3616 Keeping Ducks

May we have the link to the webcam please? :D

[url]http://www.laportaverde.com/[/url]

But if you use a Mac forget it:(

[LEFT]That's a bit of a giggle..... not quite Bill Oddie though ; the only life I can see is the wind rustling the trees......most tranquil though!

:([/LEFT]

I'd also use this as the link -> [url]http://www.laportaverde.com/webcam.aspx?pageid=323[/url]

If you look closely and patiently you will see the big daddy Mallard (actually a Rouen) smimming back and forth smoking endless cigars. Mum is in the wooden duck house on the nest. Any day now......[IMG]http://www.laportaverde.com/pagina.aspx?pageid=205[/IMG]

Ah! I'll be interested in acquiring a Muscovy or two in a few months and I've wondered where one normally buys (live) poultry in Italy.

Where did you get the ducks?

Al

The larger local markets often have livestock sellers, generally a little away from the normal market, either ask your neighbours, or in the local agricolo.

Hi Al

I bought mine from a breeder who also sells chicks and other types of poultry. Its is all up bit up in the air with this bird flu and you have to register that you have them with the [I]Comune [/I](local council). If you are near the Tiber Valley then the company is called Carboni, at San Martino in Campo, between Todi and Perugia. My baby Mallards cost me 2 euros each. And, as Dire Straits once said, the chicks are free (with a bag of food from my local feed supplier).:o

We got back from a short visit to London to find that our pair of Mallards had hatched out eleven baby ducklings! You can view them 'live' on our webcam by clicking [URL="http://www.laportaverde.com/webcam.aspx?pageid=323"]here[/URL].

[LEFT][quote=Graham Lane]We got back from a short visit to London to find that our pair of Mallards had hatched out eleven baby ducklings! You can view them 'live' on our webcam by clicking [URL="http://www.laportaverde.com/webcam.aspx?pageid=323"]here[/URL].[/quote]

Thats excellent Graham. Watched it for a few minutes and nothing was happening. Then suddenly they all swam into view. :)

Would be interested to know how you've set this up; technology wise?

[/LEFT]

Our webcam was bought and set up by my local computer boffin. I can tell you that it is supposed to be wireless but, with a wireless intruder alarm, wireless telephone system and wireless computer system throughout the house, wires got crossed, so to speak. We had to hard-wire the camera in the end. It is mounted on a wooden pole inside an ice cream container to protect if from the rain and I strapped a cushion on the top to stop it becoming a greenhouse and cooking the camera. We also had to fit one lens from a pair of sunglasses to cut down the glare! Not pretty, granted, but it does the job until I can get round to designing a new housing for it.

In retrospect I should have invested in a more expensive camera designed for outside use. It would have been cheaper in the long run.

[QUOTE=Graham Lane]Our webcam was bought and set up by my local computer boffin. I can tell you that it is supposed to be wireless but, with a wireless intruder alarm, wireless telephone system and wireless computer system throughout the house, wires got crossed, so to speak. We had to hard-wire the camera in the end. It is mounted on a wooden pole inside an ice cream container to protect if from the rain and I strapped a cushion on the top to stop it becoming a greenhouse and cooking the camera. We also had to fit one lens from a pair of sunglasses to cut down the glare! Not pretty, granted, but it does the job until I can get round to designing a new housing for it.

In retrospect I should have invested in a more expensive camera designed for outside use. It would have been cheaper in the long run.[/QUOTE]

Graham, have you been studying the works of Heath-Robinson, or are you just an all round handy-man :D

Sadly just an all round handyman!

For those of us who do not have the opportunity to breed our own ducks (which I must agree would be much better meat!) recently duck breasts (and legs) have become available in the local Pam supermarket. Probably originate from China...........who knows..........but if I just want a duck breast to cook with I get kind of embarrassed about what to do with "the rest"!

The Rest?

Roast it for thirty minutes.
Add a litre of water and simmer for forty five minutes.
Cool down, and skim off the fat.

Result:
Fat is great for roasting potatoes.
Stck is good for soup base.
remaining meat is succulent.

Unfortunately you have to throw the bones away.

Neil

Thanks Neil

When the time comes I will certianly be following your advice as it is easy to see that it would work. My female mallard is once again on the nest and, although I only have two left from the previous brood, I will keep a closer eye on these.