HELP! I assisted a duckling before internal pipping!

[Hamudazahabi]

You might want to write the date on each egg as it is laid. Then you will be able to remove them if they get too old to hatch (2 weeks or so), rather than leaving them there to eventually rot.

Good idea. Thanks.
By the way, my cockerel just crowed now, and it is currently 11:30 PM

 

[Hamudazahabi]

I bought some female muscovy ducks!
I attached pictures. They're way smaller than the males in size, even though the males are 4 months old and the femalea are 8 months old. They currently run away from me but I will try to get them to not be scared from me. Today I just put a chair and I stayed there without doing anything to them for an hour. I was basically watching them. The males follow them a lot and they run away, but sometimes they stop and seem to talk (I hear their voices) and they move their heads to the front and back together.

 

[Hamudazahabi]

Hello,
I have a new problem (they just never ends )

When my cockerel started crowing maybe around 2 month ago, it sounded weird and short. After a week or two though, he started crowing properly, and he kept doing that everyday until yesterday.

Yesterday, he did the same move he always does, but the voice that came out was very short and sounded like he is having trouble making the voice. After that, in the same day, he drank water and ate and rested for few hours, then crowed properly. I didn't see him doing anything else really.

Now though, in the morning he crowed just like he did when he was small. I am not sure what's wrong with him.

Also, long ago, around 3 months ago or so, we bought two chickens, from a shop that slaughters chickens (most of our chickens are from there, as he allows us to pick then he slaughters, but we ask for them alive, and before this, they were all good), and the shop said one of them was a rooster, and he said it's the brown one (one is brown and one is black wich turns blue with the sun sometimes), and later we started getting more eggs, but we never saw it fighting with our existing rooster much, but rather the other rooster would fight with both equally and not too strongly, which it does to all new chickens. We thought the shop was wrong and both are females, because the chickens we bought as baby chicks, crowed at around 3 weeks old, and this guy is quite big since we bought him but isn't crowing at all.

I noticed a weird thing though. Both of these new chickens are all making the sounds of baby chicks even though they are much bigger, and we are not sure what's happening. Today, that brown one crowed for the first time, after staying with us for 3 months and he was not so small when we bought him.

 

[Hamudazahabi]

Hello,
I have a new problem (they just never ends )

When my cockerel started crowing maybe around 2 month ago, it sounded weird and short. After a week or two though, he started crowing properly, and he kept doing that everyday until yesterday.

Yesterday, he did the same move he always does, but the voice that came out was very short and sounded like he is having trouble making the voice. After that, in the same day, he drank water and ate and rested for few hours, then crowed properly. I didn't see him doing anything else really.

Now though, in the morning he crowed just like he did when he was small. I am not sure what's wrong with him.

Also, long ago, around 3 months ago or so, we bought two chickens, from a shop that slaughters chickens (most of our chickens are from there, as he allows us to pick then he slaughters, but we ask for them alive, and before this, they were all good), and the shop said one of them was a rooster, and he said it's the brown one (one is brown and one is black wich turns blue with the sun sometimes), and later we started getting more eggs, but we never saw it fighting with our existing rooster much, but rather the other rooster would fight with both equally and not too strongly, which it does to all new chickens. We thought the shop was wrong and both are females, because the chickens we bought as baby chicks, crowed at around 3 weeks old, and this guy is quite big since we bought him but isn't crowing at all.

I noticed a weird thing though. Both of these new chickens are all making the sounds of baby chicks even though they are much bigger, and we are not sure what's happening. Today, that brown one crowed for the first time, after staying with us for 3 months and he was not so small when we bought him.

As for the cockerel, it is crowing properly two or three times, then it becomes weird high pitched short sound similar to what it used to make when it was small, and it needs to rest for an hour or more until it can crow properly again.

As for the pullet, for some reason it always likes to leave the garden and lat the egg on the table then return. We tried so many things to stop it, but it manages to find a new way. It used to fly over the mesh, and so we cut its wing feathers. Then it started trying to find places where this chicken net is bent so it jumps then climbs, and then it lays on the table, and last time it broke it accidentally, so we have to keep watching it when it goes to the table, until it lays so we take it before it breaks. Today I tried watching it on the table, and the cockerel also came with her and stood their to protect it, but when I came it ran away, leaving the pullet alone, which stayed because I brought food to it, then I just sat near. I am not sure what I can do to make it like another place, and I am also not sure what it likes about the table that I should imitate there so it likes another place inside and chioses it. At the end it layed the egg and I took it, and I also took a picture of the pullet sitting on the table on top of the duck food bag.
@NatJ , @Miss Lydia

 

[NatJ]

As for the cockerel, it is crowing properly two or three times, then it becomes weird high pitched short sound similar to what it used to make when it was small, and it needs to rest for an hour or more until it can crow properly again.

