I have a mating pair of muscovys, maybe 4-6 months old. I just got 3 khaki campbell ducklings. At what point would it be considered safe to put them all together? Are ducks like chickens- will they pick on the younger ones and possibly kill them? Thanks for your advice.
What are your thoughts on this? I work in healthcare and have been told by sereval doctors that owning birds does increase your odds of developing lung cancer/respiratory issues. Today I had a patient that has lung cancer tell me they believe she acquired it in the 4 years she had chickens. It...
Just noticed this evening that some of my 6 week old chicks were sniffling. I have 26 of them together. They were huddled into 2 groups ( its cold out, they do have heat lamps) and couldn't tell which ones the sniffles were coming from. Their are no watery eyes, or discharge. Their appetite is...
What do you feed your meat birds (%protein wise) and at what stages?
From day old to chopping block, please fill me in as I have gotten a lot of different answers. TIA
I posted a while back about my incubator spiking to 112 F and was sure I would have no survivors. My eggs were due to hatch on the 10th. 1 did hatch on the 11th, how much more time should I give the other eggs before tossing them? I did pull the lonely chick out of the bator and noticed none of...
Please share your stories of your incubator reaching a high temp and still having some survivors, someone (probably one of my kids-on my hubby's watch ) turned up the temp, I have no idea for how long, but when I looked at it-it read at 112 . I need some inspiration and stories of hope please....
I am using my new Brinsea incubator now for the first time and was wondering what you all use to clean them out with after the hatch. I know with the styrofoam ones people use bleach, how about in a non styrofoam one like my brinsea? Of course Brinsea offers a cleaner, but I'm sure it's an over...
Just found a video baby monitor I haven't used in ages and put it out in the coop so we can watch the birds in the run, and at night I can hear if there is a commotion (sp?). Anyhow, the chicken antics are so fun to watch from inside my warm home. The kids are totally diggin' it too. They are...
How long will you let your hens age to before processing them? I figure you want to keep them around long enough to give you eggs, but at what point does the meat not taste so great? Thanks
I am looking for a few decently friendly ducks that I can keep along side with my chickens who are good foragers and great egg layers, what do you reccommend? I was thinking Khaki Campbell, but am open to all opinions. I free range on 2 1/2 acres of Conifers and Pine trees ( and a few aspens)...
Today a lovely box of day old chicks arrived from McMurray Hatchery. I was REALLY dissapointed to see 4 of the 26 with sprawled legs and or curled toes, I spent a good amount of time applying bandaids. I had them settled into their new home for a couple hours, left to pick up my daughter from...
Hello,
We are preparing a duck house in anticipation of getting 3 or 4. They will have their own area with a common open space and carport shelter shared with a flock of chickens .What I am wondering is do they (the ducks) need a separate swim hole and drinking water area or will they just use...
Hello,
I am a long time lurker, new member of this site. I have been raising chickens for the past 2 years, but currently don't have any. We had a large bear break into my coop at 2am and it was a total massacre-lost 20 chickens is a matter of 1-2 min. We are now starting over with a new and...