Recent content by MrsHudson221B

  1. MrsHudson221B

    Poor fertility in Runners?

    I’ve got some strong zippers working hard right now. Should be more soon... :D
  2. MrsHudson221B

    Poor fertility in Runners?

    So... I had put a new set of Runner eggs in the incubator as soon as I cleaned it out after my disaster hatch. I put in 20 eggs. Out of these I had 4 infertile, and 2 early quitters. Lockdown started late Saturday, and I currently have 6 babies in the brooder and 2 still resting in the...
  3. MrsHudson221B

    Ducklings living outside??

    I usually brood my babies in a brooder in my chicken house, BUT I totally agree with MissLydia about lamps and fire danger. I may have caught some hay in the brooder on fire with the heat lamp one time..... Luckily, I got it put out before any real damage was done, but I’m super-careful now...
  4. MrsHudson221B

    Ordered 2 duckings from metzar farms

    You will need to pick them up from your P.O. My P.O. folks are awesome and always call early in the morning to let me know that birds have arrived, but not all are like that. I’ve heard horror stories of babies languishing in a back office. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the tracking info...
  5. MrsHudson221B

    Poor fertility in Runners?

    In other news, I just candled the set of 20 runner eggs I put in the incubator last week... looks like only 3 duds so far. Hoping for a much better hatch this time around! :fl
  6. MrsHudson221B

    Poor fertility in Runners?

    Here’s the group... hiding from the mean camera phone that will surely eat them alive.
  7. MrsHudson221B

    Poor fertility in Runners?

    What a difference a week makes! I always swear I can HEAR them growing...
  8. MrsHudson221B

    Runner Ducks from herding

    Runners are just super-spazzy, and like all poultry HATE change. Try to keep things as consistent as possible and give them plenty of time. They will eventually come around.
  9. MrsHudson221B

    My duck pen

    I like to use cattle or hog panels for rigidity and strength, then use chicken wire over that. I lock the ducks in a solid house at night and free range when I’m home. But, I do occasionally use my run and it has just the panel for a roof. I haven’t had anything but squirrels and snakes enter...
  10. MrsHudson221B

    Duck Pond Ideas

    We use a 1/2 hp sump pump hooked to a garden hose. It gets a lot of the sludge at the bottom if you stir it at the end of pumping. (Yes, it’s gross) We use one of those dust pan scoops on a handle and a hoe to finish up the sticks and mud at very bottom. Usually takes about half hour, but we’re...
  11. MrsHudson221B

    Poor fertility in Runners?

    Oh yes! The kiddos are totally in love with the ducklings! And, I think you’re right on the Cayuga. Im planning on moving the little ones outside this weekend. I’ve had a mother chicken (started sitting mid-molt and looks TERRIBLE—the kids call her “zombie mama”) with four month-old chicks in...
  12. MrsHudson221B

    Poor fertility in Runners?

    Everyone is super great! Although, my ID skills stink— what I thought was another runner at first is definitely not. Just a black duck ranking its neck to look outside the box! :p Anyway, they are stinky and active and growing as they should be— I’m mixing brewers yeast with 30% non medicated...
  13. MrsHudson221B

    Duck Pond Ideas

    We buried a deep plastic oval stock tank and use a pump to empty it out onto trees and garden once a week. It’s deep enough for my African geese to float and mate in, and pumping isn’t too bad. The tank wasn’t that expensive and has held up better than the baby pools we were rotating. It is a...
  14. MrsHudson221B

    Duck egg air sac/humidity, am I doing this right??? (pictures attached)

    Have you found friends for your baby yet? I also had a terrible hatch this week, and had to do the same search. (I ended up driving to pick up some mixed ducklings from Ideal.) I have ordered runners and geese from Metzers before (always in the spring, though). They do pack their babies...
  15. MrsHudson221B

    Indian Runners

    I also let my girls out a little later to encourage laying where I can find the eggs. I have one runner that will actually return to the nest in her house if she needs to lay later in the morning. But, will say that when I find the random Easter Egg out in the yard it’s not in a hidden nest like...
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