Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[alexsamp]

Has anyone ever noticed how on the omlet website, ducks are overshadowed by chickens . I do find this a little inconvenient as I am a duck person.

I myself think chickens are great but I think ducks are better as they are hardier, lay when chickens stop laying, are better looking and are water proof. I you agree with me then please let me know.

 

Alex

[Lewis]

Chickens are what Omlet started out with so its just the way it is

 

I'd guess the majority of what Omlet sell will be to do with chickens, then ducks, rabbits + guinea pigs and bees afterwards. Look at this forum and there are only 500ish duck threads compared to the 16,500 chicken ones

 

I don't really see a question so waffling anyway I'd think chickens are more popular than ducks in general as ducks can be very messy and louder in the garden and need water too.

Do ducks lay when chickens dont (Hybrid chickens should lay all year round )?

[Guest]

Hi

Yes agree duck section not so well visited but am sure this section will encourage more keepers.

 

I had ducks first but now not got any, only wild mallards, love the ducks great characters but messy and a pain to put in if they are free rangers (dusk etc) but chickens are so easy to keep. Put themselves to bed etc they too have their own characters but I find the chickens more compliant! I still like nosing in the duck section as I do miss my ducks.

 

I did acquire some semi wild mallards this summer who caused havoc with some chickens for the previous owner. The mallards kept attacking all the chickens in a very large run and even attacked the cockerels etc. Hence I ended up with them.

They are now happily gone wild again and can fly too.

 

From reading some of the messages in the duck section in the past few months some people after buying ducks have not found them so easy to look after so it is great the duck section can let folks ask pre duck purchase questions to ensure they are aware of duck needs.

Its good to see how other duck keepers have their set ups & of course duck eggs to buy in the shop are very expensive compared to chicken eggs, my neighbours were so thrilled to have much prized duck eggs.

 

Sorry chickens I think ducks are much more appealing to look at as well(hope my chickens dont hear me as they are still laying lots of eggs)

indie

[jayjay]

I agree that the duck forum tends to be quieter than the chicken one. I suppose more people have chickens. I only have ducks and so have nothing to compare them with. I love my ducks - they are friendly, funny (never cease to make me smile even on the worst of days) full of character and absolutely gorgeous

 

Maybe us duck keepers just need to be a bit more vocal (well you know what I mean ) Post messages Alex and you are sure to get a response.

 

I have to agree that ducks are not easy - mine are well behaved and go into their run as soon as it gets dark but going indoors is another matter that usually requires manhandling.

 

JJ

[Chucky1]

 

I had ducks first but now not got any, only wild mallards, love the ducks great characters but messy and a pain to put in if they are free rangers (dusk etc) but chickens are so easy to keep. Put themselves to bed etc they too have their own characters but I find the chickens more compliant! I still like nosing in the duck section as I do miss my ducks.

 

I did acquire some semi wild mallards this summer who caused havoc with some chickens for the previous owner. The mallards kept attacking all the chickens in a very large run and even attacked the cockerels etc. Hence I ended up with them.

They are now happily gone wild again and can fly too.

 

 

It's funny you say that Indie. We had chickens first and find that the ducks are the better behaved and maybe a bit smarter . The chickens regularly rough the ducks up and mug them for food, even though Ed is twice their size.

 

The ducks let us know when they want food by going into their run so they can have an undisturbed meal, while the chickens bok and look through the chicken wire.

 

At dusk when I say "bedtime quacks", Ed leads the way and his two girls follow. When I say "bedtime girls" some of the chucks do go in but at least 5 have to have that last bit of scratching or something else.

 

Still they both make us life in trheir different ways.

[foreveryoung]

I think both are quiet equal, hens have gradually become more and more popular as pets and I guess now this trend has got its roots the ducks will soon to follow!

 

 

When people hear i have hens and ducks the expression on their faces are of complete surprise!! with the "but you live in a town" ,etc.

 

we back onto my sons school, onto the reception year in fact. Im often down there seeing to my flock so to speak and I hear "LOOK DUCKS or LOOK CHICKENS" when my son was in year 1 we had his whole class of 30 odd into my garden to see, feed and touch the hens, the children seemed very impressed, I still have the 30 odd thank you cards from them all, and often get the "hello Jakes mum from the kiddies)

 

I no longer have my ducks as we sadly lost them to those dam foxes, yes i know its nature and yes its soo cruel but there you go!!!, I am starting a run improvement type of program, updating my run and making it fox proof as much as possible!!! so fingers crossed it will be the 1st and last fox attack!!

 

Hen - their quirkier, independent and care free

 

Ducks - they are soooooo laid back its beyond belief but they do get themselves in a tizz over the silliest of things but they are the clowns of the two!

[The Dogmother]

Do you have any photos of your ducks Alex?