2018 Newbie Chat!

[CannedMonster]

In your opinion how would be the best way to teach them how to use a nipple waterer? I'd like to change my girls onto a nipple but don't have a clue how to.
Also, could you tell me, do your ducks sleep throughout the night? I'm asking because mine don't, they are shut in there duck house at night but I can still hear them "chattering" especially when they are eating, they usually wake around 11:30 pm, then again around 1 am ish, then maybe about 4 or 5 am. I'm not bothered if its normal, just worried something might be up?

I’ve heard some people put a bit of peanut butter on the water nipples and it doesn’t take too long for them to get it.
Nipple waterers are not appropriate for ducks.
Ducks must be able to dip their nares in the water to be able to eat their food.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

It takes a hen about 26 hours to form and lay each egg.
The actual time it takes to lay it is usually 30-45 minutes.
So they’re not going to always lay at exactly the same time every day.
Some hens are very regular though.
My red sex link is.
A bird that’s broody will stay in there most if not all day and night.
She will puff up her feathers if disturbed and may growl and even try to bite you.
It doesn’t sound like she’s broody.
Some hens take a little nap while they’re in there.
I think some of them just like the quiet.
Emily will stay in the box for several hours sometimes.

Thank you, this is very reassuring. So far she hasn't reacted in any of those ways so sounds like she is just enjoying the peace and quiet. I haven't yet left her in there for more than an hour and a half, my reason being that when she is out of the way, Pedro and Jellybean will take the opportunity to gang up on Roo and also because Roo gets left on her own and becomes distressed if Lilah is out of sight for a long time. Lilah doesn't do as much as she uesd to when Roo was younger but she will chase the girls off or warn them off with a growl when they get too aggressive towards Roo.
I witnessed a lovely moment between Lilah and Roo today (and have seen it before a few days ago) Roo went over to Lilah and placed her beak on top of Lilah's and they stood there for several moments beaks touching. It was very soft, tender and affectionate and I'm wondering if Roo was giving Lilah a kiss - either way it was warming to watch.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I've heard that a red laser light pointed on the nipple will work. I got the laser--o just have to find the time. Not sure how long it will take.

My ducks are quiet at night--not sure if they are sleeping. They do not have access to food or water at bedtime.

When they were younger and in the bathroom I tested out the trail cam and they were active until about midnight. I think it picked up like 97 little videos and it was all them.

I did wonder if it is when they are eating/drinking although I don't think its always is cos I can usually hear when they are at their water. They are chattering right now and it is just after 3 am here. I have become accustomed to their sounds and it isn't the sounds they make when they are upset, scared, threatened etc but it is the noises they make when they are foraging in the garden during the day. As long as they are ok, then I'm fine with it, and the fact that you saw your ducks were active on camera is reassuring for me. They don't chatter for long though, usually for only a few minutes a time then they settle again.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Please see my first response to your original post.
Also, the eggs belong to you so why do you care what she thinks of you taking them?
There’s no rooster to fertilize them.
If you didn’t take them they would eventually rot.
And if they were broken by one of the girls the smell would be abominable!
Plus they could learn to eat eggs if they break them.
If you don’t have a rooster and don’t plan on breeding then allowing them to stay broody can be detrimental to their health.
Some broodys will sit on that nest until they starve.
Thankfully most are more sensible but they will still often lose a lot of weight and become quite pale if they’re broody for weeks or months.
As for why she followed you clucking-
who knows
It could be that she was just used to you staying there.
You’re the flock manager so you manage and they’ll just have to get used to how you’re doing things.

From what you have said and articles I've read it doesn't sound as though she's broody but I am curious as to why she lays on the egg as though she were, I did on one occasion, move the egg from under her to see what she would do and she rolled it back under her chest. I know from her previous owner (my friend) that she kept sitting on her eggs and would also sit on the other hens eggs they laid and my friend would move her off and take the eggs so she is used to that. She is marvelously gentle, very well behaved and no trouble at all, I just worry she'll get ill, is all but she hasn't stopped eating and is healthy so I'll just keep to what I'm doing - although I think I might leave her at some point to see if she comes out herself because I'm thinking of what you said about Emily sitting for a few hours and if it is that Lilah is just enjoying the peace and quiet I have no worries about that. Just want her to be ok, that's all.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I’ve heard some people put a bit of peanut butter on the water nipples and it doesn’t take too long for them to get it.
Nipple waterers are not appropriate for ducks.
Ducks must be able to dip their nares in the water to be able to eat their food.

