2018 Newbie Chat!

[Anna Ranieri]

I believe buff orpington are a pretty large breed of chicken. Our BO cockerel was massive compared to our RIR and SS cockerels. He was so heavy he couldn't jump. He would just bunt when challenged because his body was so heavy. He was alpha. Here he is at 5 weeks. The speckled behind him with the white chest was our cockerel Casper at the same age. The red with the large comb behind him was our cockerel Big Red.
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8 weeks
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and 17 weeks. Notice his body compared to our RIR. The RIR stands taller but Dwight had weight on him.
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Wow, he is a big boy! Very beautiful too.
I've noticed Roo is starting to find flying and jumping really difficult now, as a chick she was super fast and could fly higher than my other girls could do when they were chicks, but now she struggles at jumping to the point that I reckon in a month or so she wont be able to jump up or fly at all. Pedro is my smallest chicken and can jump on the spot as though she were on a Pogo stick. I guess size makes all the difference.
Do you by any chance know what age she will stop growing?
We are planning to move her to ground floor sleeping quarters to make it easier for her to get in and out of - at the moment she is having to jump and still manages it but only just - We don't want to use a ladder b'cos there's every chance the ducks would use it and I don't want them in there b'cos they are so messy - with poop picking the chicken's hutch everyday I only have to give a complete clean out once a fortnight, the ducks on the other hand have to be completely cleaned out every 2-3 days, they are very messy.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

@llombardo We got our first ever duck egg today, no idea who laid it though as it was in their duck house when I opened them up this morning. Not going to eat it myself, never had a duck egg but the idea of eating it just doesn't appeal to me. My intentions are to gift them to family, friends, neighbours (as we do with the chicken eggs too) however there is every chance the duck eggs will be fertile, could you tell me please if it is safe to eat if it is fertile?

 

[Cbarr00]

Wow, he is a big boy! Very beautiful too.
I've noticed Roo is starting to find flying and jumping really difficult now, as a chick she was super fast and could fly higher than my other girls could do when they were chicks, but now she struggles at jumping to the point that I reckon in a month or so she wont be able to jump up or fly at all. Pedro is my smallest chicken and can jump on the spot as though she were on a Pogo stick. I guess size makes all the difference.
Do you by any chance know what age she will stop growing?
We are planning to move her to ground floor sleeping quarters to make it easier for her to get in and out of - at the moment she is having to jump and still manages it but only just - We don't want to use a ladder b'cos there's every chance the ducks would use it and I don't want them in there b'cos they are so messy - with poop picking the chicken's hutch everyday I only have to give a complete clean out once a fortnight, the ducks on the other hand have to be completely cleaned out every 2-3 days, they are very messy.

I'm not sure about pullets but our cockerel seemed to reach full size around that 15+ week mark. The picture of him at 17 weeks was about as bug as he ever got.

As for the eggs I would assume they're like chicken eggs? Totally safe to eat when fertilized. The only way you can know is if you look for the bullseye on the yolks in chicken eggs.

 

[llombardo]

@llombardo We got our first ever duck egg today, no idea who laid it though as it was in their duck house when I opened them up this morning. Not going to eat it myself, never had a duck egg but the idea of eating it just doesn't appeal to me. My intentions are to gift them to family, friends, neighbours (as we do with the chicken eggs too) however there is every chance the duck eggs will be fertile, could you tell me please if it is safe to eat if it is fertile?

It would be the same as chicken eggs. I mainly give the duck eggs to the dogs, but I will be making lemon meringue pie using them because I hear that duck eggs are the best for baking.

 

[llombardo]

So of course I'm back to worrying about these guys because I leave when it's dark and come home when it's dark. I drive home like a speed demon and hold my breath until I see they are ok.

I asked my boss if I could come in later and just stay later. He looked at me and said I don't care what time you come in. I was like wow, I couldn't ask for more. I figure at least they will be out there for a couple hours in the evening. I'm choosing the best of two evils. I figure there is more traffic and other dogs barking in the early evening versus the super quiet in the morning. I'm really bummed about the neighbors moving. I counted on the kids making noise, they did fires and let the dog in and out, so I feel they were a good distraction for the raccoons and oppossums. They have thwarted my plans.

 

[TwitchysChicks]

Any of you have advice? Should I cull? Is it mites? Is it disease? She also has water diarrhea

 

[Anna Ranieri]

It would be the same as chicken eggs. I mainly give the duck eggs to the dogs, but I will be making lemon meringue pie using them because I hear that duck eggs are the best for baking.

Thank you, I thought they would be but I wanted to make sure.
My sister does a lot of baking and she too says that duck eggs are the best for baking, she says they make the mixture lighter/fluffier and with a much better taste. Would be interseting to know your verdict once you have made your pie

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I'm not sure about pullets but our cockerel seemed to reach full size around that 15+ week mark. The picture of him at 17 weeks was about as bug as he ever got.

As for the eggs I would assume they're like chicken eggs? Totally safe to eat when fertilized. The only way you can know is if you look for the bullseye on the yolks in chicken eggs.

Thank you Roo is 18 weeks and two days, she's pretty big so maybe she is at her full size or at least almost, she seems to grow so fast, at least compared to my others she has. I've seen pictures of Buffs bigger than a cat,I really hope she won't get that big, I cant imagine any chicken that size would manage to get around very well.

 

[Wohlen]

It would be the same as chicken eggs. I mainly give the duck eggs to the dogs, but I will be making lemon meringue pie using them because I hear that duck eggs are the best for baking.

 

[Wohlen]

Yes, they are safe to eat and are very good for baking!