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

[CrazyCrttr75]

I’m wondering if she is actually older than you may think..not like a lot older but maybe older than a couple months. I was comparing her and Luna and she is soooo much bigger! My 10 week old Swedish hens have a large size difference too but they’re both still smaller than my grown Cayuga hen.

When he was trying to mount her, did she seem receptive at all? Or was she trying to get away the whole time?

It is definitely possible that she could be older. That age was just a guess on my behalf. She is bigger than Luna (mallard) but smaller than Xena (rouen). She would try to walk away from him. Not like in a desperate "oh my gosh don't attack me" way but in a "I just want to be friends plz be nice to me" way. Of course, that is my human emotion put in the situation. When she was on the ground, it didn't look like she was trying to get him off of her. She looked more like she was frozen. Fear? Receptive? I don't know. If I got him away from her, she would try to walk closer to be near him. When she is on the chicken side of the fence, she would often come to the fence and chatter with Noah and head bob and weave. She is trying to get him to like/accept her. She wants to belong so bad. Is just my take on things.

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

It is definitely possible that she could be older. That age was just a guess on my behalf. She is bigger than Luna (mallard) but smaller than Xena (rouen). She would try to walk away from him. Not like in a desperate "oh my gosh don't attack me" way but in a "I just want to be friends plz be nice to me" way. Of course, that is my human emotion put in the situation. When she was on the ground, it didn't look like she was trying to get him off of her. She looked more like she was frozen. Fear? Receptive? I don't know. If I got him away from her, she would try to walk closer to be near him. When she is on the chicken side of the fence, she would often come to the fence and chatter with Noah and head bob and weave. She is trying to get him to like/accept her. She wants to belong so bad. Is just my take on things.

I get that. Once she starts laying, I bet things will be better. I’ve noticed that the non-laying ones tend to be outcasted from the layers (especially in chickens) and once they start laying then they accept them.

 

[Conan]

Like always fried is the best.

Ah, good to know. Slimy is not something I enjoy. Fried, on the hand, sounds like the way to go.

 

[Conan]

It is definitely possible that she could be older. That age was just a guess on my behalf. She is bigger than Luna (mallard) but smaller than Xena (rouen). She would try to walk away from him. Not like in a desperate "oh my gosh don't attack me" way but in a "I just want to be friends plz be nice to me" way. Of course, that is my human emotion put in the situation. When she was on the ground, it didn't look like she was trying to get him off of her. She looked more like she was frozen. Fear? Receptive? I don't know. If I got him away from her, she would try to walk closer to be near him. When she is on the chicken side of the fence, she would often come to the fence and chatter with Noah and head bob and weave. She is trying to get him to like/accept her. She wants to belong so bad. Is just my take on things.

Head bob and weave is good! She's flirting and wants him to like her. Sounds like it's going pretty well. Neat that your little gal hangs out with her. That'll make things easier.
I had an awful Cayuga drake that just about killed my Magpie hen when I tried to introduce the new ducks into the main group. He tore her up and harassed her non stop. He never let up on her. I removed him for a couple weeks and then tried re-introducing them. He viciously attacked her. So, he lost his head.
It sounds like you've got a pretty nice fellow on your hands. Lucky! Drakes can be just awful sometimes.

 

[Conan]

I get that. Once she starts laying, I bet things will be better. I’ve noticed that the non-laying ones tend to be outcasted from the layers (especially in chickens) and once they start laying then they accept them.

VERY true. I didn't realize how awful the laying hens were to the broodies until they picked my little cochin's comb nearly off! My EE girls are the only ones that don't really pick on the little broody girls. They seem a little afraid of them

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think I way overworked myself this weekend with all this getting up at 630 and yesterday i took Libby on a 2 mile walk in 24 degree weather and took frank on a shorter walk first, half hour (and the sniffing makes it double the time so really its probably only 15-20 mins if i didnt add the stops), and 45 minutes, near continuous, respectively, with wind and cold and no face mask ,and then cleaned today, vaccumed and really cleaned their kitchen, so I think I totally wore myself out because yesterday and today I had bad migraines and today I felt really sick most of the day. Going to try to take a nice, hot shower and relax.

 

[ShrekDawg]

My hands are all bloody and painful too despite lotion yesterday, so I guess more lotion today, and my lips are all chapped/skin around my lips is too, maybe windburn

 

[Tesumph]

Tomorrow is the first day of classes and work for me.
Tomorrow, farm-wise, we are meeting with a teacher since she is buying 2 dozen hatching eggs from us. The hatched chicks will be used by the school in their ag program.

Let’s hope I don’t have my Chem lab until 4:45.

Tomorrow is my first day too. First week back has always been a love-hate thing for me. I always get really anxious with figuring out new professors/classmates/campuses/syllabuses, but there’s little-to-no homework so I can’t complain too much.

Colorado was fun but I’m so glad to be home; according to my husband, I am the “homebodiest of the homebodies.” Hmph.
We’re exhausted. Ready to get in the rhythm of 2019.

 

[Tesumph]

I think I way overworked myself this weekend with all this getting up at 630 and yesterday i took Libby on a 2 mile walk in 24 degree weather and took frank on a shorter walk first, half hour (and the sniffing makes it double the time so really its probably only 15-20 mins if i didnt add the stops), and 45 minutes, near continuous, respectively, with wind and cold and no face mask ,and then cleaned today, vaccumed and really cleaned their kitchen, so I think I totally wore myself out because yesterday and today I had bad migraines and today I felt really sick most of the day. Going to try to take a nice, hot shower and relax.

Are you going to sleep early enough?

 

[Pugsabi]

My hands are all bloody and painful too despite lotion yesterday, so I guess more lotion today, and my lips are all chapped/skin around my lips is too, maybe windburn

Try a bit of Vaseline and then cover your hands with mittens or socks (so it doesn't smear everywhere) before you go to bed. It should help your hands heal, you can even use it on your face. It's not the best feeling in the world but it works fast.