying Eggs- Beginning of Doug's Ducks
Raising Welsh Harlequin Ducklings- Week 22 The Duck Are Laying Eggs-
The Beginning of Doug's Ducks
On July 28th, 2014 the Welsh Harlequin Ducks started laying eggs, at which point Doug's Ducks was started.
Doug's Ducks is a small Welsh Harlequin Duck farm located in West Greenwich, RI.
Doug's Ducks is a small Welsh Harlequin Duck farm located in West Greenwich, RI.
Raising Welsh Harlequin Ducklings
On March 3, 2014 my Welsh Harlequin Ducklings hatched at Metzer Farms and arrived at my house on March 5, 2014. To view the Raising Welsh Harlequin Ducklings from the start- Arrival Day Click Here
The Welsh Harlequin is a fairly new breed, developed by Leslie Bonnett in Wales from two off-colored Khaki Campbell ducklings in 1949. They came to the United States in 1968 and were accepted into the American Poultry Association in 2001 in the Light Duck class. They are becoming a very popular breed due to their multipurpose characteristics. They have excellent egg production abilities due to their Khaki Campbell background yet retain the instinct to sit and hatch a nest full of ducklings. They are calm, inquisitive and excellent foragers. They seem to be the calmest bird on our farm.
They can also make an outstanding dressed bird as their under-feathers are almost exclusively white making their carcass as pretty as a pure white bird. Interestingly, they can be sexed after hatching with 90% accuracy by their bill color. Darker bills mean a male and lighter bills ending in a dark spot are normally females. Within several days this distinction disappears. They are also a beautiful bird, especially the feather patterns and colors on the adult females.
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/DougsDucks
Our Mission: At Doug’s Ducks our mission is simple: To provide wholesome naturally raised free-range duck and chickens to local consumers and businesses.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
JWU Costa Rica Study Abroad 2014- Academics, Lecture & Field Work
JWU Costa Rica Study Abroad 2014-
Academics, Lecture & Field Work
Students enrolled in the JWU Costa Rica Study Abroad Program are completing (if they pass) 13.5 academic credits. The students complete pre-departure assignments as well as assignments and projects in Costa Rica. Students work 50-60 hours on program related class time, activities and projects.
Academic Focus: Eco, Nature-based, Adventure, and Sustainable Tourism
Satisfactory completion of the Costa Rica program fulfills all requirements for a concentration in Adventure, Sport and Nature Based Tourism. This is a physically active and comprehensive program.
Satisfactory completion of the Costa Rica program fulfills all requirements for a concentration in Adventure, Sport and Nature Based Tourism. This is a physically active and comprehensive program.
This program fulfills the following 3 courses:
- TRVL3040 Adventure, Sport, & Nature Based Tourism 4.5 credits
- SEE2040 Outdoor Recreation Planning 4.5 credits
- TRVL3020 Ecotourism 4.5 credits
JWU Faculty are the academic leadership for this program.
They coordinate pre-departure information, travel with the
group, and deliver academic content in conjunction with host
faculty. Along with myself (Professor Stuchel) I am accompanied by Dr. Eldad Boker.
Sustainable Tourism, Eco Tourism Local Experts- In addition to the JWU faculty Carlos Roberto Chavarria of Costa Rica Rainforest Experience and Ricardo Howell enrich the course material with the history, economy, social norms of Costa Rica as well as providing in-depth knowledge of Sustainable Tourism/Eco Tourism & Sports Adventure Tourism within Costa Rica.
Field Projects- The students are given four choices for their field work project when they arrive at Tirimbina Biological Reserve in the Sarapiqui region of Costa Rica. Students are able to pick the project they feel is most aligned with their personal preference or educational outcomes.
- Tirmibina Biological Reserve Hiking Trail Sustainability Study and Rain Forest Camera Study and the Impact of Visitors on the Hiking Trails
- Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program (CST) Evaluation and Study of the Sarapiqui Area Hotels. What Are the Costs and Return on Investment
- Sarapiqui Area Small Business Development and the Relationship to Sustainable Eco Tourism
Guest Speakers- In addition guest speakers are brought in to the classroom to enrich the academic material.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)