9Tiptoes
In the Brooder
- Aug 15, 2017
- 11
- 18
- 39
Live in Central Iowa. We have a flock of layer hens of mixed variety. Too many Roosters, but luckily, they all get along well. We also have a flock of fryer chickens that are ready, (maybe a little beyond ready).
We have 26 ducks (and counting - 3 hens currently sitting), mostly Muscovy, 4 Rouen, 2 Pekin & 1 Black unknown breed, (I didn't buy her).
We also have a herd of cats (who all get along very well with the birds), 1 Great Pyreneese/Anatolian Shepherd mix, 1 Paint horse & a herd of Beef and Dairy cows & calves (and one borrowed Hereford bull we've nicknamed Elvis because all the ladies love him)
Even though our farm is not 'new' to chickens and ducks, I am very new to enjoying them. I never really paid much attention to them until we started with ducks 2 years ago. Last summer, our first clutch hatched. To protect them from the cats (because we weren't sure how they'd react to a group of babies) we separated them from their mom and put them in a brooder. I was immediately attached to them, calling them my babies. They were Not attached to me, but tolerated me talking to them. My babies are now having babies of their own and I'm in heaven. This summer alone, we've hatched 29 ducklings..so far.
We free range all of our birds (except the fryers) and I truly enjoy watching them and figuring up new ways I can improve their lives, ie. spoil them. We're very much involved in 4H, and my goal is to get my son to show poultry next year.
I've been using BackYardChickens.com for years as a way to get advice and information.
We have 26 ducks (and counting - 3 hens currently sitting), mostly Muscovy, 4 Rouen, 2 Pekin & 1 Black unknown breed, (I didn't buy her).
We also have a herd of cats (who all get along very well with the birds), 1 Great Pyreneese/Anatolian Shepherd mix, 1 Paint horse & a herd of Beef and Dairy cows & calves (and one borrowed Hereford bull we've nicknamed Elvis because all the ladies love him)
Even though our farm is not 'new' to chickens and ducks, I am very new to enjoying them. I never really paid much attention to them until we started with ducks 2 years ago. Last summer, our first clutch hatched. To protect them from the cats (because we weren't sure how they'd react to a group of babies) we separated them from their mom and put them in a brooder. I was immediately attached to them, calling them my babies. They were Not attached to me, but tolerated me talking to them. My babies are now having babies of their own and I'm in heaven. This summer alone, we've hatched 29 ducklings..so far.
We free range all of our birds (except the fryers) and I truly enjoy watching them and figuring up new ways I can improve their lives, ie. spoil them. We're very much involved in 4H, and my goal is to get my son to show poultry next year.
I've been using BackYardChickens.com for years as a way to get advice and information.
