ducklings: integrating flock, cold weather, adjusting them to cold weather

[emmad783]

oh my gosh yes!! I spend more time working on these ducks than I do anything else on the weekend, to the point I won’t make plans if I know I need to finish a project
I think I added the photos in the correct order, we have ourselves 2 layers of protection from any further harassment

 

[Jpat]

I realy want a coop shed like that

 

[emmad783]

home depot! it was the same price as buying the lumber / hardware I would have needed to build one that size anyway! a headache to put together but it’s rot proof!!

 

[Brahmb]

I am the woman and love Ducks. If you understand women then your fighting an up hill battle..
Happy Wife = Happy life...

Yeah, I got that you two have supportive spouses. I’ve never learned to master the phrase, “yes, dear”. It kinda sticks in my craw and never makes it past my lips.

 

[Brahmb]

My ducks are now less of a worry for me. I want to thank JPat for his thread:

Long story short the wind blew the door down and it was just heavey enough to pin NewBert around his chest. Suffocating him to death. My kahki campbell was honking like a nut but i was too late

I never leave that door open except today i figured it could use extra air flow. Damn.

The point is tie down, tie up, and secure everthing!

Heres pictures of him before his demise

I forgot to close my ducks in today. Then I was hearing a bad wind blowing through. I was reading JPat’s thread and thought, “ I’d better go check on the ducks”. I got out there, and the kennel door was wide ajar!. My first thought was that some predator had ripped it open. Then as I got closer, I thought maybe the wind blew it open. Finally, I got inside and looked for my ducks. THEY WERE IN THEIR DOGHOUSE!!! It was then I realized I had given them extra time before the sun went down- and had forgotten all about them! Apparently, though, they are pretty smart ducks and knew to get in their house before dark or when the winds started picking up.

I won’t forget them again, but I will worry less about them in the future!

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s awesome they went inside but without that door closed and bolted that really made them sitting ducks so glad you went to check on them. So sad about new Bert but @Jpat has taught us all a valuable lesson.

 

[Jpat]

 

[Brahmb]

Almost jinxed myself.

I won’t forget them again, but I will worry less about them in the future!

I ended up playing hide-and-seek with my ducks today. I found two immediately, but Huey, my largest, had me going for over an hour. She ended up being in the old shed next door. I had looked in there once already, but she must have found a new pile of junk to hide behind. I checked again 20 minutes later and she was sitting on top of a pile. She actually let me pick her up, but started flapping her wings immediately. I tossed her toward the door and she actually flew about 20 feet!

Now I have to worry a little bit more. I think it was the dog that scattered them. Still training her.

 

[Brahmb]

BTW.. the other two ducks were pretty calm while I was hunting, so I was less worried about a predator and more worried about wandering.

 

[emmad783]

I usually keep mine locked up in their run (it is pretty huge) while I'm away at work because I don't want to attract anything or ring a dinner bell haha
I am looking into motion sense lights and cameras just because I love these freaking ducks and I can't bear the thought of something happening and it being a mystery!
I'm glad you found your ducks!! it's certainly scary when you can't find anyone