Flock dynamics

[TwistedTayy]

DAMN! That is one nice coop, @TwistedTayy !

Thanks! It’s still in progress (staining, ran out of HC, door hardware, etc) and the contractor we hired left us high and dry to finish ourselves. But hoping to have it done by mid sept working on weekends. It was started in May lol but there’s another run on the opposite side of the shed and the inside of the shed has pens built too.

 

[Quatie]

Introduced the newest ducklings to the flock today. The mallard-breeds seemed more put-off, although Pudding, the blue pied drakeling, ran after them to show them their place! Needless to say, poor pudding is the one that ended up getting schooled.

The other Muscovy were fine with them, and Mist and Mocha showed very parental attitudes towards them. It was adorable!

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Clockwise, from the bottom left: Pudding (blue pied male), Dulce (chocolate pied female), Cookie (black pied male), Mocha (sub-adult chocolate female), Strudel (blue female), and Mist (sub-adult blue bibbed male). Xylog the blue-laced red Wyandotte rooster photobombed.

They are very beautiful ducks

 

[Quatie]

Thanks! It’s still in progress (staining, ran out of HC, door hardware, etc) and the contractor we hired left us high and dry to finish ourselves. But hoping to have it done by mid sept working on weekends. It was started in May lol but there’s another run on the opposite side of the shed and the inside of the shed has pens built too.

That really sucks. There are some bad contractors out there.

 

[TwistedTayy]

That really sucks. There are some bad contractors out there.

yeah you're telling me. It was supposed to be two weeks that started in June and took him 8 weeks until he bailed without finishing

 

[Quatie]

yeah you're telling me. It was supposed to be two weeks that started in June and took him 8 weeks until he bailed without finishing

Bummer. I can understand it taking longer. There have been tons of supply issues still for a lot of the trades. But bailing on you, that is pretty awful. Those are the guys you report to the contractors board, assuming he had a license.

 

[TwistedTayy]

Bummer. I can understand it taking longer. There have been tons of supply issues still for a lot of the trades. But bailing on you, that is pretty awful. Those are the guys you report to the contractors board, assuming he had a license.

My gen contractor is taking care of that. All the lumber was here. In fact a lot of it warped and had to be replaced. No supply issues. He was just only coming a few hours a day a couple times a week and despite me being told that he’d be there each day. And I’d be staying home from work waiting on him to not show up.

 

[Quatie]

My gen contractor is taking care of that. All the lumber was here. In fact a lot of it warped and had to be replaced. No supply issues. He was just only coming a few hours a day a couple times a week and despite me being told that he’d be there each day. And I’d be staying home from work waiting on him to not show up.

I am sorry. At least it sounds like you have a good general.

Yeah, lumber has been pretty bad lately. Some of it comes to job sites wet, they frame, and it drys and twists. Even some studs have shrunk after framing.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I let the babies out again today (have been doing this for a few days now) and they've started integrating themselves into the flock. When I came out with a scoop of cracked corn, they were amongst the mob of webbed-foot rioters. They even helped themselves to a share of the loot.

They are also much more sensible than their older flock-mates. They were already in the coop around 7:15 tonight, waiting somewhat patiently for their supper before bedtime. Since they're still young (around 9 weeks, I think), they are still getting full meals, as compared to the others that forage most of the day. The rest of the flock is like a bunch of kids at bedtime, stalling for every second they can get!

The Muscovy are the worst though. Pausing at every tub of water along the way for just one more sip. Trying to sneak off to the side as if I wouldn't see them (Java actually managed it tonight!). And then standing in the door just far enough in that I can't close it.

Pudding once again stood up for his siblings and chased off a very bewildered Freckles, my black-pied Pekin cross drake! The look on Freckles' face was priceless! I need to have a miniature video camera implanted in my eye. Or get a Go-Pro! So many things I don't have a camera ready for!

 

[Canadian Wind]

The problem with having friendly ducks is they can get bold! I can't go into the house (where their food is kept in the mud room) without having the whole flock trying to come in too! And if I do manage to sneak in, they come running and will launch themselves at the door, ignoring the fact that there is an invisible barrier (glass) between them and me.

Heaven forbid I come out with a scoop of food! I get mauled by them! Ritz has learned to hop onto the bench next to the door and flap her way onto my arm to get first dibs at the contents of the scoop. I only feed them out back, but they know where the food comes from... Tonight, Ritz rode my arm like a hunting falcon.

I dread next breeding season. My boys are so friendly and unafraid of me, I know they will be holy terrors and they will attempt to chase me around and away from their girls.

 

[Luv Ducks]

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The two girls in question. Both hatched on June 6th. I know the Cayuga is a mix, but it's hard to tell with the Rouen.

I have Rouen ducks and she looks like she is mixed to me. No eye stripes like the Rouen has. I could be wrong, just my observation.