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Exotic
Ducks
and Geese in Exotic surroundings
On the N3
between Harrismith and Van Reenen you will see the sign
“Diana’s Exotic Ducks and Gees: Foloow the directions and
experience the hospitality of Gert and Diana Nel on the farm
Klaarfontien.
A famous
landmark, ‘Rensburgkop’ towers in the distance. On arrival joy
are greeted by the tranquility created by the running water and
well planned landscaping where the geese and ducks are kept. There
are seven big camps and smaller ones for the rare and special species. The ponds
are built on different levels and the water is continuously
rotated. A variety of nest boxes cleverly hidden underneath the
shrubbery provide the necessary shelter. Diana, who is very
artistic and practical, has planned and built the ponds herself.
She even did some of the welding.
Not only is
this a very lucrative enterprise but it is also her passion. You
will always fid her there with binoculars and notebook in hand. It
is amazing to see how the Bar-Headed Geese flock and gaggle around
her when she enters the camp. Because of their personality they
are one of her favorites, so are the Green Wing Teals. She is very
knowledgeable about the veterinary aspect of the birds and has
been very successful in breeding the Red Breasted Geese and the
Baikel Teals of Formosa.
Where did it
all start? In 1991 she started with a pair of Carolinas and
Mandarins each. She has gradually expanded to sixty different
kinds of ducks and other bird species. Her most recent acquisition
is a pair of Black Swans.
Ducks and
Geese are very hardy species and adapts well to colder climates.
They survived the worst snowfalls in 2001. The finches and
sparrows of the area, however, pose a problem as they are also
there at feeding time! She has remedied this by using floating
duck pellets.
Diana
has the following advice to prospective breeders–
1.To make a success
you must really love animals.
2.Be well informed
before starting the project. Visit other breeders.
3.Only buy healthy and
ringed birds from well-known breeders.
For
Diana this is not merely a business concern, but it is therapy for
the soul and she enjoys every minute of it.
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