2018 Newbie Chat!

[llombardo]

I think once they start laying, things will get better. Poor Prince does try to keep up with them.he does well with each group or all together. When they start bickering I look at him and say what are we going to do with these girls? He tilts his head like he he understands..lol


I just want them all to be friends. The two olders ones are something else. Then the barred rock(definitely head hen to be) goes for the RIR on occasion and she runs. I tell her well you don't like it when it happens to you but you can dish it out. I spend a lot of time talking to them--sad but true.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

They haven’t eaten the oyster shell much because they don’t need it yet as they’re not laying.
When they do start laying their instincts will lead them to eat it.
And like Peepers said, they’ll need a lot more OS than grit.
Agatha and Emily have been eating a lot more now.
I can’t imagine not eating eggs lol.
I eat 3 for breakfast every day.
Not to mention other cooking.
It’s one of the main reasons I got chickens.

I now have OS at the ready, have out some out for Lilah who is laying - she started laying four days ago and has laid an egg everyday since - seems wasted on us seeing as we rarely eat them.
My ex would have eaten 3 a day for breakfast and would have had some for tea as well, but our daughter doesn't take after him, she doesn't like eggs as a meal, she uses them if she bakes cakes or batter but doesn't do that very often.
I've never had a duck egg so when they start laying I'll try one but if they taste anything like chicken eggs I won't be liking them either lol.
This morning I took my two and a half year old grandson to collect the egg, holding it carefully he carried it into the kitchen and with my help he put it in the pan of water and he stood watching while it boiled lol, hes so sweet. When the egg was cooked, I cooled it off enough so it wouldn't burn him and showed him how to crack it so he could eat it, he ate less than half but I'm glad he tried it as I wanted him to experience this. I am going to give him the choice of having an egg each day and am planning for him to try one scrambled tomorrow.
I had a taste of the egg myself, I admit it had much more flavour than shop bought eggs but I won't be eating any of the three that are left.
My favouite of all time breakfasts is bacon/sausages/mushrooms and toast mmmmmmmm yummy lol.

 

[llombardo]

I now have OS at the ready, have out some out for Lilah who is laying - she started laying four days ago and has laid an egg everyday since - seems wasted on us seeing as we rarely eat them.
My ex would have eaten 3 a day for breakfast and would have had some for tea as well, but our daughter doesn't take after him, she doesn't like eggs as a meal, she uses them if she bakes cakes or batter but doesn't do that very often.
I've never had a duck egg so when they start laying I'll try one but if they taste anything like chicken eggs I won't be liking them either lol.
This morning I took my two and a half year old grandson to collect the egg, holding it carefully he carried it into the kitchen and with my help he put it in the pan of water and he stood watching while it boiled lol, hes so sweet. When the egg was cooked, I cooled it off enough so it wouldn't burn him and showed him how to crack it so he could eat it, he ate less than half but I'm glad he tried it as I wanted him to experience this. I am going to give him the choice of having an egg each day and am planning for him to try one scrambled tomorrow.
I had a taste of the egg myself, I admit it had much more flavour than shop bought eggs but I won't be eating any of the three that are left.
My favouite of all time breakfasts is bacon/sausages/mushrooms and toast mmmmmmmm yummy lol.

Duck eggs are great for baking

 

[Anna Ranieri]

If you kept them together for 5 hours then I’d say they’re integrated!
It’s over.
Done.
Finished.
No need to keep them separate anymore.
As long as you let them out into the run and they get some free range time each day they should sleep in there together without any problems.
I don’t have ducks but I did as a child and they are rather bumbling
Good idea to use the pots instead.
It’s all about improvising according to your animals specific situation and needs.

Is your run attached to the hutch or separate?

Been praying about a coop and or duck house, found a coop on ebay which is in auction at the moment, my daughter is keeping an eye it and will take care of the bidding - it can sleep up to four large breed or 6/8 smaller breeds, it has very good reviews too, however if we are unsuccessful I have found the exact same one on google shopping so if we don't win the bid we will have to wait till the end of this month to get it as it will cost more from a store but either way I'm getting it
I don't know how things will work out for us in the future but I still want my birds to be safe, healthy and happy even if we end up having to give them up, we still want them to have as much as we can give them while we have them. We looked at duck houses and have found ones that sleep 5/6 runner ducks aren't much bigger than our hutch but are taller, so we decided when we get the girls new coop we will take out the middle floor of the hutch and then it will be even taller than the duck houses we've seen and the runners will be able to stand up straight. Obviously having the two in the run will take up a lot of space but I believe it to be worth it and with my dad due to come out of hospital soon, we won't be needing to lock them in the run much at all other than to sleep.
Really excited about getting them a coop

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Duck eggs are great for baking

Will have to give it a go

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I have a lot of brown egg layers so i'm really hoping for some blueish eggs from the EEs!

Chicks are a week old today! I gave them a little dish of dirt from my yard to fool around with and they're having a blast scratching and dust bathing. I also gave them a little chick grit for the first time. I'm going to boil some eggs today to give them as treats. Everyone seems happy and healthy so far. In the picture they're in a box because I was cleaning out their brooder. View attachment 1536505

Adorable

 

[Cbarr00]

Since the pullets started laying we have been making a big breakfast every weekend. We go through about a dozen eggs in one day. I couldn't imagine not eating my eggs. I've also been baking again most Sundays. I got a kitchen aide mixer for Christmas and now she gets put to good use! This weekend I made a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and it was delicious.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

I have been making a lot of grab-and-go breakfast foods with my eggs. My favorite so far have been mini quiches with ham slices for crust, and zuchinni bread muffins that I loaded with eggs and honey, oatmeal, chia, and chocolate chips. Those were very filling!

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I have been making a lot of grab-and-go breakfast foods with my eggs. My favorite so far have been mini quiches with ham slices for crust, and zuchinni bread muffins that I loaded with eggs and honey, oatmeal, chia, and chocolate chips. Those were very filling!

By sounds of it you are quite a cook!

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Since the pullets started laying we have been making a big breakfast every weekend. We go through about a dozen eggs in one day. I couldn't imagine not eating my eggs. I've also been baking again most Sundays. I got a kitchen aide mixer for Christmas and now she gets put to good use! This weekend I made a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and it was delicious.
View attachment 1536821

Looks amazing, bet it tastes delicious