Amanda Beckman wrote:Hi Jay,
Thanks for info! I didn't realize domestic ducks formed pairs. Since getting these two, I don't think I've ever seen them more than 3 feet apart. I like your ideas for using the water, making something where I can move the water around is definitely on my list! I'll be sure to post if I come up with some new training or enrichment activities for them!
thomas rubino wrote:Well the moose "thinks " she is still little baby puppy...
She's not even 6 months old yet. #70 as of 10 days ago... I can still pick her up but I can't see the scale anymore!
Amanda Beckman wrote:Long-time duck appreciator turned duck caretaker after I came across two very thin and friendly ducklings someone dumped at a park a few months ago. They are fully grown now (pekin male and what looks to be a khaki or khaki-hybrid female), and they are being raised as pets (some eggs would be a nice bonus though). I'm getting my PhD studying bird behavior, and am fully aware of the breeding behavior of male ducks. No eggs yet, but they are definitely trying to get there. I haven't observed anything that I would consider aggressive or harmful to the female yet (their little pair dances in the kiddie pool are pretty cute). I just had a couple questions in regards to making sure my ducks (mostly the female) have a happy life:
1. Has anyone had success with just a pair of ducks? Or are more female ducks in my future a strong possibility?
2. Is there any enrichment that may help my male keep his mind off other things? Maybe learning tricks (they already know "duck house" means go to their hut), or some type of puzzle/food activities? They have a little pool in a fenced in area near my house, but I saw a coyote on my property so now I'm nervous about leaving them unattended. Other than letting them roam around the yard I'm not doing any other enrichment.
3. Are oyster shells necessary for ducks?
Tyler Ludens wrote:
mos6507 wrote:
I gave a mesquite tree to my mom in Florida, but it won't grow in northern latitudes.
Do you know what's the maximum latitude they will grow at? We're at about 30 degrees N here where they thrive...
john mcginnis wrote:An interesting article -- https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/how-much-energy-do-americans-use-thanksgiving
Certainly makes a case for communal living even if its not about that topic.
Marco Banks wrote:Oak trees are tough. With a pointed stick and a big bag of acorns, I'd get out there an plant a 1000 of them in late winter when the ground begins to thaw. I'll bet that you'll get 25% germination and 10% survival rate.
Bryant RedHawk wrote: ...Soil is built by bacteria and fungi in nature, these will be key for the soil improvement you want, along with clovers and cereal grains you can have a harvest and build soil at the same time. Redhawk.
Matthew Hugo wrote:Hi all,
I'm obsessed with nuts. I'm from the Southeast and I dream of harvesting nuts from abundant chestnuts, hickories, oaks, hazelnuts, and native fruit trees (pawpaws and persimmons). ... It's in mountainous western NC at about 2000 ft. and gets about 40-45" of rain. The slopes are intense (15-30 deg.), the soil is thin (past clearcutting left just a couple feet of soil over shale and conglomerate), however what is there is of a nice texture...
2. Graze animals below the trees. Not sure what animals work best, but I would love to get benefits of understory control for ease of nut harvest. Stocking density doesn't have to be production scale, more like ecological-benefits scale.
3. Use fire as a management system in the fall or early spring, much like native cultures often have in oak/hickory/chestnut forests to clear understory and reduce pest pressure like acorn weevils...
... Nut crops are also heavy N-feeders. My idea is growing productive N-fixers and using chop-and-drop, or something like that. ... The biggest problem I'm having is thinking up a way to develop the degraded topsoil, and stop more from eroding. What are the pros and cons of creating berms and swales on such a steep site with little topsoil to begin with?...
I'm worried about the logistics of getting heavy machinery up to this spot, and the compaction of the soil from the machines themselves.