As for the pullet, for some reason it always likes to leave the garden and lat the egg on the table then return. We tried so many things to stop it, but it manages to find a new way. It used to fly over the mesh, and so we cut its wing feathers. Then it started trying to find places where this chicken net is bent so it jumps then climbs, and then it lays on the table, and last time it broke it accidentally, so we have to keep watching it when it goes to the table, until it lays so we take it before it breaks. Today I tried watching it on the table, and the cockerel also came with her and stood their to protect it, but when I came it ran away, leaving the pullet alone, which stayed because I brought food to it, then I just sat near. I am not sure what I can do to make it like another place, and I am also not sure what it likes about the table that I should imitate there so it likes another place inside and chioses it. At the end it layed the egg and I took it, and I also took a picture of the pullet sitting on the table on top of the duck food bag.
@NatJ , @Miss Lydia

I don't have any useful ideas about the cockerel.

Regarding the pullet and the table, can you just move it somewhere until the pullet gets used to laying somewhere else? Maybe put it inside your house, or on the other side of some building, or if that's not possible you might be able to cover it with a sheet or tarp or something. Or maybe take everything off the table and put the things in different places for a while. Basically, make it not available or not the same.

I don't know exactly what the pullet likes about the table, but it may feel like a secluded safe place if she snuggles in among the things on it. For what to copy, does she already have a nestbox available? Putting one or more eggs in it (real or fake) might make her think it is a good place to lay eggs, because obviously somebody else already laid there

You could try giving her several boxes, each with some kind nesting material inside (hay or straw, dried grass, wood shavings, whatever you have handy). She might like a bigger or a smaller box, raised or on the floor, facing toward the light or facing toward a wall to be dark, or covered with a clump of branches so it feels hidden.

I'm not a chicken, so I'm just guessing from what I've seen other chickens use. Most of them are happy enough with an open-front box, either on the floor or raised above the floor, but some are pickier than others. Again, fake eggs can help convince some hens that a particular spot is a good nest.

As for the pullet, for some reason it always likes to leave the garden and lat the egg on the table then return.

[the ducks] live together with the chickens.

I wonder if the pullet is trying to get away from the ducks to lay her egg?

We tried so many things to stop it, but it manages to find a new way. It used to fly over the mesh, and so we cut its wing feathers. Then it started trying to find places where this chicken net is bent so it jumps then climbs

Do you have a smaller cage that she would not be able to escape? If so, maybe put her in the cage for a week or so, with a nestbox (any box you think is suitable). She won't be able to go anywhere else, so she will probably use the nestbox. Once you let her out of the cage, she might keep going back in to use the nest, because by then it will be a habit.

it lays on the table, and last time it broke it accidentally, so we have to keep watching it when it goes to the table, until it lays so we take it before it breaks.

Maybe put something soft on that part of the table, to help prevent the egg breaking, and just let the pullet lay her egg where she wants to lay it. Sometimes it is worth changing a chicken's habit, and other times it is easier to work with what she wants to do anyway.

 

[Hamudazahabi]

I don't have any useful ideas about the cockerel.

I tried adding vitamins to their water so maybe if he has any illness or whatsoever he can deal with it better. Today he sounded normal when he crowed.

Regarding the pullet and the table, can you just move it somewhere until the pullet gets used to laying somewhere else? Maybe put it inside your house, or on the other side of some building, or if that's not possible you might be able to cover it with a sheet or tarp or something. Or maybe take everything off the table and put the things in different places for a while. Basically, make it not available or not the same.

I might try that. I can't put it inside or anywhere else, and I can't remove everything because there are so many things, but I can probably cover it.

I don't know exactly what the pullet likes about the table, but it may feel like a secluded safe place if she snuggles in among the things on it.

She definitely does. I have seen it always among the things, fitting its head into some boxes or things then turning around, and sometimes it makes something fall because it wants the place without the thing (I have seen it kick an empty box, and sit instead of it)

For what to copy, does she already have a nestbox available? Putting one or more eggs in it (real or fake) might make her think it is a good place to lay eggs, because obviously somebody else already laid there

I have tried that. I have brought an old plastic fruit box which I think had pomegranates in it, and I put the grass after cutting it inside the box then we put her eggs and I also added an egg from my fridge. I have tried adding fake eggs but I saw it moving the fake ones out with its leg, I think it's because it is light, so it can easily move it. After doing all of that, it is still laying at the table, but I have seen it using the grass to cover the eggs.

