Australorps breed Thread

[DesertChic]

I really thought I had finally broken my broody by tonight. I kept her away from the nest for two whole days and even cooled the floor of the kennel I was keeping her in. When I checked in on her in the early evening she was cooing pleasantly, didn't ruffle her feathers or growl at me, so I thought, "Great. I'll let her out of the cage". She ran out of the barn to join the other chickens in the yard, dust bathed contentedly and seemed to be back to normal. When I went out tonight to lock up the barn.....yep, she was back in the nesting box and growling. *Sigh* Determined little thing. I'm seriously thinking of just giving her some eggs to hatch at this point.

 

[hellbender]

I really thought I had finally broken my broody by tonight. I kept her away from the nest for two whole days and even cooled the floor of the kennel I was keeping her in. When I checked in on her in the early evening she was cooing pleasantly, didn't ruffle her feathers or growl at me, so I thought, "Great. I'll let her out of the cage". She ran out of the barn to join the other chickens in the yard, dust bathed contentedly and seemed to be back to normal. When I went out tonight to lock up the barn.....yep, she was back in the nesting box and growling. *Sigh* Determined little thing. I'm seriously thinking of just giving her some eggs to hatch at this point.

Yep...just give the silly thing a hand full of eggs to set. I've learned it's better to just placate some females than to go head-to-head with them...just ask Ariel or for that matter, ask Jason. She controls what goes on around here with a shallow growl or fierce non-verbal stare, smiling all the while.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Sounds like you have your hands full there ...

 

[hellbender]

Sounds like you have your hands full there ...

Not at all. Things are the way they are here because I allow it. My daughter has thrived since she came here to live and has made massive strides in both her physical and mental health after a near fatal auto accident almost 3 years ago. Letting her have her head in some areas is not so as expensive as it might sound and I really enjoy watching my family coming into their own as thinkers and business people. Money well spent.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Just teasing you ! glad to hear she is recovering ..did she ever get Ducks ?
We got rid of our 3 males they started attacking the baby chicks

 

[hellbender]

Just teasing you ! glad to hear she is recovering ..did she ever get Ducks ?
We got rid of our 3 males they started attacking the baby chicks

I knew you were teasing! No ducks but they are coming in late spring of next year because we really wont be able to get the quality of birds we want. There's a place in Pa. that won't ship to this state because there are mail deliver problems here that are far less effective than the Pony Express.

Jason and I will simply make the six hour trip (one way). The breeders are sticklers for having their ducklings delivered over-night.

We'll get the the Muscovies and perhaps going after them will allow for 'hand-picking'

Time will tell!!

 

[hellbender]

I knew you were teasing! No ducks but they are coming in late spring of next year because we really wont be able to get the quality of birds we want. There's a place in Pa. that won't ship to this state because there are mail deliver problems here that are far less effective than the Pony Express.

Jason and I will simply make the six hour trip (one way). The breeders are sticklers for having their ducklings delivered over-night.

We'll get the the Muscovies and perhaps going after them will allow for 'hand-picking'

Time will tell!!

EDIT: By the way...it's totally against our philosophy to keep these kinds of birds together, for that very reason. problems can arise when keeping chickens together, either the same types/breeds and especially if the breeds are even a bit different in temperament etc.

 

[DesertChic]

EDIT: By the way...it's totally against our philosophy to keep these kinds of birds together, for that very reason. problems can arise when keeping chickens together, either the same types/breeds and especially if the breeds are even a bit different in temperament etc.

This is another reason why I've been reluctant to plunge ahead with other poultry. My chickens....I know their individual personalities as well as their breed tendencies, but I'm concerned about integrating other kinds of poultry into the mix. I'm such a nerd....I'll probably spend the next year or more reading every book, forum post, blog, etc. on various breeds of turkey and muscovies before every taking the plunge.

 

[hellbender]

This is another reason why I've been reluctant to plunge ahead with other poultry. My chickens....I know their individual personalities as well as their breed tendencies, but I'm concerned about integrating other kinds of poultry into the mix. I'm such a nerd....I'll probably spend the next year or more reading every book, forum post, blog, etc. on various breeds of turkey and muscovies before every taking the plunge.

Strictly from my understanding, chickens and turkeys are more apt to get along than chickens and ducks...specifically Muscovies. The Muscovie is a bit of a 'odd duck' so to speak. I absolutely love them (and their breast-steaks). My mom kept a flock just to aggravate my dad (according to him) but they were kept in their own covered pen. When chickens got near their pen...especially when ducklings were about or even if the set was on, the drakes would go hissing at the fence with vigorous violent displays.

I know some have good luck cross-housing species but since space has never been a problem, it simply made no sense to do so because we had heard the tragic results from others who were above reproach.

 

[Gramma Chick]

DesertChic I know some have good luck cross-housing species but since space has never been a problem, it simply made no sense to do so because we had heard the tragic results from others who were above reproach.
My 3 ducks where a mix of Khaki Campbell rouen and or golden...straight run .
They were raised in their own pen ..but always wanted to sleep in the chickens ..pen at night
3 boys ...no lady ducks ..I would have got lady ducks for them but hubby said no .
They got along with the chickens just fine ...They all free ranged together
UNTIL...
our Black Sumatra starting hatching chicks ..
I think they thought the black Sumatras where their hens coz they were closest in color to them .
they occasionally tried to mate them but never even got close
they had never seen a duck hen .
When they came back to our yard ...they liked to run around the neighborhood .
They would head straight to the baby chicks & chase them ..
Chaos Broke out ! Baby chicks screaming , running everywhere
Mama Attacking the Ducks ...Even her Hatch from last year attacking the ducks ..
( which I had never heard of.. a family behavior in Chickens before )
we gave them away free to someone who was looking for ducks for his farm .
Peace was returned to our back yard ...
For a while ...we now have 12 roosters coming into age ....