Australians - Where are you all????

[duckyfromoz]

Thats so cute...Harry and Sally... And how familiar those two look!!!

Annabella...there is always youtube! There are plenty of hatching videos on their...chickens, ducklings, goslings, turkeys...or reptiles as well !! Its so amazing watching them......and of course what would wooklet do with that bucket if she had no ducklings to put in there!!

 

[wooklet]

Quote:
How did you know what else I do with that bucket????

 

[wooklet]

ADVICE NEEDED!

It is a beautiful sunny day here, even though last night was super cold. I have an old play pen here and wondered if it woould be o.k. to put it on the grass in the sun for the little ducklings? Could I also put a little swimming dish in there for them? If you can spare a minute Ducky I would appreciate the advice! Thanks.

 

[duckyfromoz]

So sorry I missed your message...I was outside in the front yard with 5 of my ducklings enjoying a rare warm afternoon.

They can go outside for a play in the grass for a while- but not too long yet at that age. I usually wait until mine are about two weeks old before they go outside at the moment with it being so cold still- and only for half an hour or so to begin with. By then they have grown enough to have enough covering their little bones to keep them warm.
If you make sure they have somewhere warm to snuggle up if they get cold it should be alright for a short time outside now in the sun - if they were with their mothers they would be outside. Just watch them for any signs of getting too cold- and they will love it out there.

 

[wooklet]

That's o.k.,it was a day that asked for outdoor activities! I did take them out for a little while, and then let them have a swim in a plastic storage bin with tepid water in it. They loved that, but I only had them in it for about 6 minutes, then took them out , put them by the fire, and dried them one by one first with a towel and then with the blowdryer for about 30 seconds. they are not getting spoilt you understand?

Obviously you had the same weather in Victoria that we had here. It was almost like an early spring , too good to waste indoors.
I had two chickens entered in a show next week - my very first - one a silky and the other a white Polish cockerel, came out this morning to find fluffy white feathers all over the place - silly bird has decided to moult this week, so that is the end of that one. Not sure about the Polish, he's very skittish, and covering a judge in sawdust is not a good way to make a first impression!

When you shampoo your ducks(do you?) what do you use?

 

[wooklet]

More advice please! I see what you mean about the water ,Ducky, Is it o.k. to take it away while the lights are out? I have changed them about 6 times today, and hate to think of them sleeping on wet bedding! What do you do when you have a brooder full of paddling ducks?! How do you keep it dry?

 

[duckyfromoz]

I usually feed my ducklings late in the evening- change the bedding and leave just a little food and water for them overnight. And of course I wake in the morning to the sound of 15 hungry babies. I dont like them to go all night with nothing - but do try to minimise the mess as well. The guys who are now three weeks old get about 200mls of water overnight for the 5 of them and the brooder isnt too bad in the morning. I am forever giving them food and water as I try to give them small containers so their is less mess. I have a little plastic container about 50mls for the youngest ones. They get three in the morning when I go to work -and then I just keep topping it up once I get home until I change their bedding.
I have the light at one end of the brooder and the food and water at the other to try to keep the damp away from where they are sleeping.

As for cleaning before a show..Ducdks dont really need to much of a clean up before hand. I have one boy entered this weekend too. I popped him in the training cage tonight..and if looks could kill!! He wasnt too bad the first ime I put him in there a few months ago- but tonight he was very angry.
I did make my daughter use a bit of shampoo on her Aylesbury ducks bottom - but I really only worry about making sure their feet and bill are clean- they do a pretty good job of cleaning themselves. There is a few I have heard of people using.. ones for blonde hair that are supposed to stop the brasiness.

I wanted to enter more in the show- but most of mine are looking terrible after and early start to the breeding season. I want to make sure that next year I have things set up for keeping show ducks nice- and wait til later in the year to put them together for breeding.

Good luck with the show. And sorry about your Silkie boy.. They can pick the worst times. I havent seen many polish at the shows I have attended - I hope you do well. Its always a great experience and great to spend the day around like minded people.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Well my drake is back in the training pen tonight..He does not like it..he is hissing at me through the cage front. I hope he doent get too stressed on Friday night when I bring him inside to the bathtub...I am anticipating a big mess- but will be well prepared.

Three of my ten day old babies are keeping me awake..They love cuddles- and have now learnt that they can peep their little heads off...wake me up..and I will cuddle them. Its so cute. They only want to be picked up for a moment each- but it settles them down straight away. I cant be angry at them ....they are too sweet. I only hope they are just as nice when they grow up.

 

[wooklet]

I have decided to show my Silkie - moulting or not - it will be good training for us both for more important shows to come! I'll get some dog shampoo tomorrow for white dogs, that should spruce them up nicely! Don't have a training cage, but I've been using the dog cage!!The Polish Rooster is not too amused about it either - he really won't be amused when he has to sleep in it for two nights!
The ducklings have had a good day, I put them in the playpen with a cat litter tray full of water and they were running up to the tray,leaping over the edge and splashing into the water. The water ended up black and muddy as did their patch of grass - unbelievable the mess 5 small ducklings can make! their little shirt fronts were filthy when I brought them in but I see they have spruced up again! I took you advice about the food and water, and things are much better - thank you!
Good luck to you in the show too! I am not expecting to win anything,except possibly I'll have the only Bantam Polish rooster there(!),but I know the Silkie will not do anything, still it'll be nice to spend the day with like minded besotted addicts,worshipping the " God Poultry"

 

[duckyfromoz]

No training pen for my boy tonight. I was outside after dark cleaning out the pen while they were in it- that was enough for tonight. I loved being out there with them all. I even sat down on a nice clean area of shavings and hay to sot with the young ones. Stevie - Ray wanted lots of cuddles. I might have to clean it out more often when they are already in for the night. I think I scared one girl though..She was standing watching me- and next thing I know- there is an egg on the ground- no shell though. Oh well..thats one less egg in the morning. It didnt last long- one big webbed foot trod on it- and a few saw it and went rushing over to make sure it didnt go to waste. Glad they dont try to break and eat them once laid though.