Speedo1968

23 hours ago, Farangwithaplan said:

I was advised by the vet of my last dog that not feedning chicken bones to dogs came from a time when chickens took a lot longer to grow and their bones became more dense.

 

These days with current farming techniques and chicken breeds, the bones are a lot softer and yield more instead of splintering.

 

Take it with a dash of fish sauce but it sounds plausible.

I have worked in farming for years, in many different countries.

Can you be sure that the chicken you buy for dogs is from a young broiler bird and not from a spent layer ?

Having seen dogs in Thailand choke on chicken bones, especially leg bones, then I would suggest caution in what you give your friend.

On 6/1/2019 at 4:25 PM, RJRS1301 said:

 

 

This could be used as an enclosure at night. Also moveable.

 

Not sure if you are from Australia but I like the caravan for chicken.  Good for moving to fresh pasture.

I am surprised that people here are not using "green fodder' on small scale for other livestock ( chickens and ducks too of course ).    Works well in other countries I have seen.   Thailand of course may not have suitable / cheap enough grains.

I live about 50km south of Khon Kaen.

One local school, at least, has already closed due to an outbreak.

On 6/12/2019 at 3:57 PM, MartiniMan said:

You dont need any shelter for ducks just water that is the most important because they will not lay eggs unless they can bath in water regularly also you need a fence as suggested here because they must feel secure - but they are outdoor animals and foragers that are excellent companions for a garden as they eat slugs just use raised beds and chicken wire to keep em out your seedlings

If possible make a lake and plant trees so they have shelter id imagine bamboo is a fast grower thats what we use in the south back home and just let them dig around the lake and get into it

The most important is they feel safe and have constant access to water but they must not be closed in

No shelter !?   Ducks like / need water but DO NOT like to be wet as it affects the birds immune system and feather condition causing the duck to become cold

I was unable to send liquids, shampoos and conditioners to a daughter in England by normal post as liquids not allowed.     Sent by DHL, although expensive my daughter says it was worth it.

Any one had / having problems with getting Nationwide to authorise or not payments ?

In the past I paid my 20 year long email account ( Thai company ) with my Nationwide CC, never a problem.
This month I tried but the email provider asked for bank authorisation, I tried twice waiting 20 minutes each time, nothing from Nationwide.
Each time I tried I had to re-order all over again.    

I gave up and had a friend use their CC card, no problem.

Last year I renewed my antivirus / VPN apps without a problem.

How can I turn off the preview pane completely in Win7 ?
This has only appeared recently - no idea why.

20 hours ago, BritManToo said:

i didn't bother with any of that, bit of wood propped up in a corner of the garden to shield from rain.

Only had two, and they would lay the eggs where they thought I couldn't find them.

Bit of chicken wire so we could confine them when we went out, but they would normally wander around all over the garden, road and neighbours gardens, with an occasional long walk around the moobaan.

I'd round them up on my bicycle and they'd fly back in front of me.

A good way to help maintain a health risk to people and their livestock ...

On 5/29/2019 at 5:39 PM, djayz said:

Yes. Enclosures for ducks and chickens should have a roof of some kind offering the fowl protection from the elements. In fact, every enclosure I've seen, both in Thailand and back in my home country, has had a small shed in which the fowl can be locked into at night for additional protection. This is usually a lot more secure than the outside fence. Consider it a "second line of defense" from roaming packs of stray dogs and other nocturnal animals of prey. 

 

Take a gander (no pun intended) at these threads. They both look at enclosures / coops. 

 

There was another thread running here, quite some time ago, in which the poster uploaded photos of his enclosure and shed. I can't find it at the moment. 

 

It is vital that there is clean drinking water in both the outside "day time" enclosure and the smaller, more secure "night time" holding pen. 

Excellent point about the importance of "clean" drinking water.   

This is not only part of its natural diet but plays a very important role in its well being, and thus help it maintain good health.  Water is key to the ducks maintaining a good natural immune system.    The main entry point is via the eyes.   Secondly the duck will often sneeze in to the water, this is to free the nasal passages of dust, especially if feed ( pellets / mash ) quality is poor.    Thirdly, it is vital that the duck maintains good condition of its feathers to help maintain body temperature, and of course in the wild to have good feathers on its wings to take flight.    Fourthly, preening is a social activity important in its everyday life.    The condition of its feathers can also be an indicator of the birds general health, as of course is its faeces.

The house also needs to be naturally ventilated and in a shaded dry position if possible.

If laying ducks allow space inside the house for nest boxes and remember you need to access the house yourself to keep it clean and collect eggs.

Ducks don't perch like chickens so the floor needs some form of litter.    You can use rice shell but should not use wood shavings from treated wood.    Rice straw is ok but can cause a bird to trip.

Keep the inside of the house dry so consider where you will place and what kind of drinker you will use.

Try to avoid food spillage inside the house, again think about shape of feeder.   Ducks are very susceptible to toxins.

