tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post2078404885572734097..comments2024-03-08T05:16:41.496-08:00Comments on Metzer Farms Duck and Goose Blog: Sources of Poultry FlooringJohn Metzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-16759058880530314242013-02-10T08:58:51.540-08:002013-02-10T08:58:51.540-08:00I would only heat it in very, very cold weather. ...I would only heat it in very, very cold weather. Ducks are designed to withstand cold - note how easily they swim in very cold water with no adverse consequences. If they have a shelter with plenty of insulating bedding, I would not worry about heating it.Metzer Farmsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-73841417321158358662013-02-10T03:13:31.605-08:002013-02-10T03:13:31.605-08:00 We have a fairly small flock, only 15, and we lik... We have a fairly small flock, only 15, and we like to keep things as simple as we can. I picked up a washing machine safe pan, about 40 in. X 40 in. and we place the water bowl in this pan. We take this pan out every day and wash it along with the other dishes, easy stuff!<br />Off topic; Are there any reasons for or against heating the Duck House in winter?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-21553392037929789552012-03-12T17:30:16.235-07:002012-03-12T17:30:16.235-07:00We encourage anyone with waterfowl, whether they h...We encourage anyone with waterfowl, whether they have 3 or 3000, to use plastic or wire flooring around their waterers. It really cuts down on mess as the ducks cannot play in the spilled water and make a mud pit.John Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-26611769148246075462012-02-07T11:32:03.702-08:002012-02-07T11:32:03.702-08:00Another excellent source is Belleville Wire Cloth ...Another excellent source is Belleville Wire Cloth - they are located in New Jersey and have been around since the early 1900's.<br /><br />http://www.bwire.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-7945593343430384002011-12-07T09:07:38.132-08:002011-12-07T09:07:38.132-08:00As always, an excellent article, thanks!As always, an excellent article, thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-2527416901870336972011-09-18T10:02:37.914-07:002011-09-18T10:02:37.914-07:00We use a small, very bright LED flashlight to cand...We use a small, very bright LED flashlight to candle with so I'd say you're right. Our incubator temperature stays between 98.8-100 degrees, although it leans closer to 99 as long as we are vigilant about the humidity. We plan on purchasing a commercial incubator soon. Thanks for your answer John!!Mistinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-37345260788372663022011-09-18T08:00:12.673-07:002011-09-18T08:00:12.673-07:00I am glad you are enjoying your ducks! My guess i...I am glad you are enjoying your ducks! My guess is you are doing a better job of candling the eggs and can therefore see development more easily. They are not developing any quicker than my Pekin or anyone else's. The only exception might be if the temperature in your incubator is too high and this would speed up development - but this might only speed it up 4-5% at the most and then they will not hatch as well in the end.<br />John MetzerJohn Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-49450801221890349232011-09-18T00:25:17.860-07:002011-09-18T00:25:17.860-07:00I know this is completely off topic but I can'...I know this is completely off topic but I can't find another related post so here goes...<br />My husband and I purchased a Pekin duck in early spring and then purchased 3 more adults 2 months later. Much to our delight, we now have 2 males and 2 females, both of which are laying every day. We had planned on eating the eggs but my husband doesn't particularly care for them so we decided to incubate them instead. After some careful research, we built an incubator of our own. At first the embryos either died early or were unfertilized but for the last 2 weeks every single egg we've collected is thriving!! When we candle them the embryos show a lot of movement. What I find the most interesting is that most of our eggs develop visible veins by the third day and by the fifth day I can clearly see a heartbeat. By day 9 I can see LOTS of movement. Is this normal? According to everything I've read this seems to be awfully fast, especially for duck eggs. There's no possibility that these eggs could be older than they are because we confine our ducks at night due to predators and our females always lay in the same spot, so once we have both eggs in hand we know we've gotten them all. It just seems unusual to me that our eggs seem to be developing this quickly. So far it's been a wonderful experience and I look forward to seeing our new babies hatch!! Your site is excellent and has been extremely helpful to us. Keep up the good work and thank you for all that you do!!!Mistinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-21207350077222517832011-09-16T16:51:25.304-07:002011-09-16T16:51:25.304-07:00Thank you. I have added FarmTek as a supplier of ...Thank you. I have added FarmTek as a supplier of plastic poultry flooring.<br />JohnJohn Metzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103027096519025445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-83988299450450430102011-09-16T08:37:59.426-07:002011-09-16T08:37:59.426-07:00Farm Tech also sells these (and other) products th...Farm Tech also sells these (and other) products that I have found are helpfull.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444124598415048280.post-70914155967575904682011-09-09T12:00:43.446-07:002011-09-09T12:00:43.446-07:00Home Depot sells black rubber runners in the carpe...Home Depot sells black rubber runners in the carpet section. These are 9 feet long and about 30 inches wide, and cost around 10 dollars each. They are textured with long grooves. Easy to clean with a scrub broom and rinse with a hose. I use them over concrete flooring. Horse stall mats are great too, because they also provide insulation.Katharina Davittnoreply@blogger.com