You could try giving her several boxes, each with some kind nesting material inside (hay or straw, dried grass, wood shavings, whatever you have handy). She might like a bigger or a smaller box, raised or on the floor, facing toward the light or facing toward a wall to be dark, or covered with a clump of branches so it feels hidden.

I have placed that box I talked about under a tree. The table it lays on doesn't have any cover on it, but there is a ceiling which is quite high so it doesn't cover it immediately, and it's not too dark, but it has many things on it where it can sit, and the table is high so it flies towards it.

I'm not a chicken, so I'm just guessing from what I've seen other chickens use. Most of them are happy enough with an open-front box, either on the floor or raised above the floor, but some are pickier than others.

Mine is defnitely very picky. The first time it layed, it searched every single place until it chose the table. At that time, I didn't prepare that box yet, but now even if I return it it keeps coming back to the table.

Again, fake eggs can help convince some hens that a particular spot is a good nest.

Yeah, I have tried it with the chickens down and it worked, but this chicken seems smarter

I wonder if the pullet is trying to get away from the ducks to lay her egg?

I thought about that, but it is laying the egg there and then it returns and sleeps inside and everything so I am not sure. Also, I tried preparing another box like that one and I put fake eggs in it outside that garden, near the table, but when it saw it, it just left it and went to the table again (the place is secluded and covered behind a door where no one will see it or disturb it, but it still went to the table)

Do you have a smaller cage that she would not be able to escape? If so, maybe put her in the cage for a week or so, with a nestbox (any box you think is suitable). She won't be able to go anywhere else, so she will probably use the nestbox. Once you let her out of the cage, she might keep going back in to use the nest, because by then it will be a habit.

That's a nice idea, I could do that by putting mesh in a place then covering even the ceiling with mesh and making sure it can't leave, then putting it there and making it so the mesh is accessible so it can come there even after I open it.

Maybe put something soft on that part of the table, to help prevent the egg breaking, and just let the pullet lay her egg where she wants to lay it. Sometimes it is worth changing a chicken's habit, and other times it is easier to work with what she wants to do anyway.

Yeah but the problem is sometimes the chicken or the cockerel breaks the egg accidentally. Last time when it layed the egg, the cockerel started making the egg song sound, and then started walking, then accidentally stepped on the egg or like jumped on it and broke it. When I watch, first of all the cockerel goes away and watches, and then other than that the pullet sits and right when it lays the egg I take it and put it in that box under the tree

 

[NatJ]

Yeah but the problem is sometimes the chicken or the cockerel breaks the egg accidentally. Last time when it layed the egg, the cockerel started making the egg song sound, and then started walking, then accidentally stepped on the egg or like jumped on it and broke it.

Does the pullet have access to calcium? Oyster shell or something of the sort?

I'm wondering if her eggs have extra-thin shells for some reason, if it broke that easily. Or maybe it was a one-time egg with a thinner shell. Those just happen sometimes.

If you crack any of them for cooking, you can decide whether the shells have normal strength or not.

I tried adding vitamins to their water so maybe if he has any illness or whatsoever he can deal with it better. Today he sounded normal when he crowed.

I might try that. I can't put it inside or anywhere else, and I can't remove everything because there are so many things, but I can probably cover it.

She definitely does. I have seen it always among the things, fitting its head into some boxes or things then turning around, and sometimes it makes something fall because it wants the place without the thing (I have seen it kick an empty box, and sit instead of it)

I have tried that. I have brought an old plastic fruit box which I think had pomegranates in it, and I put the grass after cutting it inside the box then we put her eggs and I also added an egg from my fridge. I have tried adding fake eggs but I saw it moving the fake ones out with its leg, I think it's because it is light, so it can easily move it. After doing all of that, it is still laying at the table, but I have seen it using the grass to cover the eggs.

I have placed that box I talked about under a tree. The table it lays on doesn't have any cover on it, but there is a ceiling which is quite high so it doesn't cover it immediately, and it's not too dark, but it has many things on it where it can sit, and the table is high so it flies towards it.

Mine is defnitely very picky. The first time it layed, it searched every single place until it chose the table. At that time, I didn't prepare that box yet, but now even if I return it it keeps coming back to the table.