When accessing the house make sure the ducks know you are coming so that they don't panic.

Beware of snakes under and inside the house, the house should be rodent proof.

On 5/23/2019 at 7:54 PM, Slip said:

If it is making life impossible, you can try system restore to undo the update until you can find more info on the problem.

Still taking time to load but have found a way to get things working without undoing updates.
Had another monthly quality update that failed 3 times to install before finally downloading.

On 5/23/2019 at 7:48 PM, sammieuk1 said:

From what you have said goggle your exact model whilst running win7 it will probably be the sound card driver maybe not supported with updates sure someone else would have had similar problems and work arounds posted????

many thanks for your suggestion will see if I can find a work around

I am an oldie and not very savvy with computers, so sorry if my question has an obvious answer.

Not sure if this a similar problem as that posted by ‘myjawe’ a few days ago.

I have an ACER just 4 years old, using Win7 x64( my choice ).

A few days ago after 3 windows updates, one of which failed on the first attempt but updated on the following day, my machine took longer to boot up and in general running more slowly.  The update was the Monthly Quality Update.   Have had previous same kind of updates that failed on the first or even fourth attempt but eventually installed.

The main issues are that once booted up videos will not play, some will play but no sound, and there is no sound when I try to watch BBC Radio 4 Home news on any browser.

I try a restart but this does not always work first time.

I try turning off Wi-Fi and turning on again.

Sometimes on a restart sound works again after about 10 – 20 minutes.

Once sound is working it is fine for the rest of the day.

This has never happened before.

Any ideas as to what is wrong ?

I started swimming aged 6, now in my 70's and still go swimming, strange thing is I have never been able to float, even in the sea when I lived in Australia and body surfed for hours at a time.   Not heavy boned, slim build, when I lay on my back I slowly start sinking, feet first with a slight roll.

It's never too late to learn to swim, it is not only a wonderful sport for ones all round health but could be useful if you see someone in trouble in the water.

Now aged in my 70's I still swim when I get the opportunity.

Children are NOT born with a fear of water ( they have just spent 9 months in it before being born ), it is us as parents / adults who pass on that fear.

Both my daughters started to learn to be confident in a swimming pool, one at 3 months of age the other at 6 months.     One daughter went on to do competition swimming for school and county.

I was lucky to have a swimming pool near my childhood home in London and my father took me swimming from aged 5 years, horrible woolen swimming costume.     There were 3 pools, a ladies a general pool and a so called 'penny bare bums' for children who could not afford a higher entrance fee or a swimming costume.    I swam competitively in London for my school, later for London and when in Australia sea races, and body surfing.     Used to sea swim with a dog off the coast of Texel in Holland.

You have not stated where you are but there is a wonderful pool on the roof of The Mall in Korat, I have seen people training / learning there.    I live south of Khon Kaen.

Take the leap and enjoy !

5 hours ago, ThaiBunny said:

One of my close encounters used to insist that "duck eggs are better for you" than chicken eggs. He also avoided chicken meat with blood in it but would eat duck with blood in it as "duck's blood is good for you"

Duck eggs are generally more healthy ( see my earlier posting today about eating duck eggs ), they are of course generally larger than chicken eggs, have a higher Omega 3 level and people who are allergic to chicken eggs may be able to eat duck eggs.    They are generally considered much better for use in cooking due to a higher albumen level.

As for the meat and blood, the later has iron which can be beneficial as well as harmful.   Blood in meat is often caused by stress, such as at slaughter, it may also be caused by certain diseases.    Guess its a personal choice.

I have already posted advice a number of times in the farming forum for both chicken and ducks and, a thought recently came to mind.   My background was / is as a freelance poultry / duck farm consultant in different countries, now retired.

A number of people posting in the Farming forum are interested in having or already have ducks.

I expect most of them that do, do so because they enjoy eating duck eggs and would like them ‘farm’ fresh.

Where did you buy duck eggs from in the past ?   

Did you buy the ones that were chalky white clean or the dirty ones ?

Were the eggs displayed laying neatly in a basket or pointed end up on a tray ?

The question you need to ask yourself about the eggs is, how clean are they really ?

If you bought them because they were clean like chicken eggs beware … !

Chickens are land animals ducks are water animals.     When in the wild and as is their natural instinct chickens lay on dry land ducks lay in wetlands or on floating nests; they try to retain that instinct today despite being commercialized / domesticated.

The duck egg has a cuticle that is wax like in appearance and to the touch – it is there for a purpose – to inhibit water / excess moisture entering into the egg.     Such protection is not required by chicken eggs.

Why are the duck eggs you normally find in Thailand chalky white and clean ? because they are eggs that were fertile or should have been fertile, had been especially cleaned using a controlled chlorine washing system ready for setting in the hatchery where, they should of hatched in to baby ducks.  You may be eating fertile eggs !  There may have already been contamination depending on the storage condition of the eggs.   Note, eggs for a hatchery would have been stored in a cold store therefore, there is a higher risk when these are placed in the open air for sale.

