Colorado

[lomine]

Do you plan on hatching any of your eggs @PirateGirl ? Or are you hoping for a broody hen so you don't have to do any of the work? There aren't many things cuter than ducklings.

 

[PirateGirl]

Do you plan on hatching any of your eggs @PirateGirl ? Or are you hoping for a broody hen so you don't have to do any of the work? There aren't many things cuter than ducklings.
View attachment 1316348

Honestly I'm not sure. I have no plans for an incubator. Now all 3 ducks are laying daily. I'm assuming my eggs are fertile, and I have been trying to confirm this when I crack them to cook them, but I'm not totally sure. If one of the girls goes broody I will likely let her do her thing and hatch some ducklings! It still keeps getting cold and snowy, so it's probably better to wait another month anyway.

My real plan is a fence! I want to fence 1/4 of the yard. Inside the fence will be the duck coop, the chicken coop, and the raised beds. Then I can alternately let the ducks and chickens out of their runs into the larger area and they will be able to eat plants and catch bugs because there certainly isn't much of anything left growing in their runs now. My neighbors are pretty close and there are lots of dogs so the chickens and ducks can't range unless I build them a fence.

 

[PirateGirl]

@lomine if I have a chicken go broody before a duck will she hatch the duck eggs even though incubation time is longer? Is it better to wait for a broody duck?

 

[lomine]

@lomine if I have a chicken go broody before a duck will she hatch the duck eggs even though incubation time is longer? Is it better to wait for a broody duck?

I’ve read about chickens hatching ducklings so it can be done.

 

[EstiGirl]

With my first ducklings I could not wait to get them out of my house. I had to keep them in my tub for the last couple weeks of brooding because they got too big for the plastic tote. Even being able to rinse out the tub a couple times a day wasn't enough. I was glad to have them outside at 5 weeks old.

I sure hope it's warm enough the first week of May so they can go outside, I know I will be well past ready for them to be outta my house! They are pretty cute though.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Well, I guess it’s definitely spring/peafowl breeding season. Damien has started to attack his reflection instead of admiring it - this time it was on the side of my car. I’m sure glad he adopted me.

 

[lomine]

You wouldn’t have that problem if you kept your car dirty like I do.

 

[ashlandco]

Hello Coloradans! I'm in Leadville and just bought 10 baby chicks from TSC the past 2 weeks: 4 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Black sex linked, and 3 barred rock. We are going to build a 4x8 coop and large run soon and I'm going back and forth between a dirt floor or wood floor. We are planning on doing the deep litter method in the coop either way. Any advice from fellow Colorado chicken keepers is greatly appreciated! A little info on the coop area, it will be in the NE corner of our property under a large spruce tree, so it stays relatively dry even during the winter months. Monsoon season in July/Aug is my only concern, but even then the ground dries pretty fast.

Ok I have to say I love Leadville! I went camping there every 4th of July up until recently

 

[ashlandco]

I forgot to watch the thread!!! (I’m catching up)

 

[PirateGirl]

View attachment 1318387 Well, I guess it’s definitely spring/peafowl breeding season. Damien has started to attack his reflection instead of admiring it - this time it was on the side of my car. I’m sure glad he adopted me.

He is leaving a message for the ladies!