I'll give that a try, would be much less hassle than a laser light for me. I'm not wanting it for the ducks any way, I want it because the ducks make the water muddy. The chickens have their own water in their hutch but they tend not to use it during the day and often drink out of the ducks pools even though I have loads of water dispensers. I also have some water stations high up so the ducks can't reach them and the girls sometimes use them but for some reason they go mostly for the pool water despite the ducks making it muddy minutes after I've cleaned them and filled them with fresh water and I have no idea why.
My plan is to put nipple dispensers by the ducks pools, in the run and in the girls own run when I get it and hopefully discourage them from drinking the muddy water.

 

[CannedMonster]

I'll give that a try, would be much less hassle than a laser light for me. I'm not wanting it for the ducks any way, I want it because the ducks make the water muddy. The chickens have their own water in their hutch but they tend not to use it during the day and often drink out of the ducks pools even though I have loads of water dispensers. I also have some water stations high up so the ducks can't reach them and the girls sometimes use them but for some reason they go mostly for the pool water despite the ducks making it muddy minutes after I've cleaned them and filled them with fresh water and I have no idea why.
My plan is to put nipple dispensers by the ducks pools, in the run and in the girls own run when I get it and hopefully discourage them from drinking the muddy water.

Don’t be surprised if they still drink out of the ducks pool anyway lol.
All you can do is just shake your head sometimes.
Mine will drink from dirty water collected on the deck after a rain.
They also love to drink water that pools in the grass when I’m using the hose to water the roses or cleaning and refilling their containers.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Please see my first response to your original post.
Also, the eggs belong to you so why do you care what she thinks of you taking them?
There’s no rooster to fertilize them.
If you didn’t take them they would eventually rot.
And if they were broken by one of the girls the smell would be abominable!
Plus they could learn to eat eggs if they break them.
If you don’t have a rooster and don’t plan on breeding then allowing them to stay broody can be detrimental to their health.
Some broodys will sit on that nest until they starve.
Thankfully most are more sensible but they will still often lose a lot of weight and become quite pale if they’re broody for weeks or months.
As for why she followed you clucking-
who knows
It could be that she was just used to you staying there.
You’re the flock manager so you manage and they’ll just have to get used to how you’re doing things.

P.S. I'm not sure if I can make myself understood but my sentiment towards my birds and the reason I have them is far far different to yours and most, if not all on this forum. I am not at all interested in the eggs, I don't have chickens for meat nor because they lay eggs, they are purely pets and pets that just happen to lay eggs. I have eaten a few of the eggs, more so out of curiosity - but I'm really not big egg eater and rarely eat them, probably eat a dozen a year if that. I only take the eggs away for all the reasons you have mentioned. I care what my birds think and how they feel and if I can avoid upsetting them then I'll do all I can not to upset them because when they get upset, so do I. I don't see myself as their mother, nor them as children nor do I see myself their master, nor do I want to be. I see myself as someone who is truly blessed at having these wonderful beauties very much a big part of my life and it is my responsibility to take care of them to the best I can. I am the type of person who if any of my pets need the vets, I would steep myself in dept to get them the treatment they need. They are not more to me than my daughter and grandchildren but they are very much my life and a big part of my life at that and I love them dearly. I have read articles about chickens having the potential to become depressed through their eggs being taken away and I'm not prepared to take the risk of depressing any of my birds, so I am trialing ways to remove the eggs at no upset to Lilah (or the others when the eventually start laying) and if it were not better for her that I do take them, I wouldn't take them at all.
Your knowledge and advice (which I am truly thankful for) along with all those who share knowledge and advice with me on BYC has gone a very long way in educating me and helping me to be the best and give the best I can to these wonderful beauties who give me so many reasons to smile every day. You have been a massive help to me in caring for my flock and it is thanks to you and all your advice that Roo is living as she should be outside with her flock, you have gone far in helping me to reach and find solutions and I have lost count of the amount of times you have alleviated my fears and worries and I hold both you and your advice in high regard and I thank you dearly with all my heart for all your help and advice, regardless of our outlooks and reasons of having our birds (and their meaning to us) being quite different. The bottom line is, if my birds are happy I am happy, if they are unhappy I'm unhappy and that about it really

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Don’t be surprised if they still drink out of the ducks pool anyway lol.
All you can do is just shake your head sometimes.
Mine will drink from dirty water collected on the deck after a rain.
They also love to drink water that pools in the grass when I’m using the hose to water the roses or cleaning and refilling their containers.

