Duck Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Ducks...Naturally

by Lisa Steele

Author Lisa Steele is one of the most trusted voices in small-flock poultry keeping. Her first book, Fresh Eggs Daily , was all about healthy, natural care for chickens. Now comes Duck Eggs Daily , an equally valuable guide to raising ducks for eggs and companionship. This is also a book for chicken keepers who want to add ducks to their flock. While ducks can live happily with chickens, ducks are different in many important ways. Steele provides an information-packed, beautifully photographed how-to for raising – and living with – happy, healthy ducks. She examines every aspect of her ducks’ lives, including duck houses and pools, health care, duck behavior and blending ducks into a chicken flock. She provides a breed chart and a selection of favorite recipes using duck eggs. What’s behind the fast-growing interest in raising ducks? An increasing awareness of the superior nutrition and taste of duck eggs (compared to chicken eggs) and a desire for a personal connection with the foods we feed our families. Foodies and chefs are embracing the appeal of duck eggs. And many doctors recommend duck eggs for people allergic to chicken eggs.

Genres: Nonfiction

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2015

About the author

LISA STEELE | Fresh Eggs Daily

Dubbed “Queen of the Coop” by the media, Lisa Steele is a 5th generation chicken keeper, author of several top-selling books on raising poultry as well as two cookbooks. She is founder of the popular backyard chicken keeping brand Fresh Eggs Daily with nearly 1 million followers worldwide. In her free time, Lisa can usually be found cooking and baking using fresh produce from the garden and fresh eggs from her coop or curled up in a corner reading. She lives on a small farm in Maine with her husband, their corgi, and mixed flock of nearly three dozen chickens, ducks and geese. She loves pretty things, good coffee, classical music and snow - especially at Christmas time.

Learn more at: www.fresheggsdaily.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/FreshEggsDaily
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FreshEggsDaily
Email to: Lisa@fresheggsdaily.com

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! I read it about a year ago and have read/looked over it many times. Without it my ducks might not be alive right now. This is a must read for people who have or are looking into getting ducks.

[cellomerl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m relatively new to poultry keeping since this is my first year with hens and I am considering getting a few ducks soon. This little book is an easy read, a good and accessible general introduction with nice (rather small) photos as well. It presents a summary of general care starting from incubating eggs (rather unusual to kick off with in a beginners’ book) with a lot of emphasis on natural nutrition, health benefits of various herbs and a particularly good section on building a first aid kit. Unfortunately not much about Muscovy ducks, which seem to be quite popular where I live. But I got a few ideas from this book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, comprehensive guide to raising ducks.

[Anjanette Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of duck books. I didn't want to bring ducks onto our homestead without being very prepared, so I checked out every duck book from the library. I also checked out every book on keeping poultry and small farm animals. The sections on ducks were aways very small and outdated. And even the books dedicated to ducks focused mostly on raising them for meat rather than eggs. This book has it all, thankfully! The photos are fantastic, as well. My husband read it cover-to-cover before I even had a chance to; and the ducks are totally my hobby rather than his!

Our six Golden300 ducklings are thriving, and this book has made me much more confident over the last 7 weeks of taking care of them!

[Valorie Hallinan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful and darling little book with everything you'd want to know about raising ducks. I've been interested in trying my hand at this and Lisa's book explains it all in detail, while lovingly describing the daily life of her own flock of ducks. This is a great addition to the St. Lynn's Press collection of books about gardening and sustainable living. Here is my full review on my blog, Books Can Save a Life: http://wp.me/p28JYl-2lt

[Lori Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed

I currently raise backyard chickens and am looking to add a few ducks to the crew. Lisa's book contains exactly all of the information I was looking for - particularly for using holistic methods of care. I would highly recommend this book.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to get a basic understanding of starting your homestead flock. Great compliment to Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks.

[Alisa Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I don't agree 100% with everything she says, I do agree with most of it. A good reference, and some exceptionally cute photos!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction, poultry raising. I got chickens last year and ducks this year. I have several of Steele's other books that are good resources, so I knew I wanted to add this one to my collection. It is interesting though, how she addresses ducks in relationship to chickens. In her discussion of duck food, she says you can feed chicken feed to the ducks but need to add niacin supplements. Or... you could get duck feed that has the correct amount of niacin ducks need. Some people might appreciate the option to buy one food, but she didn't even discuss other arrangements. My birds will be fed separately so I would rather get the best duck food for the ducks and the best chicken food for them. However, she did go in depth about other foods ducks can and can't eat, such as various weeds and things you might be growing in the garden. The focus on using herbs to prevent and treat illness was also interesting. Lots of color pictures of various breeds of ducks and several recipes added to the fun. Overall a good resource, but might not be a good choice for a primary resource on backyard ducks.

[Kendra Chubbuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book. I read it and found it quite interesting. I've been raising ducks for years with my geese. I've always have had a fondness for fowl and call ducks and Pekins and Runners are my favorites. I love it when the eggs hatch. The ducklings are just adorable and it is so much fun to have babies on the farm. I loved reading this book and will be reviewing it often.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Don't get your startup advice here.

Not very factual. Book is more like, how to coddle your ducks the most expensive and time consuming way possible. Not sure I'd follow the advice in it either. I've raised ducks for years and...eh, no, not entirely sound advice. Nice pictures though. Lots of work was put in here.

[Ashley Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new duck owner this book was super informative, not only for the duckling stage but as they grow as well. It also includes helpful things like recipes for not only food but also natural ointments for ailments they may encounter. Highly recommend for anyone looking to learn more about raising ducks.

[Trista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Definitely very thorough. I do feel the author takes a more cautious approach to poultry raising and it reflects in the books. All in all I’ve found the advice sound and it definitely works. Worth it to have on the shelf.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable, very educational resource for raising and keeping ducks

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good info for a beginner like me!

I liked that the book has loads of info on everything from hatching to diet. Thoroughly recommend for anyone starting out with duck keeping.

[Linden Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book

Just hatched our first duck eggs. Used this book as my guide. Love all the great advice. I will keep this in my library as I raise my first ducks.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information; makes me so excited to get our ducks next month!

[Audra Kinnard · Rating 5 out of 5]

So informative, especially on hatching and incubating duck eggs. Love it!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love LOVE this book! This is the year I will start my duck farm!

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great resource and easy read! Excellent information and the author makes a good case for choosing to raise ducks.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

While overall this book was good, it really focused on people who have chickens already and want to add ducks, how you can modify supplies for chickens (like chicken feed) to work for ducks, and comparing ducks and chickens.

I have absolutely no interest in ever getting chickens and honestly am not fond of them. However, I love ducks and have long wanted some. So this book was less helpful for me personally, but it was well done and beautiful. I can see how it would be extremely helpful for someone with experience with chickens who wants to get ducks.

I definitely got some great info out of it regardless of who it was targeted for. I especially loved the extensive and detailed list of plants and herbs that are safe--or even very healthy--for ducks and the lists of plants and foods that are dangerous to ducks. I have yet to find information on edible plants for ducks like this anywhere else and it was reason enough for me to check out this book at the library.

While I would not recommend this book to someone interested in getting ducks who does not already have chickens, I would definitely put it on my list of duck resources (+ Lisa Steele's website, fresheggsdaily.com).