Recent content by HottentotTeal

i have pvc-coated wire mesh for a ceiling on mine and then i hung the netting inside and underneath it, suspended. I used keychain clips (2 clipped together) on each corner and 2 in the middle to hold it up. I figured with the rotting pecan trees, squirrels and hawks in my area, having netting...

When i bought my ducks, they didn't eat for almost a week. I think they were shocked from being transported and removed from their home. The breeder said just to give them time and try to leave them alone and not stress them out. After several days, they finally started eating. Dried mealworms...

I would personally recommend predator-proofing your aviary. there are so many threads on there (primarily the regular domestic duck area), where people didn't take their set up seriously and properly secure their ducks or just let them roam around. Not sure how large your pond is, but if it's...

I wouldn't recommend more than a pair or 2. I have an aviary this size: 5.5 feet across 13 feet long 7 feet tall It comfortable supports 1 pair of Hottentot Teals. If i had 2 pairs, it would really be pushing it, because it would get messy very fast and the pond would be too dirty within 4...

I feed my Hottentots Mazuri Waterfowl Maintenance. I know some of the water birds need a special diet, but from what i recall from visiting here years ago, most people used Purina or Mazuri. I think Mazuri is technically just a premium or higher quality brand by Purina. i'd have to look at the...

i have river pebbles scattered around the pond area and lawn dirt which is some kind of sand really in the rest of the area. the dirt/sand is very soft. it's dirt, not sand, but very fine.

Yeah, if you really want to learn something in depth about a breed or the non-domestic kind, i'd highly recommend doing a behind-the-scenes tour or just asking if you can talk to someone in the birds section. I don't know how active this area is , since i've been away for several years, but i...

I second the 3T Netting as well. I built my aviary in 2010 and bought a roll of it and it's still pretty much new. It gets partial sun since it is behind my house.

I'll go measure it. I want to say 3x5'. It's a 40 gallon tub i got at Tractorsupply. I'll edit my post in a few minutes. edit: Ok, it's 52"x 30" or 2.5 feet x 4.25 feet Not sure if i mentioned my aviary dimensions, but it's 5.5' wide x 13' lenghtwise x 7' tall The netting technically...

There is clover and sorrel that looks similar to clover that grows in my aviary and they eat it from time to time, but not much. They tend to eat baby plant shoots if they decide to eat it. Both are edible for humans and clover is edible for livestock as well, so i think it would be fine.

Ok, thanks for letting me know. The past few days, i have been putting 1/2 cup of the maintenance for the adults and putting 1/4 cup of the starter in the adult feeding bowl, since the ducklings have been eating from the adult bowl. I have a baby chick feeder and a waterer, the kinds with...

I am reading my Storey's Guide book and a few web links and am trying to figure out what i need to do for my ducklings with niacin They are now 2 weeks old. I have been feeding them the Mazuri starter food (20% protein & 83ppm Niacin) and i also have the Mazuri Maintenance food (14% protein...

Accidental double post

Here is the link to the thread i made about the second egg she attacked. If anyone knows what happened, let me know. I didn't get any posts in the hatching section. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/newestpost/1089504 =====================================================

Welp, it took a long time, but the eggs hatched. She laid 6 eggs. The first one didn't make it. She dumped it into the pond about 2 weeks later. I noticed when i was draining the pond, as i do every Sunday. She later took another egg out and attacked it on the food tray on March 5 or 6 at...