Yeah, I have tried it with the chickens down and it worked, but this chicken seems smarter

I thought about that, but it is laying the egg there and then it returns and sleeps inside and everything so I am not sure. Also, I tried preparing another box like that one and I put fake eggs in it outside that garden, near the table, but when it saw it, it just left it and went to the table again (the place is secluded and covered behind a door where no one will see it or disturb it, but it still went to the table)

That's a nice idea, I could do that by putting mesh in a place then covering even the ceiling with mesh and making sure it can't leave, then putting it there and making it so the mesh is accessible so it can come there even after I open it.

Yeah but the problem is sometimes the chicken or the cockerel breaks the egg accidentally. Last time when it layed the egg, the cockerel started making the egg song sound, and then started walking, then accidentally stepped on the egg or like jumped on it and broke it. When I watch, first of all the cockerel goes away and watches, and then other than that the pullet sits and right when it lays the egg I take it and put it in that box under the tree

It sounds like you've already been pretty thorough about trying different things, too. Hopefully something works before you lose patience with that silly pullet!

 

[Hamudazahabi]

Does the pullet have access to calcium? Oyster shell or something of the sort?

At that time, it didn't, but I bought calcium (I think it was grounded sea shells), and I am mixing it with the food. The powder is supposed to be added to the food not the water right?

I'm wondering if her eggs have extra-thin shells for some reason, if it broke that easily. Or maybe it was a one-time egg with a thinner shell. Those just happen sometimes.

At that time I didn't give it calcium, but even after I gave it, it's still the same thickness, which isn't so thin, but much thinner than the eggs of my other chickens (I sometimes have to hit it multiple times untill it breaks), but I think the egg broke because the cockerel is really heavy and he jumped on it.

It sounds like you've already been pretty thorough about trying different things, too. Hopefully something works before you lose patience with that silly pullet!

Yeah, I tried some things earlier. Today, it layed the egg on the table again, while I was watching it so it doesn't break the egg. I took it, and I kept it with me, but I saw it go to that box and bury the fake plastic eggs inside the cut grass which I put for it. What I did was that I put this egg with them.

 

[NatJ]

At that time, it didn't, but I bought calcium (I think it was grounded sea shells), and I am mixing it with the food. The powder is supposed to be added to the food not the water right?

If the calcium has instructions on the package, follow the instructions.

The usual thing is to put the calcium in a separate dish, so the pullet can eat however much she wants. Most chickens are good at eating the right amount of calcium, more or less according to their own needs. So if the calcium does not have instructions, that is what I would probably do.

If she is short of calcium and does not eat enough when she has the chance, then it can be good to mix some into her feed so she is forced to eat it. But then you need to be sure she eats that feed, rather than the cockerel and the ducks eating it while she eats their feed. Birds who are laying do need a lot more calcium than the ones who are not laying (males, youngsters, etc.)

At that time I didn't give it calcium, but even after I gave it, it's still the same thickness, which isn't so thin, but much thinner than the eggs of my other chickens (I sometimes have to hit it multiple times untill it breaks), but I think the egg broke because the cockerel is really heavy and he jumped on it.

If a hen is really short of calcium, it may take a while before her eggshells get properly hard again. But yes, if the heavy cockerel jumped on the egg, that could break even a strong shell. I had thought he just stepped on it normally, which won't break usually break an egg unless the shell has problems.

 

[Hamudazahabi]

If the calcium has instructions on the package, follow the instructions.

It doesn't have instructions. I bought it online, and that shop only said calcium from seashells for chickens and birds without saying how to use.

The usual thing is to put the calcium in a separate dish, so the pullet can eat however much she wants. Most chickens are good at eating the right amount of calcium, more or less according to their own needs. So if the calcium does not have instructions, that is what I would probably do.

Does that mean putting some of the powder in a plate alone? Or does it mean putting some powder and adding some water then mixing it and leaving it on a plate?

If she is short of calcium and does not eat enough when she has the chance, then it can be good to mix some into her feed so she is forced to eat it. But then you need to be sure she eats that feed, rather than the cockerel and the ducks eating it while she eats their feed. Birds who are laying do need a lot more calcium than the ones who are not laying (males, youngsters, etc.)

What I am currently doing is giving all ducks and chickens the same feed, which is a mixture of duck food and the usual dried corn and some calcium powder mixed with it, so I am sure that all of them are eating calcium.

If a hen is really short of calcium, it may take a while before her eggshells get properly hard again. But yes, if the heavy cockerel jumped on the egg, that could break even a strong shell. I had thought he just stepped on it normally, which won't break usually break an egg unless the shell has problems.

Yeah, I guess it could have been both reasons.