For Sale – Runner, Moscovy, Call Ducklings and Hybrid Layers

Filed Under (Considerations Beforehand, General) by Connor McCarra on 25-07-2009

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Update: All birds shown in this post our now sold to good homes!

We have young runner ducklings, muscovy ducklings, and call ducklings for sale. Also young Daisy Belles, and Bluebells, both hybrid layers.

Here is some information on the the Breeds:

Muscovy Ducks

Originating from Brazil, Muscovies are the only domestic ducks that is not derived from mallard stock. Wild muscovies coloration is black and white, but domestication has produced many different colors. These colors are; blue, blue and white, chocolate, chocolate and white, white, black, black and white, lavender, and calical. The males can grow to be quite large, weighing 10-15 lbs. Most of the females are 5-7 pounds but can reach up to 9 and sometimes 10 lbs. Their feet are equipt with strong sharp claws for grabbing tree branches and roosting. Muscovys are unique because of their bright red crest around their eyes and above the beak. They do not swim much because their oil glands are under developed compared to most ducks. Muscovy hens can set three times a year, and the egg clutches can vary from 8 to 21 eggs. The egg are incubated for 35 days.

Indian Runner Ducks

Indian Runner ducks have a distinctive type, the long, flat, straight head and long, slender neck forming, in shape, and umbrella handle and stem, the back should be long, straight and carried upright, and with the body should take on almost horizontal bearing. At present the colour range is still expanding with the Black Chocolate and Blue often losing colour especially in females with age and the males succeptible to throwing odd white feathers after injuries / fights with other drakes.

Call Ducks

The Call Duck is an energetic and active duck. It is small, weighing around 0.68 kg (1.5 lb) with a plump bowl-shaped body; a wide, rounded head; tiny, broad bill and short legs. It is vocal with a high pitched call. The Call Duck comes in a variety of standard colours including White, Gray, Blue, Buff, Pastel, Khaki, Butterscotch, Chocolate, Snowy, Spot and Black & White Magpie. Nonstandard colours include Blue Fawn, Nutmeg, Self Black, Cinnamon and Crested. It produces 25–75 eggs a year.

Daisy Belles

Daisy Belles are a newly developed hybrid with a high laying capacity.

Bluebell

Another Rhode X . This is a beautiful looking bird, laying brown eggs and a typical hybrid with great production. Very scarce and a great seller.

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All these birds are growers and were growers at the time of the photo and will continue to grow into lovely birds. If you are interested in any of these growers contact us by email or phone (check out the contact page for details).

The number of hens and cocks

Filed Under (Considerations Beforehand) by Connor McCarra on 19-03-2009

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How many hens and cocks you are able to keep depends on what you want to do with the birds, the amount of space you have and the breed you choose.

Do you just want a few animals as a pastime, without intending to go to shows with them or to breed them? Then it does not matter whether or not all of the eggs are fertilized. In that case, you can get a rooster with at least two or three, but possibly even more hens, depending on the breed and the space available. Read the rest of this entry »

Preventing the annoyance of your roosters

Filed Under (Considerations Beforehand) by Connor McCarra on 19-03-2009

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If you want your birds to have offspring, then getting one or more roosters is necessary. In that case, it is good to know that any potential noise pollution can be largely prevented. Most people who are irritated by crowing basically have a problem with the early hour at which a rooster starts to herald the new day, for they normally crow at dawn. A blinded and sound-proofed hen-roost may prevent a cock from crowing in the early hours of the morning and causing trouble. Read the rest of this entry »

Annoyance from roosters

Filed Under (Considerations Beforehand) by Connor McCarra on 15-03-2009

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Most breeds do not need a lot of space, and any garden or even a balcony is able to accommodate a few small chickens. If you keep their coop sufficiently clean and your chickens stay on your own premises, few neighbours will object to your hobby. Only when you do not clean your henhouse well will this attract flies and vermin, for which neighbours may quite rightly blame you. Read the rest of this entry »

Is a rooster necessary?

Filed Under (Considerations Beforehand) by Connor McCarra on 14-03-2009

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If you don’t want to breed your birds, then strictly speaking you need not get a cock. Hens do not need a rooster to be happy, and the pecking order within a flock is usually not a problem either. Often one of the hens takes on the cock’s role. She becomes a bit more dominant and starts behaving in a ‘testy’ manner like a rooster. Thus, very dominant hens sometimes even make a modest attempt at crowing. But if you find roosters handsome birds and it is possible for you to keep one, then you will have to take into account that he is going to fertilize your hens. Read the rest of this entry »

Breed-related qualities – Find the breed for you

Filed Under (Considerations Beforehand) by Connor McCarra on 14-03-2009

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There are chickens of all sizes, shapes and colours, with all kinds of feathers, and with a variety of characteristics. Thus one finds noisy chickens, chickens that love to fly and are constantly escaping from their run, chickens that by nature are very calm and docile, and those that are known for their jumpiness or even for being quite aggressive. Read the rest of this entry »