Recent content by goreybabe

  1. goreybabe

    Drakes only flock question

    True! Great point, rjohns39!
  2. goreybabe

    Drakes only flock question

    I don't know if you tried this yet, but we just collect the shells in a bowl or oven-safe dish near the sink (I use an 8x8 pyrex-type). Every other day or so, I pop the dish in a 350 degree oven for 10ish mins (usually when I'm cooking something anyway). It makes the shells easier to crush into...
  3. goreybabe

    Drakes only flock question

    Ah! So easy! Thanks! I'm putting together some right now for them as a treat (and to try it out). Yeah, I am trying to switch over entirely to ducks as our chickens age. My husband was reluctant, thus my converting him with the Indian Runner drakes. It didn't take long and he was totally...
  4. goreybabe

    Drakes only flock question

    I was worried about the calcium content when the feed store suggested the layer (we had them on grower/finisher up and are just about to run out. But the chickens devour most of it anyway. Hence, my thinking about switching to chicken feed.) I like the idea of avoiding layer feed while the...
  5. goreybabe

    Drakes only flock question

    Thanks! I'm off to research finisher feed now.... are the oat and barley crumble separate? (Got scratch already... I'll start sprinkling it around where the ducks hang out as well.)
  6. goreybabe

    Drakes only flock question

    Yes, hence my question. The feed literature from Poulin, which is what we landed on for our chickens after a lot of research, says that larger game birds (turkeys, geese) should get the game feed, but ducks (I'm guessing as smaller birds) are listed for the adult chicken feed. I'm trying to...
  7. goreybabe

    Drakes only flock question

    We already have three runs to separate out our two roos and/or newer chickens, and we have one just for the ducks since they have different winter needs than the chickens (plus are wet and messy!). Thanks though. It's really just the feed that I'm asking about right now --- what is an all-flock...
  8. goreybabe

    Drakes only flock question

    Hi everyone. We have group of 3 Indian Runner drakes (6 months old) that free range in our backyard during the day. They forage a lot, but I also put out feed for them. The chickens eat their food as well. I was reading that it is okay for ducks to eat chicken feed if you supplement with Niacin...
    • goreybabe
    • Thread
    • duck feed indian runner mixing chickens and ducks niacin deficiency
    • Replies: 17
    • Forum: Ducks
  9. goreybabe

    Trying to manage randy younger roos

    Definitely getting the long handled net - that will be handy at one point, even if we don't keep all the boys... I am going to research more into rooster flocks to see how to go about doing that, if they are even interested in it themselves in the first place. Otherwise, yeah, we'll be either...
  10. goreybabe

    Trying to manage randy younger roos

    Quoting myself: I have about half an acre of land for everyone -- some forested, some open, some with low plants/bushes -- and ample run/coop space (one large coop we spaced for about 35 hens, one smaller that can room 8 birds easily ... I should clarify that we don't at all intend to have...
  11. goreybabe

    Trying to manage randy younger roos

    Thanks! I will definitely pop a cockerel in with the current babies once they are old enough!! Just curious, how do you teach the boys to be "gentle"? Right now I shoo them away and stand between them and the girls when I see them being rough.
  12. goreybabe

    Trying to manage randy younger roos

    She was broody, but didn't hatch. I broke the second brood, but we let the first brood run its course without eggs. Nothing we tried worked to break that brood (we now have a lot freezer blocks for our camping coolers!) until I figured out about simply dipping her in cold water for her second one.
  13. goreybabe

    Trying to manage randy younger roos

    Great point about older hens taking over. And about winter -- we might end up building a third coop if we keep all the cockerels and can figure it out. We were going by the 8 hens/1 roo estimate, and so with 24 hens, that COULD work with 3 roos (well, the right roos). Right? but could I...
  14. goreybabe

    Trying to manage randy younger roos

    Hi all, This spring we added to our flock, integrating newbies quite nicely. We planned to add a second roo and a bunch of girls. However, as the pullets grew, it became apparent that several of our "pullets" were actually cockerels. Last year started with 9 hens, 1 roo; This year added 8 hens...
  15. goreybabe

    Suggestions on medium-sized "guard" dog for family and chickens?

    Oh my gosh, those pictures are great! We researched English Shepherds (and some nearby-ish breeders) and it sounds like a great match. Strangely in all the research we had been doing before I posted my question here, we never came across English Shepherds... All sorts of other herding and farm...
See more
Back
Top Bottom