Hi from Oz

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leo081977

Hatching
Aug 28, 2015
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Hi all :)

I am a newbie here but I have been reading for a few days and learning learning :) We just moved country Western Australia and inherited 10 chooks (8 ali browns I think they're called and 2 astrolorps) plus a duck, Mr Duck, the girl :p Last week we added 2 ducklings (1 1/2 weeks old) and 2 more chookies 11 weeks 3/4 leghorns (I hope I have all the terminology right :p )...

We were told with the duckies, keep them under a light for a week (or in a warm room which we have done) and they will be fine to go in the run... reading tells me otherwise. They are in the loungeroom in a plastic crate, terracotta plant saucer as a pond which they splash in. They have a piece of bark which I make a paper nest on for them to sleep on. I was also told to feed them crushed layer pellets, and reading more today I think that's wrong too?? Any help and advice much appreciated. I read something on brewers yeast which I will read again tonight and source tomorrow... I think I got mildly conned with yeah no worries. Popped them in the bath today with a puddle and boy did they enjoy that. They also love a cuddle on my lap on the lounge at night :) I love them to bits, but gee they pong! I am changing their paper 3 times a day at least. I also found a cocky cage so I put them outside a couple of times and they seem to enjoy that too.

The chookies seem to be going ok, they are in a cage within the bigger run and we cover them with a tarp at night. I have been feeding them the same as the big birds. I tried to let them have a run in the pen and that lasted all of 2 minutes with the big girls coming in for a peck, so back in the little run, will try the night method soon but we have no lights down there :p

Me... I have 4 kids and we live on 5 beautiful acres which I adore :) We moved here 4 weeks ago and it feels like home already :)

So.... new obsession coming on, excuse all the stupid questions that may come from me (though I will do a search again soon... much easier on the puter than on my phone :p )

Hugs
Kaylene :)
 
These are my babies
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And I just read all the intro bits and seems everything I was told when I bought the ducks was wrong...
 
Hi Kaylene,
welcome-byc.gif


I've never raised ducks (I'm a chicken person) but ducklings sure are cute. That picture of your kids with the birds is adorable, it looks like everyone is having fun.

In case you haven't been to the Learning Center yet, there is a section on ducks. There is also a duck forum here with some very helpful members to answer all your duck questions. Here are links to get you to those places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/other-backyard-poultry-ducks-quail-turkeys-geese-etc (Learning Center)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks (forum)

Good luck with your birds, it's nice to have you here!
 
You can put "Integrating new flock with old." in search box. The best method (for no bloodshed) is the "look but don't touch." where you separate the new & old by a wire partition in coop and run. They get to see each other but, not bully or peck. After a period of time (could be weeks) the old ones will ignore the newbies. They you can try letting them free range(?) together on neutral ground with supervision.

Young birds should not be on layer feed, the extra calcium will affect their kidneys. Once they start to lay the calcium is needed for hard egg shells. This for chickens, I don't know the particulars about ducks.
 
Thank you for all the welcomes :) Hubby has been sent out today to buy the right feed, tossing up whether to say something to the place I bought my new babies from... I asked a LOT of questions and it seems every answer was wrong. It isn't a normal sell a chook/ duck here and there place either it is a poultry farm specialising in poultry only! Also planning to pop up a petition today, put new babies one side, big babies other :)
 
Update... we have 3 new feeds for all our babies and a pet shop with actual knowledge YAY :D :D :D Big girls have had a free range walk and dust baths galore (chooks and Mr Duck, who is a mrs :p ), babies have had a play in the sun in the cocky cage and some foraging and are now having a bath for a while before I put them to bed again :) Storm coming so all put away now. Been reading the introduction to ducks and so much great info on here :) Thank you all so much :) :) :)

PS I think my fave chook is Rev Green (black girl who turns green in the sun) she is good fun to watch :)
 
leo081977 said:
Update... we have 3 new feeds for all our babies and a pet shop with actual knowledge YAY :D :D :D Big girls have had a free range walk and dust baths galore (chooks and Mr Duck, who is a mrs :p ), babies have had a play in the sun in the cocky cage and some foraging and are now having a bath for a while before I put them to bed again :) Storm coming so all put away now. Been reading the introduction to ducks and so much great info on here :) Thank you all so much :) :) :)

PS I think my fave chook is Rev Green (black girl who turns green in the sun) she is good fun to watch :)
Click to expand...

It sounds like everyone had a fun, full day. Good find on the pet shop that knows their business!
 

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