Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[kat79]

Haha, she will sit regardless. Candle them in a week or so and ditch them if they aren't fertile.
I sold a dozen eggs from my splash silkie pen and then one of them went broody. Persistent little things.

i just feel sorry for the little thing silkies are so small and she is sitting on this big muscovy duck egg but i guess whatever floats her boat

got to love their stubbon little hearts though

 

[satay]

As the days grow warmer ones mind starts to wander to that inevitable question....to hatch or not to hatch..

I've pretty much given up on ever getting my blue australorp after two years of trying and so am thinking maybe plan B and some lovely coloured egg layers instead. I've hatched only girls the last 2 years so am thinking I might be due for a hatch of nothing but boys this time so am wondering if I should just dodge that bullet and take a break this year lol

What are everyone else's plans for the spring hatching season?

I hatch all year round so not much changes for me. I have nothing on the go at the moment as I am away next week for a few days but after that i will be back up and hatching marans and more Belgians and even some pekins too. I haven't used broodies in years as i prefer to incubate but the odd one hides a nest at least once a year on me and i get surprise babies.

 

[Fizzybelle]

Are silkies just extra noisy when laying or is it just my Agnes? Though everyone is currently laying (cept Mable, not quite there yet), and even Beatrice the banshee D'uccle is quiet when I let them out, cept Agnes. All are well behaved in the morning, but she has to squawk to let the neighbours (neighbourhood) know she's up and hates mornings. Sigh. If she were human I'd tell her to get a cup of coffee and whinge on facebook instead.

Also noticed a fair few undigested seeds in Annabelle's poo, guessing (hoping) she just maybe needs some more grit in her diet? Crop emptied fine overnight, it's just usually more grassy. Thanks

 

[sjturner79]

Are silkies just extra noisy when laying or is it just my Agnes? Though everyone is currently laying (cept Mable, not quite there yet), and even Beatrice the banshee D'uccle is quiet when I let them out, cept Agnes. All are well behaved in the morning, but she has to squawk to let the neighbours (neighbourhood) know she's up and hates mornings. Sigh. If she were human I'd tell her to get a cup of coffee and whinge on facebook instead.

Also noticed a fair few undigested seeds in Annabelle's poo, guessing (hoping) she just maybe needs some more grit in her diet? Crop emptied fine overnight, it's just usually more grassy. Thanks

The noisy hens are around. 2 of my silkie are noisy when laying the others are not.

 

[sjturner79]

i just feel sorry for the little thing silkies are so small and she is sitting on this big muscovy duck egg but i guess whatever floats her boat

got to love their stubbon little hearts though

One duck egg is fine. I had a silkie that hatched six Muscovy duckling and 4 astralorp for my brother.

 

[sjturner79]

One duck egg is fine. I had a silkie that hatched six Muscovy duckling and 4 astralorp for my brother.

I wish we had pictures of it though, the babies were bigger than mum by 2 weeks old.

 

[kat79]

One duck egg is fine. I had a silkie that hatched six Muscovy duckling and 4 astralorp for my brother

omg! I am glad mine just took two then and is not collecting anymore. that would of been cute though these big muscovy chicks follwing the silkie around. my only concern is that she isnt in the coop she is under the ramp and exposed to some of the weather. if it comes in from the side. I did try to move her but stubbon little silkie decided to put those eggs right back under the ramp.

 

[kat79]

I didnt think muscovy duck could fit in a chicken nesting box... i was proven wrong today

 

[Fancychooklady]

omg! I am glad mine just took two then and is not collecting anymore. that would of been cute though these big muscovy chicks follwing the silkie around. my only concern is that she isnt in the coop she is under the ramp and exposed to some of the weather. if it comes in from the side. I did try to move her but stubbon little silkie decided to put those eggs right back under the ramp.

The main problem with rearing chickens and ducks together is that the ducks like to swill food in the water and that can cause major health problems with chickens. Also the ducks outgrow the chicks very fast. Having water available for ducklings to swim in is also a drowning hazard for chicks.
I've done this several times and have experienced most of these complications.

 

[Fizzybelle]

The noisy hens are around. 2 of my silkie are noisy when laying the others are not.

Yeah I might leave her go broody a little longer when it happens. She just yells at everything.