➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[CrazyCrttr75]

Have you got your coop built yet?

Not quite. It's coming along tho.
The chicks are going from this:


To this:


We just got the roof on. Need to do a window on the left side wall (if you're looking at the pic.) Figure out what we're going to do for a door. DH wants to put a gutter along the front. Put in this fan thing that he bought, it will go on the back wall. It circulates the air and pulls the hot air out? Something like that. Put up the roosting bars and build and attach the nesting boxes. The girls love the underside tho, is nice and shaded. We plan on hanging their water and feed underneath. We are not carpenters. I guess I have more faith in my DH than he has in his abilities. Murphey's Law has shown it's ugly head these last 2 weeks but we're doing what we can. Ended up having a sick dog, vet visit and expenses that we didn't expect. And to top it all off.... my ducks came in. I thought I was going to have an extra week to prepare. We originally wanted oh 3-4 females. Ordering ducks thru the mail is EXPENSIVE!So when I found out that TSC was going to be getting in chicks and ducks, I said oh yeah! Only they come straight run. So in getting on the same wave length and talking with my DH, I ask, "So how many are we getting?" and he answers, " I figure we'd get 4-6".... My brain told me... Well, if I get 6, surely I will be guaranteed to get 3-4 females and I may just have to re-home a couple of males. I can handle that. They are so much higher maintenance than chickens! They sure are cute little boogers tho! And oh so funny! And are growing so fast! So now we are not only trying to finish up the chicken coop, but scrambling to get a plan (which I think we've got figured out) and build a duck coop because they are going to outgrow their brooder before we know it. I'm stressed. But I know it's going to be worth it.

 

[Tesumph]

Thanks! These 5 week classes are insane to try and keep up with. And I honestly don't mind if she goes broody mostly because we don't need the eggs, and we can't seem to sell them either. I just feel bad for her sister who is lost without her.

Haha yep, they’re a sprint from start to finish. I knocked out chem 1 and 2 in one summer though, it was awesome.

 

[dpenning]

My step-MIL recommended a doctor but it seems like such a hassle. I’d have to get shots once a week (I think) for years just to make a dent? Ehhh. Not to mention I’m pretty sure it’s not covered by insurance.

Try three times a week to start! Back when I was doing shots they allowed you to do your own once you got the dose built up and they knew you weren’t going to go into shock. I don’t think they let you do your own any more. Guess it just depends how bad your allergies are.

 

[Kiki]

Not quite. It's coming along tho.
The chicks are going from this:
View attachment 1488301 View attachment 1488302

To this:
View attachment 1488303 View attachment 1488304

We just got the roof on. Need to do a window on the left side wall (if you're looking at the pic.) Figure out what we're going to do for a door. DH wants to put a gutter along the front. Put in this fan thing that he bought, it will go on the back wall. It circulates the air and pulls the hot air out? Something like that. Put up the roosting bars and build and attach the nesting boxes. The girls love the underside tho, is nice and shaded. We plan on hanging their water and feed underneath. We are not carpenters. I guess I have more faith in my DH than he has in his abilities. Murphey's Law has shown it's ugly head these last 2 weeks but we're doing what we can. Ended up having a sick dog, vet visit and expenses that we didn't expect. And to top it all off.... my ducks came in. I thought I was going to have an extra week to prepare. We originally wanted oh 3-4 females. Ordering ducks thru the mail is EXPENSIVE!So when I found out that TSC was going to be getting in chicks and ducks, I said oh yeah! Only they come straight run. So in getting on the same wave length and talking with my DH, I ask, "So how many are we getting?" and he answers, " I figure we'd get 4-6".... My brain told me... Well, if I get 6, surely I will be guaranteed to get 3-4 females and I may just have to re-home a couple of males. I can handle that. They are so much higher maintenance than chickens! They sure are cute little boogers tho! And oh so funny! And are growing so fast! So now we are not only trying to finish up the chicken coop, but scrambling to get a plan (which I think we've got figured out) and build a duck coop because they are going to outgrow their brooder before we know it. I'm stressed. But I know it's going to be worth it.
View attachment 1488320 View attachment 1488322
View attachment 1488326

Wow! You are doing a great job! Why not let the ducks live in with the chickens?

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

Wow! You are doing a great job! Why not let the ducks live in with the chickens?

In the same coop?

