Consolidated Kansas

[CanChaser]

Chicken danz, do u sell ducko eggs?

 

[chicken danz]

Thanks! They're my pride and joy. I sure hope we have babies next spring. We still have one center pole to put in and I will mount the 5th nest box to it. Next spring DH wants to put a roof over part of the pen for shade and to help keep out leaves and stuff. I planted some ornamental grasses in the pen as well but they are still only an inch or two tall. I hope they live. It will make it look much more natural with grasses growing around the water.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Seriously..

on that duck pen! LOL!!

I managed to dip my front bangs into the red terra cotta paint this afternoon. OF COURSE. I did that same thing over the summer, and it took forever to come out. I came in and brushed it out best I could and most of it came out, but I think it kind of stained my hair, I see a red hue. Sigh. I need to start pricing wire, I think we're really close. I don't think I'm going to use the hardware cloth. Thinking I'm going to use the really small welded stock wire, instead. It would be cheaper, I think. I could run the hardware cloth along the bottom, though. We'll see. Just trying to think cost effectiveness right now.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Seriously..

on that duck pen! LOL!!

I managed to dip my front bangs into the red terra cotta paint this afternoon. OF COURSE. I did that same thing over the summer, and it took forever to come out. I came in and brushed it out best I could and most of it came out, but I think it kind of stained my hair, I see a red hue. Sigh. I need to start pricing wire, I think we're really close. I don't think I'm going to use the hardware cloth. Thinking I'm going to use the really small welded stock wire, instead. It would be cheaper, I think. I could run the hardware cloth along the bottom, though. We'll see. Just trying to think cost effectiveness right now.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Danz, I just went back to see what kind of wire you used-- and you used the same wire I'm thinking of using! Okay, so what do you do about small animals or chicks getting out at the bottom? Did you put the netting around everything?? Ideas on the fencing??? I like how you did yours and I like that size welded wire.

 

[chicken danz]

I sell domestic duck eggs but I don't sell the exotics. Mandarins and wood ducks only lay one clutch a year. These birds were all born in April and May of this year so next year will be the first year for them to breed (with luck!) Most people won't sell Mandarins or wood ducks until they are older juveniles because they can get a lot more money for them. You can figure to pay anywhere from $80 to $180 for a pair of them. I am a self-spoiled brat though, and I drove 6 hours each way to get these. Once I saw pictures of some I had to have them. It took a couple months of searching to even find any. There are a few places on line that sell them but shipping is like $60.
I think there might be some at the auctions like in Gardner next spring or fall. There was one pair of mandarins at the fall auction that went for a little over $60. That was really cheap. And there were several pairs of wood ducks there. They are pretty similar but not as pretty in my opinion.
I can't wait to be able to just sit out there and watch them. I wish it were spring!

 

[chicken danz]

I sell domestic duck eggs but I don't sell the exotics. Mandarins and wood ducks only lay one clutch a year. These birds were all born in April and May of this year so next year will be the first year for them to breed (with luck!) Most people won't sell Mandarins or wood ducks until they are older juveniles because they can get a lot more money for them. You can figure to pay anywhere from $80 to $180 for a pair of them. I am a self-spoiled brat though, and I drove 6 hours each way to get these. Once I saw pictures of some I had to have them. It took a couple months of searching to even find any. There are a few places on line that sell them but shipping is like $60.
I think there might be some at the auctions like in Gardner next spring or fall. There was one pair of mandarins at the fall auction that went for a little over $60. That was really cheap. And there were several pairs of wood ducks there. They are pretty similar but not as pretty in my opinion.
I can't wait to be able to just sit out there and watch them. I wish it were spring!

 

[Trish44]

Danz, for some reason you're getting multiple posts. It's too bad those Mandarins are so expensive & lay only once a year or I might have to get some. I don't need to be getting any other kind of birds right now though.

Just a question for all of you Kansas folks: Do you or do you not add any heat in your coop such as with a bulb or otherwise? Are your coops insulated or not? I have a light in my coop that I use right now just to add additional light as it gets dark earlier, but didn't have plans to have it one more than a few hours early in the morning, that is unless it gets horribly cold out, like 0 or below. I don't have insulation in my coop either & my vents close with it's 40 or below. I may cover them when it gets too awfully cold or the wind is blowing too hard also, but for now they're open. I have closed all the windows in the coop though. I'm just wanting opinions here. I know chickens are tough birds for the most part & they can tolerate cold pretty well, just wondering what you all do in winter, this will be my first winter at this place with chickens.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Trish, this year I am going to keep a heat lamp out in the coop. BUT, that's only because my babies are only 4 weeks old now. I just don't feel right about them freezing to death when they are so tiny. My guess, by next year winter, everyone will be grown and won't need additional heat. I made outlets in the areas I felt I might put the heat lamp. Plus, I'm making the cookie tin heater for the water... when I find a darned cookie tin! LOL I did find a square one at the thrift store, but I'm wondering if a round one would work better and it will cover more area. Sigh.

I've been getting double postings, too tonight. It keeps saying error. Then I back out of it and hit submit again.. then I end up with two posts. Ah well. Danz- I think you missed my Q about the wire..

Oh- another question! I noticed my babies, one or two of them is sneezing on occassion. I waited by them and watched them. They all looked at me, no sneezing. Then the second I move off, a sneeze! I don't know who it is. Should I treat??? What would this be? They are getting far too big for their brooder, and they need out asap! I need to hustle to get the inside of that coop done. I can relax about getting the run done when they are in their new quarters. Could the cramped space be making them sick? They all look okay.... but everything I've read says that it doesn't mean anything.

 

[sharol]

Today my DH and I put some of the straw we bought last summer in the pen and built a pair of windbreak "caves" for the girls. This wind is so awful that they need a place to get out of it and still be outside. The back is on the east with straw bales up against the fence. The north and south ends are flush with the back bales to keep out drafts.

This was before I added the "roof" bales.

They really like the enclosure and spent the late afternoon investigating it.