I can honestly say ducklings are super cute and very entertaining. I think they may even beat chicken and quail chicks on entertainment. Mix that with a foster hen for a mum and it's fascinating.
I am surprised how big they are when born and at only one week old they feel very solid to hold in comparison to a chick. I can already feel there down is very different, it feels almost like wire wool to touch. At a day old they were happy away from mum, say in the corner of the run watching as she filled her boots with feed and water after 28 long days sitting on the eggs.
The ducks must be born with built in navigation. They are like sheep or i guess ducks (they are ducks i know) from day one, where one goes the other follow, two by two as if connected by invisible twine.
I am very pleased I chose Welsh Harlequin ducks, they are beautiful birds. I can not wait for the eggs to start flowing early next year. I am however still facing the usual problem of space. The recent searches and enquiries for land have not been successful. The only land for sale within 5 miles is currently prices at over £10k per acre.
Well out of my price range sadly. It seems as always, I have managed to find a hobby or interest (obsession my wife would say) that is expensive and difficult to follow. Mind you, isn't everything expensive these days?
I won't give up.
Thanks for reading.
My search for land has been ongoing for a long time, it seems to have turned into an epic!
It picked up pace after I returned from a Smallholding Course at Humble By Nature delivered by Liz Shankland.
I haven't quite given up on finding some close to my village, but it is proving very difficult.
I have been talking to farmers, the Community councils City council, local poultry keepers, my allotment association and searched various property websites.
I have discovered that the ideal land is too far away at circa 9 miles, and land prices for agricultural use vary a great deal. I have seen prices quoted at £7,000 -£10,000 per acre for 4-7 acres, I have also seen asking prices of £15k per acre.
I have not really seen any land to rent.
It's not easy!
If anyone else has tried this rather than moving home to a house with land, I would be interest to know how you approached it and if it worked for you?
If you did find land are you treating it as a hobby or trying to make some sort of living out of it? How did you go about establishing if there was a demand for your service?
You should be able to leave a comment on this entry or if you are on twitter I am @Homer_Andrew and my facebook page is www.facebook.com/backgardenpoultryhatcher
Thank you for reading.
Next entry will have some photos of the little Wyandotte chicks. I am also pondering whether to try and train one of my hens!!
