ALABAMA!!

[SpiderSilk]

I am picking up a single duckling that hatched at the breeder today. Anyone have ducklings in north al cutrtenly. Trying not to raise a singleton.

 

[Tomtommom]

They seem to be growing so fast

Like my husband says "I go to work, I come back, they're bigger"

 

[1chickenmomma11]

Outside today TRYING to clean up after all of this rain and flooding! My girls don't seem to mind the wet squishy mud in the run under their feet but I don't like it. Any ideas on how I can keep it from getting SO muddy?

 

[Wisher1000]

@Tomtommom - They do grow fast. I suggest you keep them outside with a heat source, it will make them feather out quicker. Many people make the mistake of keeping their chicks warm all the time. That will cause them to feather in much more slowly. If they were being raised by a hen, they would be outside in freezing temps and would run back to her to warm up when needed. With that in mind, I like to put the light on one end of the brooder and the food and water on the other. I put them in the garage with a light for the first week, in an enclosed, uninsulated room with a light for another two weeks, and then without the light for two weeks. They then are ready for the outside, with a box to huddle in, in all but the most severe winter weather.

@1chickenmomma11 - How big is your run? Is it flat or sloped? Does water stand in it? Is it in the sun or shade? I may have some suggestions, but I need more detail, and pics would help.

 

[Tomtommom]

@Tomtommom - They do grow fast. I suggest you keep them outside with a heat source, it will make them feather out quicker. Many people make the mistake of keeping their chicks warm all the time. That will cause them to feather in much more slowly. If they were being raised by a hen, they would be outside in freezing temps and would run back to her to warm up when needed. With that in mind, I like to put the light on one end of the brooder and the food and water on the other. I put them in the garage with a light for the first week, in an enclosed, uninsulated room with a light for another two weeks, and then without the light for two weeks. They then are ready for the outside, with a box to huddle in, in all but the most severe winter weather.

@1chickenmomma11 - How big is your run? Is it flat or sloped? Does water stand in it? Is it in the sun or shade? I may have some suggestions, but I need more detail, and pics would help.

I usually do 3 weeks indoors, then outdoors.. that way they're not too small and dont get stuck in stupid places. That heat plate helps a lot with the feathering.. since it's not constant heat. They're in 65-70F pretty much all day, they only sleep under the plate.

Love that little plate

I think tomorrow will be coop cleaning day, and then I will set up their area.

Our run is super muck right now... so much water the dirt has been eroding

The muscovy have been loving that rain. They just sit in it while everyone else is hiding in the coop.

 

[bamadude]

I really like the heat plate. Cant wait to get 1. Ive been using the heat lamp but it runs my power bill up pretty good. Also for some reason im thinking sleep is important to the chicks. They just kinda nap under the light.

 

[gclark94560]

Outside today TRYING to clean up after all of this rain and flooding! My girls don't seem to mind the wet squishy mud in the run under their feet but I don't like it. Any ideas on how I can keep it from getting SO muddy?

I have lots of leaves and pine needles all over right now. I just rake up a pile and dump it in the run where the mud is. I keep doing this, they keep rototilling everything. Mother nature works on the leaves and the poop and in the spring I have a ton of great compost.

I shovel it out and into the garden and start all over again!!

 

[BexB]

Ok , I have to rant , if anyone minds just turn away please, and forgive me. My hubby and his friend want to start in on me that I am doing things wrong, when it comes to killing and processing my roos. My hubby ,mind you,has killed a grand total of 1 chicken in his lifetime. But his friend being the great red neck he is, knows everything, and I did it all wrong. Ok I'm a noob, I need practice, there are things I need to improve. I'm not gonna argue that. So when hubby said his friend was coming to "teach " me, ok I'm game! I got things ready started to put the bird in my home made cone ,and dude was like what you "cursword"doing, just as mean as he could sound. Me shocked, I said "you do it then" he grabs my roo, pulls his head back, and did NOT snap his neck, but pulled his feet with the other hand, it was probably the worst thing I've ever seen! It took him forever to finish. I wanted to stop him but I wasn't sure if the roo was dead, dieing, or slightly injured, I couldn't tell. I said things that would make my dad disown me. Hubby stood there with a stupid look on his face, he actually said he had no idea I knew such words. Dude was very offended, but I don't care at all. It was horrible. My roo suffered, and that is unacceptable. He said he has killed hundreds that way. That's fine if you want yours to suffer, I DON'T! I was going to show him how I killed them in the cone, he didn't want to watch, he said he thought I wanted to learn, but he was mistaken! What a jerk. I told hubby just cause someone has been a red neck their whole life doesn't mean they know everything. I am still mad as a hornet. Hubby BTW is sleeping in the guest room TFN. For taking dudes side against me in the first place, I probably would have let that slide, had it not been so horrible. I also gave the poor roo to a friend, there was no way I was going to eat him.
Ok rant over. I feel better now!

 

[Wisher1000]

I'm so sorry, Bex, I know that was traumatic for you.

Don't beat yourself up over it though, you did nothing wrong. I am glad, as I am sure you are, that you are smart/conscientious enough to know what he did was wrong. Imagine if you has accepted his method as "the way it's done." Hubby doesn't know any better, he was, in his misguided way, trying to help.

Try to put that behind you and move forward with a positive attitude. Find someone who knows how to humanely process and ask them to help you learn to do it right. Once you have learned to do it correctly, maybe you can teach your DH the proper method and why it is the right way.

Your little roo did not blame you for his pain. He knew you to be kind and caring.

 

[bamadude]

My dw refuses to let me process our 2 big brahma boys. She posted a craigslist ad to rehome them for the best offer. Some 1 offered $15 for both....shes gonna go for it...pretty sure the buyer is going to make fajitas out of them.