I used to lock mine in the barn at night but for the past year or so I've just leave the barn door open so they can come and go. Otherwise they seem miserable when they are locked up. They sleep inside in the farthest end of the barn, but they are never there in the morning when I go out to...
I don't name all mine - of course the donkeys, dogs, and cats all have names - but other than that they are collectively "the girls" for the hens, geese, and chicks or the "darn roosters".
I've had such bad luck hatching this year but finally - my patience has been rewarded! They all look like call ducks, but I put several mandarin eggs in that nest.
I filled it out with number of people and "American" for race. They can come if they want but no one has so far. I'll just get the dog. I sent it in and that's that - they'll get nothing else out of me. Said as much on the form and that I'd be more than happy to pay the $100 fine....so far...
Quote:
LOL!
I like him better as a giant black sheepdog to be honest - I hate shaving him. But he loves it as long as the weather is warm. The day after he got his cut the temperature dropped like 30 degrees and he was NOT happy!
I had to segregate ALL My hens from the boys - they were pulling out their back feathers. Honestly - I can't stand my roos - I have one (beautiful blue Jersey giant who is the meanest thing that ever lived.
We just call him Mean Blue!
Quote:
Thanks! I like these guys. They are so tame and believe it or not they are taller than my giant dewlap tolouse geese! Not as fat, but just as tall! I also have a nice blue hen and a pure white hen, that is really splash, that I hope will give soem nice chicks this year.
I am afraid I am of no help - I am having the same issue. Last year I hatched for MONTHS! Now I just want them girls to hatch their own! LOL! But I *might* hatch some Jerseys, but that's it. I am afraid of getting roosters again - what a pain to get rid of them.
All I can say about the subject is how mine behave and that is - my wood ducks want NOTHING to do with any other breeds in there. The mandarins will at least chit-chat with the others but the woodies keep to themselves. They have no intention of breeding with anyone other than their mates.
Quote:
Oh believe me - my aviary is a swamp by afternoon! But I took these in the morning and the muddy water from the day before was frozen! It is a disaster by 3:00!
I haven't been on in a while but I was out in the aviary the other day snapping pics and thought I'd share. I am so excited about this year's upcoming ducklings as well. Enjoy!
I have a pair and I love them. They are completely tame. I can't wait for goslings this spring. Last spring the male was very sick and didn't breed so now I have a bunch of mixed dewlap toulouse and embdens/buffs. They are HUGE. But ugly. LOL.
My aviary is about 45x25. Inside I have 2 pairs of wood ducks, 2 pairs of mandarins and another male mandarin, a trio of calls, and a trio of saxonies. I used to have a lot more ducks in there but I sold them over the summer.
Here are some pictures: