Chooks and Ducks - Chooks, ducks and animals

[learner]

As you can tell by my username, I am a learner!! I have a small holding in the North Island of NZ and doing the good-life stuff, but......oh am I green?

I have 5 chooks which aren't laying properly - the occassional egg - an wonder if the are too old. I was told by the vendor they were between 3-4 years old, but now I have my doubts.

However, I also have 5 pekin duckling (6weeks old) who are adorable, although they are the 'pigs' of poultry.

I would like to know what chooks and ducks (and other animals) are best for on my block. I have a citrus orchard and want to utilise animals and poutry to their max. Can anyone advise me?

Through observations I have found out that the duckling like Sheep manure (but not horses'!!) Does that mean I will be free of worms in my sheep, if I move the duck into the field when I have moved on the sheep, or put the ducks in with the sheep?

As I said I am green and would appreciate any help what so ever.

Thanks

[Chook Nut]

Hi Learner,

As you can tell by my username... i like go a bit funny when it comes to chooks :O

Don't worry about the chooks if they are old and dont lay much... you can still teach them to learn to work for you and you can always buy younger chooks as well. If you've only just moved them to you property they can go off the lay a bit.. this can be anywhere from one to eight weeks!

A couple of Q's about them.... were they battery hens? or if they arent, do you know whether they just lived in a pen? Do they eat scraps or were they raised only on grain?

I ask b/c my first chooks were ex-battery and took a long time to get them out free ranging for their own food as well as teaching them to eat fruit and vegies(not much luck with the vegies yet but the younger ones love em) and to cut back on the grain. If you can it's best to get your chooks to eat greens in the morning and a bit of grain in the evening to balance their diet.... plus its easier to get them back in the pen with grain :D

With the sheep... i am not even a novice but i did read an article on organic sheep farmers using copper sulphate in their diet to control worms and other parasites(get professional advice on this). I also know a biodynamic farmer who uses Guinea Fowl to run with his cattle and he said he only has to treat his cattle for worms only once or twice a year compared to his neighbours who have to treat theirs from 12-24 times a year.... a huge difference.

You have asked a lot of Q's here that would take a while to answer and i wont pretend to be able to answer them for you. There are some fantastic books on ducks and poultry out there written by ppl who know what they are talking about. Plus it would take a long winded response from me and far be it for me to ever do that on this forum :p

Good luck and let us know how you get on with the 'good life'

Dave

[JackieG]

:D Hi Learner!!
I too am a learner ( still building my chook house, Hopefully this weekend!!!!! ) I have Jackie Frenchs book called "Chook Book" :p
Its a funny read as well as informative with good basic knowledge
I have seen it advertised for around $16 so its a cheap buy aswell
Its great to see another Newie here :laugh:
Can I ask you what moved you towards having ducks?

Patiently Waiting for her Chookies~
Jackie