Canadians check in here....

[welliwood]

Hi there, I am new to this forum. I have 8 pekin ducks that I need to re home. We have developed a problem with weasels on our property and lost 2 females in the last month. We have set traps but have not been successful. One of our males got attacked last week but thankfully seems to be on the mend. We live in the Horseshoe Valley area of Ontario which is about 1.5 hours north of Toronto. Does anyone know someone who may be interested? I want them to go to someone who will love them as much as I do...

Hi Gigi,

we're actually looking for ducks to add to our chicken flock. I'll PM you.

 

[RossChickens]

I'm in Alberta. I am incredibly fortunate. My chicken genius cousin moved to a place she couldn't keep her flock. I wanted chickens and inherited the flock of colourful, partridge Chantaclers with Bo (awesome rooster) and two Heirs Apparent and a four lovely Sussex with Tang, a good rooster. I am feeling my inexperience! I set 64 eggs. I culled half after candling at 14 days. 11 days later, I have one pip. Setting aside the percentage and possible explanations for the poor rate and tardy action, please join me in my OMGoodness moment: first pip!!!!!!!!-- Katherine

Ahh very sweet! Can't wait to experience that.

 

[Jen2848]

Hi! I'm in Winchester Ontario!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Hello to everyone new!!

Welcome to the thread!!

 

[JayColli]

Any east coast Canadians have Malines??? I'm desperately looking for a few chicks to get started with!

 

[HomesteadingCox]

Just joined, I am from Minto Ontario, Canada dead center between Orangeville, Owen Sound, Guelph, Kitchener/Waterloo and Hanover!
Always looking for some more chicken/duck crazy friends!

Currently have 9 muscovy ducks, and 6 chickens. We are down in numbers for the winter, usually have 20 of each!

 

[welliwood]

Always looking for some more chicken/duck crazy friends!

Currently have 9 muscovy ducks, and 6 chickens. We are down in numbers for the winter, usually have 20 of each!

Not far from us, then! Do your chickens and ducks live together or separate? We're planning to add ducks this year but are having trouble finding supplier...

 

[HomesteadingCox]

Not far from us, then! Do your chickens and ducks live together or separate? We're planning to add ducks this year but are having trouble finding supplier...

They all live happily together! I have 3 drakes and 1 rooster and they too get along. I also have rabbits in with them!
Frey's sells Muscovy, however they suck at sexing them (I ordered 10 ducks last year, asked for female, i got 1 female and 9 males), there is always the Fur and Feather in Mount Forest, which should be coming up soon

 

[Granny57]

Good Morning: I am from Pembroke Ont. about 100 kilometre west of Ottawa. We are in the mist of one of the coldest winters days here! Starting to hope that spring is soon upon us. I just started into chickens last spring. I have lost 2 hens through the past year due to the same problem. Can't remember what its called but I looked it up and its when there is an egg stuck. I tried every thing that was told to me but, neither survived. So right now I have 3 red shavers and 1 silkie of some sort.
When my husband asked me the other day what I wanted for my birthday I said 2 more hens. I seen these nice black sexlinks on the internet that I love. So Sunday we are going to pick up 2 of them for my birthday and soon as I see another silkie I would love to get another for a friend for my fancy, and also they are just so darn cute! She has such a personality, I just love her. Not that I don't love the others but I must admit she is my favourite. and my other red hen that I really loved called her Lucy but she is one of the ones that died on me.
We had chickens and pigs etc when I was growing up, and I will admit that the chickens were my least favourite! But they were meat birds, with no personality. But the hens are different and I can spend alot of time just being around them. I find them so amusing and have a very positive affect on your mood.
The one thing I worry about is introducing the 2 new hens to the others in the coop cause my hens do not like the snow and will not set foot outside, so we just leave them in unless its a nice sunny warm day I can usually get them to come out for awhile. Just afraid they might really pick on the new ones and there isn't alot of space for the to get away.
Any suggestions - the people I'm getting them from said to introduce them at night and to hang a cabbage up for a distraction.

 

[welliwood]

OOh, so much going on in your post! Here's my 2 cents:
1) over the past 4 years we've encountered the "stuck egg" problem twice. None of the suggestions worked for us either and my hubby is traumatized from one of them expiring as he was trying to gently coax it out.
2) from what I understand, pecking will happen no matter what when introducing new birds. Are you getting full grown hens, pullets or chicks? Our coop is set up so we can put some trellis down the middle and have them get used to each other for about a month before opening the door. Viciousness will depend on the breed too. We had some black sex links last year and they were nasty compared to our barred rocks (the sweetest) and even the Rhode Island Reds...so maybe it's your other chickens you should be concerned about!
3) the cabbage distraction may work somewhat if they're bored and already prone to peck at each other.
4) i've been told hybrids aren't quite as smart or friendly, and there are heritage breeds that do better in our winters and will go outside no matter what. We're getting Canadian heritage Chanteclers this year to test it out.

Spring will hopefully be here soon! Good luck!