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

[Morrigan]

I forget how many hens you have... I run 2 or 3 roos with 20-30 hens... I use hen saddles on the favorite girls... there always seem to be some girls that get all the attention, even in a different coop with one roo and 12 hens.
Most of the time, with mine, there is a dominant roo and a subordinate roo.
I had a father and two 1/2 cx sons in the one yard. One of the sons no one liked.. the father would chase him away until dusk and the hens didn't like him.. the other son was well like by everyone. At 18 months, The unliked one started getting too rough with the hens and he went in the pressure cooker. Unfortunately the other son is getting too big to stay on the hens and I guess he will meet the same fate.

Not really enough for 2 roosters, unless they are unusually polite with the hens. Right now I have 7 hens, 2 pullets and 4 little ones (6 1/2 weeks old) who are supposed to be females. So that will be 13 hens, best case scenario. I've heard of people keeping 2 roos with 10 hens . . . but 2 adolescent boys? I'm assuming that won't work, and will definitely eliminate one the first sign I get that the hens are being overly stressed.

 

[Morrigan]

Hello everyone. Just failed my math quiz

Oh no!

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

I wasn't saying the rooster would turn into a jerk, just that it's a possibility. He could be a total sweetheart now just because he knows he is #2. I just wanted to point out a possibility to consider in making the decision, if one of the main reasons to keep him is the personality and it changes then suddenly she may have a rooster she can't stand.

I know. I wasn't saying you did. In fact, I've read many a thread on this site where many people have had Dr. Jekyl to Mr. Hyde scenarios experiences and many people have not. The whole point of my post was to point out that yes it may be a possibility, it may not be a definite thing. So basically she'd have take that in to consideration. Sara, we basically said the same thing. Just in different ways. Is all good.

 

[Cyprus]

Oh no!

Hopefully I'll do better next time.

 

[casportpony]

Hi everyone. I think i'm still at page 1635 or something in the 1600's Hope all of you are well.

 

[RosieR]

Update on miss spryneck. I’ve been giving her (and everyone) vitamins in the water. She hasn’t gotten worse and she’s acting fine except her neck is a bit crooked. I put her in Gen-pop to see how she does. She seems fine to interact with everyone. It was a bit cooler today so I went out to check how she and other littles were doing. She seems to have adopted a momma
She’s since been scratching around and acting normal, but she’ll go back to this hen and cuddle up with her. Idk if the hen is feeling particularly maternal but she’s tolerating it.
I can bring her in and put a heat pad under her if need be, but I think she’s ok?
If her neck doesn’t improve I’ll likely be culling her in a few weeks with the Roos.

 

[Kiki]

You guys want to weigh in on who should be my keeper cockerel? I'm down to 2 finalists. They are both 16 weeks old.

First up is "Big". He is a huge English Orpington -- Cockoo Buff crossed with Columbian Blue. So far he is a big old marshmallow. No aggression, seems pretty happy right now at the bottom of the pecking order. Loud, but infrequent, crow. I so want to breed him for his looks, but am worried that he might be too big for the hens and that he might be too much the cream puff.

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Next up is Handsome. He is a BCM (I think) that I got as a bonus egg from Papa's Poutry. He has stepped up to the leadership position amongst the 16 week olds. So far, no signs of aggression at all. More alert and watchful then Big. I love his big comb and he is a bit of a sentimental favorite as I helped him hatch.

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Handsome...keep him.

 

[Kiki]

My ducks are shedding (mounting?) like crazy! Very noticeable with the Pekins. White feathers are everywhere. This was from a few days ago. It’s even worse now.
View attachment 1539389
I just filled up their pool and I already have to take a skimmer to it to get the feathers out.
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I literally just took the hose out and they all got out and are now preening.They are so pretty.

I giggled.
Molting.

 

[Kiki]

That is just weird. I've heard of putting heat in floors but never in a ceiling.

My heat blows out of the ceiling vents...same as my ac. It's that weird?

 

[Kiki]

I have not been able to read the posts too much chatter anyway has there been a confirmation on why Cyprus chicken died?

Marek's