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

[CrazyCrttr75]

Mine just started molting.

How old are yours Kiki?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hmmm... Then I am confused then. I got him Sept.8, 2018, according to the pic that I took of them. So not quite a yr old yet. Almost 10months old. He hasn't been fighting with Bowie or anything. I haven't seen the girls pecking at him in any way. Not sure why he would pull his own feathers out. I haven't seen him obsessively "grooming" or anything. And I haven't seen him in any kind of distress, other than this heat that we've had. Can heat stress be a factor? Maybe I need to give him a good look over. Idk then. I just assumed it was some kind of a rooster slow molt type of thing.

It very well could be! I didn’t mean to worry you. Some do start earlier or later, that’s just a guideline, but it could probably be heat too maybe idk. Or protein. Are they getting enough protein?

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

It very well could be! I didn’t mean to worry you. Some do start earlier or later, that’s just a guideline, but it could probably be heat too maybe idk. Or protein. Are they getting enough protein?

It's ok. They are on Purina Flock Raiser. So 20% protein. And they free range/forage all day long. Although with the way the heat has been, during the heat of the day they try to find a shady spot and relax.

 

[ShrekDawg]

It's ok. They are on Purina Flock Raiser. So 20% protein. And they free range/forage all day long. Although with the way the heat has been, during the heat of the day they try to find a shady spot and relax.

Huh, weird then. I’m sure he’s fine and probably just an early molter! Haha

 

[sdm111]

Totally not on recent subjects but I just thought this was cute. Elvis has really been wooing the young girls. Jasmine and Daisy are always by his side. He tidbits to them and they come running. He will hold a blade of grass or whatever in his beak as an offering and let them peck it from his beak. It's just so cute! He is more gentle with the girls. He definitely has some flaws but I like how he treats the girls. I think he is going through a molt? He is losing his tail feathers. I can't wait to see the new ones he gets in. They are looking quite pitiful and stumpy right now. When a chicken goes through a molt, do they only lose certain feathers and does it differ between male and female? Just curious.
View attachment 1858483

my chicken area looks like a few exploded during molt

 

[R2elk]

The other issue is getting power to it. I'm not running an extension cord to the main coop, period. The last time I did, I nearly started a fire. I have a solar setup, but I doubt it would produce enough despite its claims of low energy draw.

My method does not require any electricity. I don't get any ice on the water until it gets to about -20°F and then it is usually not more than 1/4" thick and breaks out very easily. Even at -30°F it only freezes above the buried part of the bucket. I remove any ice the first thing in the morning and the water stays open throughout the day from the poultry getting their drinks.

It would need to be adapted to be of use for waterfowl. Look at the pictures to see the proposed cover.

Alternate method to prevent water freezing.

It works best with fresh horse manure.

 

[BantyChooks]

My method does not require any electricity. I don't get any ice on the water until it gets to about -20°F and then it is usually not more than 1/4" thick and breaks out very easily. Even at -30°F it only freezes above the buried part of the bucket. I remove any ice the first thing in the morning and the water stays open throughout the day from the poultry getting their drinks.

It would need to be adapted to be of use for waterfowl. Look at the pictures to see the proposed cover.

Alternate method to prevent water freezing.

It works best with fresh horse manure.

I smell (pun intended) a perfect excuse to turn the orchard area into a horse pasture intead.

 

[BantyChooks]

I smell (pun intended) a perfect excuse to turn the orchard area into a horse pasture intead.

I have no covered run space for them, but this method has been on my list for a while if I ever do build one.

 

[R2elk]

I have no covered run space for them, but this method has been on my list for a while if I ever do build one.

I guess that I don't know why a covered run would be needed. When I first tried this method, I did not even have a proper coop and no fenced run at all. I dug a hole in this sand dune, lined it with horse manure with a bucket of water in the middle. Most mornings the poultry would already have the ice broken before I got to them.

I no longer have a horse so now I use poultry droppings to line the hole. Each fall I dig the now compost out and replace it with fresh poultry leavings.

 

[Kiki]

How old are yours Kiki?

3 years old.