Duck eggs at the market that still have the cuticle ( cuticle on ) may have come from commercial egg laying ducks or parent stock ducks.

Duck eggs should never be cleaned for domestic consumption other than by a non-abrasive damp cloth.     Never use sandpaper as can be done, carefully, with chicken eggs.

Duck eggs at the market may be made to look dirty in order to confuse the buyer in to thinking they are ‘farm’ fresh.   

Eggs whether from ducks or chicken should always be stored pointed end DOWN.

The blunt end of an egg has an air pocket between the inner and outer shell membranes.   This gradually enlarges as the egg loses moisture during storage. Keeping the air pocket at the top helps to keep the yolk centered within the egg and prevents the air pocket from rupturing, which reduces the risk of the egg spoiling.

As the advert used to say “Go to work on an egg”.

On 5/14/2019 at 9:57 PM, noopin2014 said:

thanks, i couldn't answer at the most of your questions. Pekin duck and Yi-Liang duck look very similar. Did you try the last one ? Cheers

Thanks for your question.

I have worked with chicken and duck since the 1960's, ducks for the past 20 years.    As a freelance consultant from the 1980's and with duck in Asia / Pacific / China for more than 15 years.   In Thailand I worked for a major duck producer for 10 years.

To answer your question: Pekin and Yi-Liang look similar but the later is breed specifically for the Chinese duck meat market.    The modern day Peking came originally from China in the 1800's, entering the American and other countries soon after.   The American Pekin is breed almost exclusively for meat whilst that from the UK has a line for meat and a different line for eggs.   The Pekin ( if original stock ) lay the biggest eggs and produce the largest carcass.   There are Pekin look-a-likes in every country.      The feathers should be only white and the beak yellow.

The Peking has been bred specifically for both meat and eggs ( different lines of breeding stock ) and in Thailand the source of breeding stock comes - by international agreement - only from the UK, they ( American Pekin ) cannot be imported from America.     Australia's original source of Pekin came from UK many years ago in a suitcase but now only purchased from the UK.

The Pekin is perhaps the easiest of breeds to rear / grow, they have the strongest immune system, cope well with extreme conditions but, can be a bit skittish.    However as a backyard bird they are very docile.

When buying ducks here you will not of course be able to get "original" stock and, depending on who you buy from you may only get a commercial bird, that has been kept to produce eggs to produce dayold ducklings to be sold as laying ducks.   

Ideally you should buy a different bird, even if same breed, to produce eating eggs and meat.   This will ensure good eggs and good meat and help reduce feed costs.   Of course eggs / meat can be consumed from both lines.

Whatever you buy you should buy vaccinated birds and maintain a good hygiene and vaccination program, not only to protect your own birds but yourselves too.     For information on this I would suggest to post on Thaivisa for help in your local area about disease risks etc.

Do not accept unthrifty birds under any circumstances however cheap they may be.

Housing etc. and general care is easy but needs to be well considered in advance and continued on a daily basis.

4 hours ago, eddysmit said:

Well said, and yes it's looking like the Thai top dogs want us oldies gone, like you I have paid for all the good treatment I have received with the Thai hospitals and clinics, and in the same sort of predicament as you insofar as returning to the UK for a much earlier demise, wait until I tell my good Thai lady what the Thai authorities want, looks like my days are over here,and try and time it to return to the UK springtime and maybe I will get a rented place in the UK and return as a short stayer, don't know how long I can do the ever increasingly difficult airplane trips though.

Many thanks eddysmit for your reply and my feelings are with you.

My health has improved considerably over the past two years, that would soon go to pot if temps drop below 28C having worked in hot countries since the 1980's.

I am on my own so have one less worry, except for the Thai friends I would leave behind.

I spent a number of years with a UK company flying the ASPAC route almost monthly, up to 50 flights per year, very tiring.   

I have tried using a split journey too and from the UK for a 10 day visit, cheaper but difficult.   If there was a way to just cross borders for each 3 month visit or will it mean getting a multi-entry visa issued in the UK ?

Forking out 1,000GBP for a return flight to the UK when I would prefer to spend a few days in Penang to get a 90day visa.

How those with a loving Thai family are going to cope, it's not nice to contemplate.

I wish you well.

8 hours ago, noopin2014 said:

Hi, i plan to raise around 20 ducks on my land for my own consumption (meat+eggs) and eventually my wife can sell a few sometimes for the local market in Isaan.

Thanks for your reply noopin2014.

A few questions -

How many eggs do you wish for your own consumption each week?  

How many ducks will you eat per week?   

What age will the initial ducks be when you purchase them?

What area and type of land do you have available for their ranging and housing?

What kind of secure housing, against rats, snakes, dogs do you have in mind, even for 20 ducks.

Any wild dogs in your land area ?

In the meantime you could check out some local farms / smallholdings that have ducks, see what diseases local farms have / admit to having / vaccines used if any.

Any specific questions you have please feel free to ask.