Java. the end.

In Ohio, there are feed stores that aren't mills. Those are more expensive than the mills.

Javamama - how far are you from the state fairgrounds? There is a National Poultry Show at the fairgrounds on Nov 13-14.
 
I went to the mill today. It was a bit more pricey than TSC. I could not believe it. Their scratch was over 12 bucks and I'm not all that thrilled with it - it had distillers grain as the first ingredient. I'm not real sure what that even is. I'm sure their bulk mixes were cheaper, but I don't need 500 pounds of grain.

Karen - I am about 20 minutes from the state fairgrounds. I have never been to the show because we are usually out of town, but this year I may be able to go.
 
I'm hoping to be done with alpaca birthing and maybe I can go down there. I would like to see what that is like and see all the different kinds of ducks. DH is NOT thrilled about ducks. He doesn't want to have to build anything. We do already have too many projects that we need to finish but still.... If I can find something cheap, then maybe he will be ok with it. I finally got Storey's guide to ducks. The more I'm reading about ducks, the more they seem to be a better option than chickens. Of course I haven't gotten to the diseases and care chapters. :)
 
Karen - don't build anything, just look for a cheap or free doghouse! A plastic one is even better because you can hose it out. Since they don't roost, they don't need a tall structure. Don't need tall fencing either - probably 2 feet would hold them.

They are not as prone to disease like chickens, and the care is no more time consuming than chickens. My chickens do just fine in the cold, and I'm sure the ducks will do just as well.
And - they love, love, love the wet weather, unlike chickens!

Also - the food intake difference is astounding. I have 6 ducks and they are taking about a month to go through a 50 pound bag. However, I was feeding crumbles and they waste alot. I switched to pellets to see if it slows down even more, and I'm going to add in some whole grains or scratch and BOSS.
The chickens rarely leave the feeders even though I only feed one scoop twice daily. :/

Mine are on the verge of laying, I can't wait!

I have to go get the kids to school. Be back soon.
 
hey java!!! tell Fran i said hi! i saw she is getting her own talk show! ha!

karen - really, you'll love the ducks. and then you'll move on to .... geese! ha! lemme know when you are ready for that and we'll getcha some of OD's progeny! ha!

we've only had one duck drop from disease. sadly it was our king of all drakes, Mr. Duck. we loved him - regal, well behaved, stayed in the pond.... we think he got botulism. who knows what he got into. it was a sad sad day... really the rest of the drakes dont even compare. we have one that we'll keep. we call him Bill Clinton because of his crazy hair and um.. that is.. not to be disrespectful.. but um.. he really "likes" the ladies! whoot!
 
:lau

Fran is quite the diva! She would like her BOSS on a silver platter today.

As long as I can keep them quiet, they are great. If you have roosters around you wouldn't notice duck noise so much. But I don't keep roosters.
 
I just remembered something odd - my lamp beside my bed turned on by itself in the middle of the night last night. Very odd. Just thought I'd share that :D I didn't dwell on it for long at the time, but I am still very tired today.

And my 3 year old calls eyebrows - eyebrushes. :lol:
 
My problem is that I would have to lock them up at night. They will be in a 3 acre pasture and predators could get to them no problem. I'm hoping the alpacas will be ok with them. I need something to eat the slugs and stuff to keep Meningeal Worm away from the alpacas. Plus I'm hoping that the parasite load will lesson if I have ducks wandering the pasture and eating up stuff. I also read that they are great with eating weeds which the alpacas refuse to eat. The fencing is 4 foot high fence and I'm sure there are low areas that a small animal could get through with no problem. We do see groundhogs in the field once in a while. When the alpacas are out, other animals stay out but we lock up the alpacas by the barn at night. So I'm sure there are critters in the field then.

OFG - I don't think I will want geese. I hear too many stories about the aggressive males. Although maybe I can get guardian geese instead of an LGD. :D
 
They go into their house at night just like the chickens do. We lock our up because of skunks and coons. You could probably just put their house right alongside the barn and take care of them and the alpacas at the same time. They stick together all the time and don't scatter out like chickens do.
They do love weeds and bugs. Mine prefer them over feed. With a 3 acre pasture you might not have to buy much feed at all.
 
hey baby!

any unusual lamp incidents last nite?
;-)

so a funny story. my bad MIL was staying with us one time over at the old farm. my hubby is a huge fan of old time radio shows and was trying to get a bunch off off cassette tapes and onto digital media. so he had an old boom box playing them and plugged into the computer for recording.. but somehow the cord came loose (cats!) and all of a sudden the boom box started playing.....

SCARY MUSIC

ha ha ha ha ha ha i think it was an old vincent price show.. how hilarious is that!?!?!?

have a great day!

ps i dont think its to weird that you have separate bedrooms. sometimes i'm very very happy to go somewhere alone so i have the bed to myself.

K - sure you say that now.. but geese are the siren song of the poultry world.. they'll start calling to you soon enough! ha! and yep - its no big deal to get the ducks in at nite. just feed them in their house (big dog houses are all over craigslist) and they will learn soon enough. we have 2 older drakes who put themselves to bed every nite. its kinda funny.
 
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