Something Gold Is Hiding in March Orders…Metzer Farms March 2026 Newsletter
March may still bring a chill, but spring is officially on the way! Birds are hatching, brooders are being set up, and flocks across the country are growing. There’s nothing better than the sound of peeping and the promise of warmer days ahead!
Throughout the month of March, we’re hiding a Golden Egg in a random order. If you open your box and find the Golden Egg, you’ll receive a $100 Metzer Farms gift certificate to use on a future order. We’re also randomly selecting a few orders each week to receive a surprise item from our Metzer Farms Swag Pack.
Every order shipped in March has a chance to win, so keep an eye out when your new friends arrive!
If you’ve ever looked at your growing duck and thought, “Wait… did I get the wrong gender?” you’re definitely not alone. Many duck breeds go through an awkward phase where males and females look almost identical before their adult colors, drake curl, and voices fully develop. This blog shows how each breed changes weekly, including both feather development and voice changes, so you know what to expect along the way. 🦆
Chinese geese originate in China and descend from the wild Asiatic Swan goose. Their most recognizable feature is the raised knob on the beak, which interestingly does not appear in the wild Swan goose and likely developed after domestication. Because the knob is made of soft skin rather than scales, it feels warm to the touch. White Chinese geese are known for being the most prolific egg layers among geese. Early records reported 50–60 eggs per year, with exceptional birds laying up to 100, though today most Chinese geese produce around 40–55 eggs annually.
Chinese geese have been in America since at least 1788. In correspondence from that year, George Washington wrote about receiving a pair of White Chinese geese and humorously noted that they seemed to choose every time except spring to set on eggs. Later writings from the mid-1800s described Chinese geese as a beautiful variety, snow white with an orange knob and legs, and particularly striking when seen on the water. The Brown Chinese goose is slightly smaller than the white variety and has coloring similar to the African goose.
Like African geese, Chinese geese are very talkative. Their loud and alert nature makes them excellent “watch geese,” as they are quick to announce intruders or unusual activity. They are also known to interact with their owners and often seem to “talk back,” especially if raised from goslings.
Because of their smaller size and agility, Chinese geese are also one of the best breeds for weeding. They love grazing on grass and have been used commercially to control grasses in crops such as cotton, orchards, and mint. If trained early by feeding them cuttings of certain weeds, they can also learn to target specific plants. Their productivity, grazing ability, and striking white feathers are some of the reasons White Chinese geese remain one of the most popular goose breeds today.
Did you know you can pick up your birds directly from the hatchery? If you’re close by or simply prefer picking up in person, we’re happy to offer local pickup at both of our hatchery locations in Cordova, TN and Gonzales, CA.
After placing your order, just shoot us a text at (831) 679-2355 and let us know you’d like to pick up your birds instead of having them shipped. Our team will make sure everything is noted on your order and ready to go.
We hatch Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and as soon as your birds are ready, we’ll send you an email letting you know it’s time to come pick them up. It’s a great option for nearby customers who want to skip shipping and bring their new flock members home the same day they hatch. 🐥
We’re thrilled to share that our friends Chrisie DiCarlo and Holly Callahan-Kasmala, the voices behind the Coffee with the Chicken Ladies podcast, have written a book! The Chicken Ladies Guide to Life with Chickens is full of practical advice, helpful tips, and stories for anyone who loves keeping chickens.
Chrisie brings 15 years of experience as a veterinary tech and trauma nurse, while Holly’s background as a history librarian specializing in livestock history adds a fascinating perspective on poultry care. Together, they combine decades of experience raising poultry with their love of heritage breeds to create a guide that’s as informative as it is fun.
If you love chickens (or know someone who does!), check out their book and join us in celebrating their accomplishment!
If you’re near Opelika this weekend, March 13-14, check out Cooptastic! Hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, this two-day conference is designed for small flock and backyard poultry owners. It’s free to attend, but registration is required. Attendees can connect with other poultry enthusiasts while learning practical tips about raising and managing chickens from experienced poultry professionals. Marc Metzer will be presenting about Waterfowl 101, so stop by and say hello!
In our February newsletter, we asked readers a simple question: When shopping at a farm supply store, do you prefer access to sexed or unsexed waterfowl? The overwhelming majority said they prefer sexed waterfowl, showing just how important it is for customers to know exactly what they’re bringing home. For many backyard keepers and small farms, being able to choose females or avoid extra drakes makes flock planning much easier. The results speak for themselves.
As you can see in the chart, out of 166 responses, 159 people (95.8%) prefer having access to sexed ducks when shopping at a farm supply store, while only 7 people (4.2%) said that they prefer unsexed.At Metzer Farms, we understand how important this choice is, which is why we continue working to make sexed waterfowl more accessible to our customers. Knowing the sex of your birds makes it much easier to plan a healthy, balanced flock.
Ducks generally do best with about one drake for every five hens, helping prevent overbreeding and stress on the females. Having the option to select sexed birds allows flock owners to build the right ratio from the start and avoid surprises as their ducks mature.
We'll keep doing our part to spread the word to make sure that ducks get the availability they deserve. If you know a local store that would benefit from carrying our birds, please let them know about us - or just reply to this newsletter with the store’s name, and we’d be happy to reach out to them directly!
Question #2: What is your flock size?
Results:
Question #3: If you're adding to your flock this year, which birds are you planning on adding?
Results:
We received so much great feedback about our survey in February's newsletter that we decided to do another one! If you have a moment, we would love if you could answer 3 quick questions. The results will be shared in April's 2026 Newsletter!
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