Here is the latest update on the Hosta enclosures at our Milverton site. To recap we are currently replacing, upgrading, adding and increasing the number of enclosures at our Milverton site. We originally had 4 enclosures and 1 small enclosure at this site, all based on the ground. Due to Covid and caring issues we couldn’t spend as much time as we would have like maintaining the site, taking the ducks up etc.
Our site is triangular in shape and is bounded by a council road on 1 site, a field on the other and a bi-way next to 25 acres of ancient woodland. We don’t use any slug pellets or chemicals and the fields and woods generate some monster slugs!
We originally had 2 Khaki Campbells (very small) ducks but they were struggling with the bigger stuff. So last year we purchased 2 Buff Orpingtons from a breeder near Lincoln, these are bigger and stronger ducks for the bigger stuff. Janet specifically wanted those ducks because they are beautiful and almost golden in colour. It was an epic journey getting them, but still don’t regret it.
Anyway back to the upgrades, the new enclosures are off the ground (based on pallet tables) to ease our back, reduce the slug/snail issues and allow the ducks to run underneath them. (Would you believe it ducks like eating Hosta leafs, not good for them but hey ho!)
We have increased our enclosure numbers from 5 to 8 and increased the sizes of them. I reckon we have increased our enclosure coverage by 3 to 4 times. All in preparation for receiving our new stock this Autumn.
Got some pictures for you, but will have to add more as some of the site has already changed since these were taken a day or 2 ago.
