Flock/Life Journey's 2019

[ronott1]

Lucky for me, my grandmother has calls which she allows me to hatch if I want for free, though I do know they can be expensive. I don't think hers are show quality, but I don't really mind. I will warn you, though, if you decide to get calls: they are very noisy, especially the females and they will fly. They also make nice snacks for wild critters like coons and weasels, but they are so small and cute it makes up for all the drawbacks.

Have you found a way to keep them safe from predators?

 

[WhoDatChick]

Lucky for me, my grandmother has calls which she allows me to hatch if I want for free, though I do know they can be expensive. I don't think hers are show quality, but I don't really mind. I will warn you, though, if you decide to get calls: they are very noisy, especially the females and they will fly. They also make nice snacks for wild critters like coons and weasels, but they are so small and cute it makes up for all the drawbacks.

Oh, thanks! Good to know!!

 

[Stick Chicken]

Have you found a way to keep them safe from predators?

I don't let mine out to free range anymore. I used to a long time ago when they would follow my goose around, but hawks kept getting them. Sometimes I'll put them in an outside cage during the day, but they always get put away at night. Supervision when they're outside is key as well as keeping them locked up at night. My grandmother has two drakes she lets free range, but they've been doing it for many years and she doesn't live in the woods like I do.

 

[ronott1]

I don't let mine out to free range anymore. I used to a long time ago when they would follow my goose around, but hawks kept getting them. Sometimes I'll put them in an outside cage during the day, but they always get put away at night. Supervision when they're outside is key as well as keeping them locked up at night. My grandmother has two drakes she lets free range, but they've been doing it for many years and she doesn't live in the woods like I do.

I live in a City that is not overrun with predators. It is a completely different situation in a place like yours!

 

[Ladybird CA]

I love your ducks!! The kittens are adorable! My barn cat just had hers but she's hidden them in the insulation under my house ...
Everyone on here calls me Mystic or you can call me Mon

I'm gonna call you Mon now that I know your name I prefer calling people by their real names if they allow it

Okay yall... I think I have a frizzle ... what do yall think? Ya gotta zoom in cuz these are the best I can get.. I don’t like to stress mama...View attachment 1741989View attachment 1741990View attachment 1741991

yup frizzle!

So...i had the audacity to need too leave town for a little over a week. I paid someone too house/chicken/duck/dog sit (that's a mouth full 2 days before i was coming back i get a text from my closest neighbor (4 acres) that two of my dogs are at her porch barking frantically at her through her glass door. i called my other neighbor and got him too go to my home at which point I'm told the hose was on in the duck pond inside the run and my whole yard is flooded no one there so he opened a bag of dog food, shut off the hose and propped the door of my trailer open (4 weeks old pups inside...upset momma dog OUTSIDE)

I comehome yesterday.....

Tragedy.

1 pup inside ( ok thank good) 6 outside wandering the yard. Gate to the run unlocked. 25 or so younger chicks drowned in the flood..meat birds starved to death, 2 ducklings missing. The rest of the ducklings came waddling out of the woods around the swamp. Oh...and roughly 3 dozen uncollected eggs and two now VERY broody hens.

What. The. ?!?#!



I will not share the carnage pictures...who needs that. But they all received a Vikings funeral tonight.View attachment 1742240 View attachment 1742241 View attachment 1742242 View attachment 1742243 View attachment 1742245 View attachment 1742246 View attachment 1742247 View attachment 1742249 View attachment 1742250 View attachment 1742251

On a lighter note...i went to tractor supply to replace chicks (therapy chick purchases? Never) and ALL the chicks were 4 for a dollar. SO...guess who bought 52 chicks and 3 half price ducklings (basically the entire lot)?

Yup...that'd be me. They had crevacours!