Maybe there's a certain taste to it they like - I'm just glad I'm not the one who has to drink it lol

 

[llombardo]

I take it you get really cold winters then?

We can. The last few have been mild with about a month of extreme cold. Of course now that I have chickens it looks like it's going to be just a cold one..go figure.

P.S. I'm not sure if I can make myself understood but my sentiment towards my birds and the reason I have them is far far different to yours and most, if not all on this forum. I am not at all interested in the eggs, I don't have chickens for meat nor because they lay eggs, they are purely pets and pets that just happen to lay eggs. I have eaten a few of the eggs, more so out of curiosity - but I'm really not big egg eater and rarely eat them, probably eat a dozen a year if that. I only take the eggs away for all the reasons you have mentioned. I care what my birds think and how they feel and if I can avoid upsetting them then I'll do all I can not to upset them because when they get upset, so do I. I don't see myself as their mother, nor them as children nor do I see myself their master, nor do I want to be. I see myself as someone who is truly blessed at having these wonderful beauties very much a big part of my life and it is my responsibility to take care of them to the best I can. I am the type of person who if any of my pets need the vets, I would steep myself in dept to get them the treatment they need. They are not more to me than my daughter and grandchildren but they are very much my life and a big part of my life at that and I love them dearly. I have read articles about chickens having the potential to become depressed through their eggs being taken away and I'm not prepared to take the risk of depressing any of my birds, so I am trialing ways to remove the eggs at no upset to Lilah (or the others when the eventually start laying) and if it were not better for her that I do take them, I wouldn't take them at all.
Your knowledge and advice (which I am truly thankful for) along with all those who share knowledge and advice with me on BYC has gone a very long way in educating me and helping me to be the best and give the best I can to these wonderful beauties who give me so many reasons to smile every day. You have been a massive help to me in caring for my flock and it is thanks to you and all your advice that Roo is living as she should be outside with her flock, you have gone far in helping me to reach and find solutions and I have lost count of the amount of times you have alleviated my fears and worries and I hold both you and your advice in high regard and I thank you dearly with all my heart for all your help and advice, regardless of our outlooks and reasons of having our birds (and their meaning to us) being quite different. The bottom line is, if my birds are happy I am happy, if they are unhappy I'm unhappy and that about it really

I got mine for the eggs and now I don't care about the eggs. These creatures have stolen my heart. I'm amazed with them and could watch them for hours. I would do pretty much anything for them. For crying out loud I have one of the boys living in the house because I couldn't find a home for him. I have Thd radio on and when I'm up there I sing along--I think I hurt his ears--he almost cringes..lol. Them he tilts his head and watches me. I do take the eggs daily with the hopes they won't get any broody ideas. I have taken them with Prince right there--thought that was going to be an issue, but he was okay with it.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

We can. The last few have been mild with about a month of extreme cold. Of course now that I have chickens it looks like it's going to be just a cold one..go figure.




I got mine for the eggs and now I don't care about the eggs. These creatures have stolen my heart. I'm amazed with them and could watch them for hours. I would do pretty much anything for them. For crying out loud I have one of the boys living in the house because I couldn't find a home for him. I have Thd radio on and when I'm up there I sing along--I think I hurt his ears--he almost cringes..lol. Them he tilts his head and watches me. I do take the eggs daily with the hopes they won't get any broody ideas. I have taken them with Prince right there--thought that was going to be an issue, but he was okay with it.

Bless your beautiful heart I find it hard to believe he cringes, I'm sure he is comforted by the sound and the sight of you - you've warmed my heart with your post - thank you