Auctions are dangerous places. The weeks leading up to the auction were firmly stressed discussions about picking up laying hens and that’s it! A couple days before the auction, laying hens and maybe some guineas if they’re super cheap. As we climbed into the truck and headed towards Moose Jaw, we adjusted ourselves back to just laying hens. By the time we walked through the doors it was: “we’ll see how prices are and what our stuff sells for.”
The sale prices were ridiculously low for some things and stupid high for others. A trio of buff laced polish, apparently imported from Ontario lines and CLEARLY quality birds, went for $200 when other polish pairs and trios went for $30 or less. $200 I thought… man am I doing this wrong!
Early on I bought a box of 4 2013 hatch unsexed guinea chicks for $30 – to put this in perspective I paid $120 in spring for a box of 4 Royal Purples (worth it, imho). After leaving for a stretch and a walk, I come back to Moose pointing at my tracking page: “I wrote down the ducks I bought.” I looked at him, “You bought ducks?” “Yeah,” he says, “2 for $12.50!” “GOOD DEAL!” says I. I lean over and tell Lou we bought ducks, “You bought ducks!?” she says, “We bought ducks.” Over time, we bought 13 ducks, 13 for under $40, what a deal.
We know nothing about ducks. Our first foray into ducks didn’t go very well. They were call ducks; a guinea spooked the female and she flew off never to return. Later, we came home to find the turkey’s had ripped the drake to shreds and I had to put him down. Since we don’t have turkeys and the birds are locked up for winter, I’m not too worried.
I suppose I shouldn’t say nothing. I get the gist of things, but they’re different than chickens. They drink –so- much. I worry with the frozen waterers that they’ll get enough to drink. I hope they figure out our grit pans so they can digest the wheat, and with my deal with an organic grocery store for cast offs, I should be good on the water fruits and veggies. I spent an hour last night mixing a freezer bag full of treats I can smash and put into water. Some yellow squash, zuchinni, grapes, kale, cucumber, pomegranate seeds, corn, peas and so on went into that bag, looking like a delicious salsa or eccentric salad. WE don’t even eat that good!
So I says to Moose: “If’n we’re going to have ducks, I need a part time job!” The rouen and her 6 ducklings go nuts for the water dish and drink it all down, stomping and splashing in it, flicking their heads. A MESS I tells you, a mess. I’m so worried they aren’t getting enough water, they guzzle it like they have never had any, or is this just how they are when new water comes in?
Such fun, I like them already, but they need their own building with their own way to be and constant outdoor access. They’re lovely and I love their sound.
The sale prices were ridiculously low for some things and stupid high for others. A trio of buff laced polish, apparently imported from Ontario lines and CLEARLY quality birds, went for $200 when other polish pairs and trios went for $30 or less. $200 I thought… man am I doing this wrong!
Early on I bought a box of 4 2013 hatch unsexed guinea chicks for $30 – to put this in perspective I paid $120 in spring for a box of 4 Royal Purples (worth it, imho). After leaving for a stretch and a walk, I come back to Moose pointing at my tracking page: “I wrote down the ducks I bought.” I looked at him, “You bought ducks?” “Yeah,” he says, “2 for $12.50!” “GOOD DEAL!” says I. I lean over and tell Lou we bought ducks, “You bought ducks!?” she says, “We bought ducks.” Over time, we bought 13 ducks, 13 for under $40, what a deal.
We know nothing about ducks. Our first foray into ducks didn’t go very well. They were call ducks; a guinea spooked the female and she flew off never to return. Later, we came home to find the turkey’s had ripped the drake to shreds and I had to put him down. Since we don’t have turkeys and the birds are locked up for winter, I’m not too worried.
I suppose I shouldn’t say nothing. I get the gist of things, but they’re different than chickens. They drink –so- much. I worry with the frozen waterers that they’ll get enough to drink. I hope they figure out our grit pans so they can digest the wheat, and with my deal with an organic grocery store for cast offs, I should be good on the water fruits and veggies. I spent an hour last night mixing a freezer bag full of treats I can smash and put into water. Some yellow squash, zuchinni, grapes, kale, cucumber, pomegranate seeds, corn, peas and so on went into that bag, looking like a delicious salsa or eccentric salad. WE don’t even eat that good!
So I says to Moose: “If’n we’re going to have ducks, I need a part time job!” The rouen and her 6 ducklings go nuts for the water dish and drink it all down, stomping and splashing in it, flicking their heads. A MESS I tells you, a mess. I’m so worried they aren’t getting enough water, they guzzle it like they have never had any, or is this just how they are when new water comes in?
Such fun, I like them already, but they need their own building with their own way to be and constant outdoor access. They’re lovely and I love their sound.