I'm sorry for your loss

Just some pictures from yesterday(Warning-Picture heavy)
Free-rangers
View attachment 1742517 View attachment 1742518 View attachment 1742519
Porcelain D'uccles(the rooster is the one who was badly injured; he's healed up well)
View attachment 1742520 View attachment 1742521
Hens from what we call the "Rainbow Pen" (not all pictured)
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My little call duck
View attachment 1742524
My ayam cemani and his lady(he has some red leakage in his wattles, but what can you expect from a free bird?)
View attachment 1742525View attachment 1742530 The cochin and silkie pen
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Winchester
View attachment 1742532

I've never seen a (mostly) black call duck before! How cute. I tried hatching call duck eggs once but they never hatched. Beautiful chickens, those cochins are especially show quality.

The doctor says DS is perfectly ok

 

[MysticUniKitty]

I'm gonna call you Mon now that I know your name I prefer calling people by their real names if they allow it

yup frizzle!

I'm sorry for your loss

I've never seen a (mostly) black call duck before! How cute. I tried hatching call duck eggs once but they never hatched. Beautiful chickens, those cochins are especially show quality.

The doctor says DS is perfectly ok

well Mon is my real nickname... I'm not a fan of my real name, I like my nicknames better I'm slowly remembering who is who here..the memory isn't what it used to be i blame the kids.

 

[happy duck]

So...i had the audacity to need too leave town for a little over a week. I paid someone too house/chicken/duck/dog sit (that's a mouth full 2 days before i was coming back i get a text from my closest neighbor (4 acres) that two of my dogs are at her porch barking frantically at her through her glass door. i called my other neighbor and got him too go to my home at which point I'm told the hose was on in the duck pond inside the run and my whole yard is flooded no one there so he opened a bag of dog food, shut off the hose and propped the door of my trailer open (4 weeks old pups inside...upset momma dog OUTSIDE)

I comehome yesterday.....

Tragedy.

1 pup inside ( ok thank good) 6 outside wandering the yard. Gate to the run unlocked. 25 or so younger chicks drowned in the flood..meat birds starved to death, 2 ducklings missing. The rest of the ducklings came waddling out of the woods around the swamp. Oh...and roughly 3 dozen uncollected eggs and two now VERY broody hens.

What. The. ?!?#!



I will not share the carnage pictures...who needs that. But they all received a Vikings funeral tonight.View attachment 1742240 View attachment 1742241 View attachment 1742242 View attachment 1742243 View attachment 1742245 View attachment 1742246 View attachment 1742247 View attachment 1742249 View attachment 1742250 View attachment 1742251

On a lighter note...i went to tractor supply to replace chicks (therapy chick purchases? Never) and ALL the chicks were 4 for a dollar. SO...guess who bought 52 chicks and 3 half price ducklings (basically the entire lot)?

Yup...that'd be me. They had crevacours!

I would die!!!! Hate that for you!!!! Have you already paid him(or her)? I wound't if I where you...they did nothing good for you at all!

 

[Stick Chicken]

I live in a City that is not overrun with predators. It is a completely different situation in a place like yours!

I can see how that would cause a difference! Lots of critters in a forest.

 

[Stick Chicken]

I've never seen a (mostly) black call duck before! How cute. I tried hatching call duck eggs once but they never hatched. Beautiful chickens, those cochins are especially show quality.

Technically, it's not a APA variety, but I rather like it. The people who first sold us that color called them black-bibbed calls.
Thanks about the cochins. I've been working on the quality, but it's really hard to find anyone with good cochins. Unfortunately the hens are probably hatchery birds, but they're the mother of the rooster in with them, so that just goes to show that you can use "okay" quality to get something better.

 

[MysticUniKitty]

Went out this afternoon and found two eggs for today!

I also found a containment breach... Charred had gotten up overthe fencing for the babies! The hens were looking at me like "deal with this" Charred was freaking out. I was freaking out... anyways crisis was resolved and got the eggs!

A lady i know heard i got two laying hens and she said if i get a dozen she'll buy from me
I'm excited!