Colorado

[pichuris]

Samsr congrates on he pips. crossing fingers for an awesome hatch.

I will always take anyones extra egg cartons if you have them to spare. I live east of Denver but can always meet in Denver metro too.

Good luck to coop building, chick hatching and enjoy the wonderful weather to come.

 

[suncatcher]

It occurred to me that you wanted the ducks age, not the chooks

while I was out feeding for the 4th time in as many hours. The ducklings are supposedly 5 weeks old. That makes sense because they still have some yellow in them, but appear to be turning white as we speak. You weren't kidding about how messy they are either. Oh well, everybody knows sleep causes cancer

I would think if they are close in size to the chicks, they could be introduced first, then the bigger girls, through a barrier of some kind first. But, ducks grow really fast, they also eat a lots of food in order to grow really fast! I have had both ducks and geese in with my chickens. No tub of water is safe from them, they will swim in anything they can find. But, lots of fun to watch!!! I had mine in a huge yard, so not so messy, except in the coop where they slept with the chickens.

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: Enjoy those ducklings!!! Messier is an understatement.........

ETA But so darn cute as ducklings!!!!!!!

 

[Pozees]

Enjoy those ducklings!!! Messier is an understatement.........

ETA But so darn cute as ducklings!!!!!!!

I'm actually not planning to keep them, I was surprised to see them in the order, but they are quite cute. They are with17 chicks, and that brooder had quite a bit more food consumed than the other two so I have to believe you on food consumption LOL. I know duck eggs are supposed to be excellent for baking, I just don't think I have a good setup for them. I guess if they aren't sold at the next swap or Chicken Fest I may have to think about adding some water somewhere here. Maybe bury a wading pool or something. Bob is panic stricken that there are poults and ducklings here, probably because I've told him ducklings can be messy and poults look for ways to die LOL. So far those are holding their own, did lose two chicks today. The rest appear to be eating well and just now on last check for the night all are settling in well and making night night noises Best noise at night, isn't it?

 

[P-Funk]

Since the ducklings keep knocking their food and water bowls over, I'm gonna just open their crate door. That way they can explore the coop while the big girls are fast asleep, I suppose. It also appears I will be in the market for a swimming pool tomorrow.

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: Poor Bob, I can just imagine him being so worried about the little poults and ducklings! I think a small pool halfway submerged is a good idea, we had a really big black tub that our duck loved to "swim" in, of course had to change the water often as it was really super big, but big enough for her to splash around in and duck her head under. They don't need anything fancy, just water, food and some nice straw to sleep in at night. I have had African Geese, now those get big! If you do keep them, they will fare better in an area with an outside run, and the bigger the run area, the less mess there is, trust me on that! Yep, the cooing is very sweet.......

 

[suncatcher]

Since the ducklings keep knocking their food and water bowls over, I'm gonna just open their crate door. That way they can explore the coop while the big girls are fast asleep, I suppose. It also appears I will be in the market for a swimming pool tomorrow.

LOL, and pick up a cat food bowl, the one with two sides, might be more sturdy and not knock over easily. Hey, they have huge feet after all!!!! And set your alarm, you don't want the girls to be off their perch and baby ducks loose in the coop!

 

[lovincolorado]

Tomorrow night 8 pm Animal Planet, Ice Cold Gold, They will be profiling DH Chad. Apparently I am in it too

Im looking forward to the days of nice weather when I can sit out and watch the chooks again! Those days are so few and far between, and there is so much spring cleaning waiting to get dopne!
\
Pozees- did you ever order from East Coast Silkies? I have a few form her. They had such a hard time tavelling, and i live at 8600ft. Add altitude sickness to shipping stess I was lucky to get 5 to live...then the fox invaded, but thats a different story.

Have a good night all....

 

[P-Funk]

They appear to be settling in quite well. Nobody even got off their roosts.

 

[suncatcher]

Tomorrow night 8 pm Animal Planet, Ice Cold Gold, They will be profiling DH Chad. Apparently I am in it too

Im looking forward to the days of nice weather when I can sit out and watch the chooks again! Those days are so few and far between, and there is so much spring cleaning waiting to get dopne!
\
Pozees- did you ever order from East Coast Silkies? I have a few form her. They had such a hard time tavelling, and i live at 8600ft. Add altitude sickness to shipping stess I was lucky to get 5 to live...then the fox invaded, but thats a different story.

Have a good night all....

Cool!

What are the symptoms of altitude sickness in chicks? That is quite a long haul from the east coast though........