Ducks: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit (CompanionHouse Books) Choosing the Right Breeds, Housing, Diet, Breeding, Duckling Care, Health, Handling, & Egg Harvesting

by Cherie Langlois

The how-to duck book for novices! A flock of frolicking waterfowl is a lively addition to any hobby farm! Written by hobby farmer Cherie Langlois, Ducks is a fantastic overview of these entertaining and adaptable waterfowl. It's a must-read for those drawn to ducks for their striking colors, spirited personalities, and valuable products they provide for home and market! The author begins by asking "What do these water-crazy birds have that make them as much an asset to farms as landlubbing poultry?" She provides many answers that defend the virtues and versatility of ducks and argues that the duck is superior to the ubiquitous chicken in many ways. As a zoologist, Langlois has a gift for elucidating the details of the waterfowl's anatomy, traits, and behavior, all in the first chapter "Meet the Duck." She proceeds by leading you through the process of choosing the right ducks for your hobby farm and considering the various domestic breeds (from bantams to heavyweights, with Muscovy ducks discussed in detail), the sex of the birds, and number of birds and breeds ideal for beginning a hobby-farm flock. Whether you're interested in duck husbandry, keeping backyard ducks, or raising ducks as pets, the general overview in this waterfowl text on duck personality and the care and well-being of your ducks will prove helpful and informative! This easy to read 160-page resource offers advice on housing these very adaptable birds that thrive in various climates and regions throughout the world, including their requirements for space, ventilation, flooring, feeders, and fencing. Naturally, ducks need water to thrive in the form of an existing lake, manmade pond, or simple duck pool, all of which discussed is in the housing chapter. "The Duck's Diet" chapter discusses the nutritional needs of your flock and various feeding options farmers, ranchers, and hobbyists can consider for keeping your ducks happy and healthy. Seasoned duck aficionados interested in getting into the business of ducklings will find much information in the breeding chapter, which catalogs methods for hatching, incubators, mama duck and baby care, and more. The health of livestock is always a major consideration for the hobby farmer, and the chapter "Flock Health and Handling" offers a mini course in disease prevention, proper hygiene, spotting symptoms of duck illnesses, and dealing with common maladies. The advantages of duck farming—the superior quality of duck eggs, down, and meat—are the focal point of the final chapter "Harvesting the Rewards," likely the first chapter the dubious duck farmer will read prior to taking the dive into ducks. This beginners' reference concludes with an appendix of endangered duck breeds, an appendix of duck diseases, a resources list, a glossary of terms, and a complete index. You'll also find advice from experienced duck farmers in "Advice from the Farm" articles throughout the book. Add some splash and sparkle to your farm! Packed with beautiful, glossy, full-color photos and answers to your questions about raising Cayugas, Gray Calls, East Indies (aka Emerald ducks), Muscovies, and more, Ducks is your essential guide to tending a small-scale flock for pleasure or profit!

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2008

Reviews

[Shawn Kittel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get Ducks Raise Ducks Maintain Ducks. Learn it all here along with learning about different breeds.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young girl I had ducks, so this book was nostalgic.

[Cherice · Rating 5 out of 5]

We hatched 2 ducklings nearly 2 weeks ago & we are having so much fun! This book has been such a great resource. It has basic knowledge and tips for someone with a "Hobby Farm". I would highly recommend this series. There are quite a few of these books for different farm animals.

[Fernleaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the basics of small flock care, with a great resource list for more information. If you are considering keeping ducks for pets, pest control, or food this slim book will give you most of the information that you need to get started on the right foot.

[CFAITC]

This book offers essential information on tending a small-scale flock, with full-color photos, a glossary, and advice from experienced duck farmers.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read; helpful tidbits. I would have liked some more detailed suggestions on feeding, healthcare and nesting options.

[Joshua Gillespie]

This book is perfect for the beginners and for duck keepers who want to learn better ways to take care of your flock. One reason is the book works through caring for certain breeds. It explains how and what ducklings to choose. Another reason I really liked this book was the idea that I learned a lot from reading it and I thought I knew a lot to begin with. This book can guide you through how to care for certain breeds and how to deal with many situations you may get into with owning ducks. This book also gives you many facts on breeds and I found a lot of these facts very helpful. The book also gave you lots of views on the information that it provided. I recommend this book for any person who has or likes ducks.