Ducks: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit (Hobby Farms) [Paperback]

Cherie Langlois (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1933958162 | ISBN-13: 978-1933958163

Ducks are one of the easiest-to-care-for livestock. They're very hardy and adapt to many conditions. When allowed to forage, they'll glean a major share of their own feed and replenish the field with natural fertilization. In return for providing minimal care, a part-time farmer can reap a bounty in meat, eggs, and down--not to mention free pest control. Ducks are a true plus-plus asset to any farmer, and Ducks gives all the information hobby farmers need to get started.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ducks is an excellent overview of all aspects of keeping ducks. Written as a primer for someone contemplating keeping ducks, it contains information that may enlighten even a veteran waterfowl breeder. The book is a worthy addition to any bird lover's library." ----Lou Horton, American Poultry Association/American Bantam Association licensed judge

Review

"After having raised and studied more than 80 varieties of domestic ducks, . . . I have found ducks to be possibly the most versatile domestic avian species raised by humans. Cherie Langlois has written an interesting and informative book from her zoologist perspective on these highly entertaining and useful waterfowl."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Hobby Farm Press (March 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933958162
• ISBN-13: 978-1933958163
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Agricultural Sciences > History

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'THE' How-to Duck book for Novices...., April 18, 2008

By 

Shana "That's my opinion- I could be wrong!" (Northern NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ducks: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit (Hobby Farms) (Paperback)

This is the duck How-to book that I'd recommend to any novice. Especially, for anyone who wants Ducks for pets. It covers the basics well. Having never raised ducks before, this was just the book I was looking for.

The author Cherie Langlois, writes in a humorous and easy to read fashion. In this book she covers duck personality, choosing the right ducks, housing, dietary needs, breeding, duckling care, flock health, harvesting your duck eggs, endangered duck breeds and duck diseases. There is also a well researched duck resource directory and a nice glossary of duck jargon.

This book is put together on glossy, flexible and thick paperstock. It will easily suvive repeated reading or referencing. It has a multitude of color photographs throughout too.

The few things I would've liked to see in this book were more about pond building and perhaps photo's of all the different breeds. Tho, I know that this information would constitute another whole book! If you also want information on detailed pond building or more information on the individual duck breeds- I'd buy this book along with 'Duck & Geese for Beginners' by Rick Luttmann (has detailed pond building info), and perhaps a copy of Carol Ekarius' 'Storey's Illustrated Poultry Breeds' book. This book along with the aforementioned would complete your duck for pets reference library. If you want to take your passion for ducks further (ie professional breeding or showing), you will want to pair this with the 'Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks' by Dave Holderread.

Highly recommend this one!

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Leaves a lot to be desired, October 25, 2010

By 

Self-Sufficiency Farm (South Sweden) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ducks: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit (Hobby Farms) (Paperback)

Length:: 2:28 Mins

Some things I wish I would have known before buying the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for making a decision about ducks., November 19, 2010

By 

D. J. Ballington (Reidsville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ducks: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit (Hobby Farms) (Paperback)

This book gives an excellent overview for those contemplating getting ducks, but also contains valuable information for duck owners. I particularly appreciated her reminder to regularly check pen fencing for holes--if you live in an area relatively free of predators, it is easy to forget how important this chore is; and I enjoyed visiting the sites she listed in the resources section. Langlois covers a wide array of topics in a well-written and easy-to-read book.