Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today - Page 2922

I have anconas from 3 sources.  My 13-week-old drake is my friendliest/calmest of all.  I got his eggs from ebay seller in Nebraska. My 2nd set are 10 weeks old and the most flighty.  They came from Worth It Farms.  My last set are 5 weeks and kind of in between the two.  They came from Thistle Down Farms.  However, they are all more skittish than my cayugas and silver appleyards.

Continuing with the ancona bullying saga.... this morning, I saw my female blue ancona with a bloodied wing... so I removed her and put her with the other pair.  Then, I saw who I suspected was the bully peck at not one, but two different boys.  So.... I have a clear meanie 5-week-old drake (who sadly is one of the better looking anconas).  What do I do now?

That is odd to me.  From everything I have read/seen, Anconas are supposed to be one of the easiest breeds to establish flocks with.  They are not supposed to have pecking order issues like most other breeds?  Of course correct me if I am wrong.  I haven't had any problems introducing mine.  The bigger ones will occasionally peck the smaller ones in the beginning if they get too close but after a couple days there is harmony.  Call me crazy but 3 days ago I introduced my week olds to my 9 and 4 week olds and the older ones pecked a bit but never injured them and the 4 week olds completely excepted them.  Today they all get along great.  What am I doing differently?  IDK?  More space outdoors?  I let them free range throughout the day and I did coop them seperatly the first night because the big ones werent 100% comfy with the babies yet.  The second night they cooped together fine though.  Hmm....I dunno.

I have anconas from 3 sources.  My 13-week-old drake is my friendliest/calmest of all.  I got his eggs from ebay seller in Nebraska. My 2nd set are 10 weeks old and the most flighty.  They came from Worth It Farms.  My last set are 5 weeks and kind of in between the two.  They came from Thistle Down Farms.  However, they are all more skittish than my cayugas and silver appleyards.

My Anconas from Worth it farms are very friendly.  They will come up to me when I call and eat out of my hands but I don't do the whole lap bird thing.   I doubt they would let me pick them up anymore but I really have no desire to.  Maybe it has something to do with my busy toddler.  She is constantly chasing them (even though I tell her not to) and playing with them.  Maybe this is desensitizing their skittishness?  I have no experience from the other breeders.  I am absolutely clueless why your birds would be making each other bleed??  Very weird.  I hope they can work it out.  

Non Poultry Questioins : PARENTING ADVICE NEEDED

so, my gifted 12 year old has been lying about getting homework done, and today for state assessment testing, she did her test in 5 minutes flat, refused to go check it like the teacher asked, and get the 2nd LOWEST grade in the class.  Now, she hates this subject, but as a gifted student, I expect "c" equivalents min. even in her worst subject.  This is like an F. 

So, instead of killing her, or beating her, which I never do, how do I make the punishment fit the crime?  Shes stubborn, defient, and is mostly unaffected by punishment.  Her favorite things are reading, gymnastics, theatre, and her new room.  I'm thinking about making her sleep in the hall until she reads and writes three good papers in the three subjects geography/historiy/government that she blew off so bad today.  (She let down the teachers who've worked very hard to help her get focused and do well - she has severe ADHD and is gifted besides as well as lowering the average for her entire class)  I'm also thinking about keeping her out of gymnastics this month.  I'm also going to make her write apology letters to the teacher, principle, and class she let down.  (we attend catholic school, and its a very close group)

 Will somebody with experience here please offer me some advice?  Shes my oldest, and makes me feel like I don't know anything about parenting. 

I am not the best with advice and every kid is different but how do you think she would react if you gave her the option to decide her own punishment.  I have seen friends do this with their kids and 9 times out of 10 they generally pick a worse punishment than the parent would.  Sorry you are going through this.  We all just want the best for our kids. 

Continuing with the ancona bullying saga.... this morning, I saw my female blue ancona with a bloodied wing... so I removed her and put her with the other pair.  Then, I saw who I suspected was the bully peck at not one, but two different boys.  So.... I have a clear meanie 5-week-old drake (who sadly is one of the better looking anconas).  What do I do now?

Not to sound callous, but I could care less about keeping the bully drake.  Overall, I am just not as bonded to the anconas as I am to my cayugas, silver appleyards, and especially my precious goslings!  Anconas are skittish and I understand it is simply the nature of the breed.  There are four colored ducks/drakes I wouldn't mind pairing up as they are nice for breeding stock, but the remaining 7 anconas could disappear tomorrow and I wouldn't be overly sad.