Petto

10 Types of Turtles That Make Great Pets

10 Types of Turtles That Make Great Pets
1. Red-Eared Slider
2. African Sideneck Turtle
3. Eastern Box Turtle
4. Western Painted Turtle
5. Mississippi Map Turtle
6. Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)
7. Spotted Turtle
8. Yellow-Bellied Slider
9. Reeve's Turtle
10. Wood Turtle

Happy children's day

Keeping Ducks: How to keep ducks, for beginners.....

Ducks are the comedians of the poultry world. All you need to start keeping ducks is enough space for them to dabble and preen, a pond with access to a simple duck house and a run to protect them from predators. Some breeds of duck lay a large number of eggs, their droppings will turn your compost into top-grade fertiliser, while their slug hunting prowess is legendary.

How to start keeping ducks
Before buying your first team of ducks, check that your neighbours won't mind a raucous dawn chorus in spring and then charm friends for surplus stock or scour poultry magazines. Keep the ratio of ducks to drakes at around five to one (or frisky drakes can give the ducks a hard time).

3 of the best duck breeds for smallholders

FOR EGGS: CAMPBELL DUCKS – First-rate egg layers, Campbells (khaki, below) are a favourite of commercial egg producers, but have a gentle temperament, making them ideal for smallholders with children.

FOR GARDENERS: CALL DUCKS – The smallest domestic duck, Calls are very pretty, easy to handle and great for gardens, as they’re least likely to nibble seedlings. They do, however, have a loud quack, so avoid if you have close neighbours.

FOR PETS: INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS – These are flightless so don’t need their wings clipping. Good layers, they will keep you endlessly entertained as they rush around at speed.