 

[Kiki]

Not quite. It's coming along tho.
The chicks are going from this:
View attachment 1488301 View attachment 1488302

To this:
View attachment 1488303 View attachment 1488304

We just got the roof on. Need to do a window on the left side wall (if you're looking at the pic.) Figure out what we're going to do for a door. DH wants to put a gutter along the front. Put in this fan thing that he bought, it will go on the back wall. It circulates the air and pulls the hot air out? Something like that. Put up the roosting bars and build and attach the nesting boxes. The girls love the underside tho, is nice and shaded. We plan on hanging their water and feed underneath. We are not carpenters. I guess I have more faith in my DH than he has in his abilities. Murphey's Law has shown it's ugly head these last 2 weeks but we're doing what we can. Ended up having a sick dog, vet visit and expenses that we didn't expect. And to top it all off.... my ducks came in. I thought I was going to have an extra week to prepare. We originally wanted oh 3-4 females. Ordering ducks thru the mail is EXPENSIVE!So when I found out that TSC was going to be getting in chicks and ducks, I said oh yeah! Only they come straight run. So in getting on the same wave length and talking with my DH, I ask, "So how many are we getting?" and he answers, " I figure we'd get 4-6".... My brain told me... Well, if I get 6, surely I will be guaranteed to get 3-4 females and I may just have to re-home a couple of males. I can handle that. They are so much higher maintenance than chickens! They sure are cute little boogers tho! And oh so funny! And are growing so fast! So now we are not only trying to finish up the chicken coop, but scrambling to get a plan (which I think we've got figured out) and build a duck coop because they are going to outgrow their brooder before we know it. I'm stressed. But I know it's going to be worth it.
View attachment 1488320 View attachment 1488322
View attachment 1488326

Can you tell their sex yet?

 

[Kiki]

In the same coop?

Yes. It looks big enough...is it?

 

[Tesumph]

Try three times a week to start! Back when I was doing shots they allowed you to do your own once you got the dose built up and they knew you weren’t going to go into shock. I don’t think they let you do your own any more. Guess it just depends how bad your allergies are.

The doctor is an hour away.. yeaaa, no. Maybe I’ll look for one in college station when we move.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

Yes. It looks big enough...is it?

I would say the ducklings are only about a week old, give or take a day or 2. Our TSC goes thru Hoover hatchery and according to their website, the ducks were available for delivery on the 23rd, which was a Monday. TSC got them in on Wednesday and that's when we picked them up. So that's what we're guessing for their age. As for their sex... we tried sexing one of them (I watched a youtube video from Metzer that showed how you could do it) and I am pretty confident that it was female. It was one of the Rouens. But I am nervous about hurting or damaging them somehow. So we haven't tried with any of the others. The coop is 4'W x 8'L. So technically, yes I could put the ducks in their. But it's raised off the ground. I thought ducks needed to be on the ground? Could it work as long as we had a sturdy wide ramp coming down? The ducks bed down on the floor area and the chicks up on the roosting bars? If we can go this route, will they use the same nest boxes as the chickens or should I have some outdoors? I guess I have quite a bit of time to figure that part out. My chicks are going on 16 weeks now. When we took the ducklings outside, the chicks were curious about them. Would come by to check them out but wouldn't get too close. Will the chicks even share the coop? Hmmm...

 

[Kiki]

I would say the ducklings are only about a week old, give or take a day or 2. Our TSC goes thru Hoover hatchery and according to their website, the ducks were available for delivery on the 23rd, which was a Monday. TSC got them in on Wednesday and that's when we picked them up. So that's what we're guessing for their age. As for their sex... we tried sexing one of them (I watched a youtube video from Metzer that showed how you could do it) and I am pretty confident that it was female. It was one of the Rouens. But I am nervous about hurting or damaging them somehow. So we haven't tried with any of the others. The coop is 4'W x 8'L. So technically, yes I could put the ducks in their. But it's raised off the ground. I thought ducks needed to be on the ground? Could it work as long as we had a sturdy wide ramp coming down? The ducks bed down on the floor area and the chicks up on the roosting bars? If we can go this route, will they use the same nest boxes as the chickens or should I have some outdoors? I guess I have quite a bit of time to figure that part out. My chicks are going on 16 weeks now. When we took the ducklings outside, the chicks were curious about them. Would come by to check them out but wouldn't get too close. Will the chicks even share the coop? Hmmm...

Ramp yes. I'd do it.
I know nothing about duck nesting boxes but I would assume they can share as long as they are low enough. Build a poop tray under the roost so the chickens don't poop on the ducks.