What the Ducks!

Gladys at two and a half weeks old. Hanging in there!
Photo by Pamela Rosenburgh

Whenever I start a new project, I buy a book (or ten.)  I also like to call people and ask them questions or go places and actually see things in 3-D, formerly known as “real life.”  Web research complements these primary and secondary sources but a good book is usually my favorite way to get really in-depth about a topic.  Short of doing it myself, as you can see.

What follows is a partial list of resources I used while trying to get my head around this whole Ducks by Mail adventure.  I’ll try to add to it as I find new material.  Enjoy!

Books:

Storey’s Guide to Raising Ducks: Breeds, Care, Health by Dave Holderread, Storey Publishing, North Adams, MA, 2011 edition.  This is the most comprehensive book I found on the topic of raising ducks and is a great place to start if you are contemplating a similar journey.

Ducks: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit; Cherie Langlois; BowTie Press; Irvine, CA;  2008.

Ducks, Geese and Turkeys for Anyone; Victoria Roberts; Whitsett Books; Stowmarket, England; 2002.

The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times; Carol Deppe; Chelsea Green Publishing; White River Junction, Vermont; 2010.

The Backyard Homestead; edited by Carleen Madigan; Storey Publishing; North Adams, MA; 2009.

Magazines:

Backyard Poultry, it’s been both inspiration and resource.  Chickens are the main course (sorry! couldn’t resist) but there are frequent articles on ducks, guineas, etc.

Mother Earth News covers a wide range of topics but they have had some fabulous pieces on raising backyard poultry.

Websites:

Ducksforbackyards.com  Really helpful, kind and funny folks who also sell chickens and geese on-line.

Duck Research Lab, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Organizations:

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

If anyone else has more suggestions, send them along!

Copyright 2012, Lori Fontanes