Illinois...

[BReeder!]

Anybody else have ducks in IL? Have rouens in particular? I would lije to get ducks, ducklings or hatching eggs for rouens. Right now we have 2 stakes and 1 hen. I ideally want 2 hens and 1 drake. So one of our current deals will be headed to freezer camp or trade, and I need to source another hen somehow.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

I really need a few prayers right now. My beloved Phoenix is missing. She disappeared for a spell yesterday afternoon for a few hours and then showed back up. I figures she might be laying an egg somewhere in the woods. I let her and Jasper out around 11:30 when I got home. My dad saw them all not an hour before dinner at 5:30. I went and mowed some of the lawn until the sun went down. Still no Phoenix. Jasper has been looking for her as well. I put Jasper with Jake and the girls so he wont be alone tonight. Jakes been a good boy with him and letting him hang out, so he should be ok there.

My heart is heavy. If shes really gone, DS is going to be brokenhearted. I'm holding onto a hope that she's made herself a nest with some eggs somewhere.

 

[BReeder!]

I really need a few prayers right now. My beloved Phoenix is missing. She disappeared for a spell yesterday afternoon for a few hours and then showed back up. I figures she might be laying an egg somewhere in the woods. I let her and Jasper out around 11:30 when I got home. My dad saw them all not an hour before dinner at 5:30. I went and mowed some of the lawn until the sun went down. Still no Phoenix. Jasper has been looking for her as well. I put Jasper with Jake and the girls so he wont be alone tonight. Jakes been a good boy with him and letting him hang out, so he should be ok there.

My heart is heavy. If shes really gone, DS is going to be brokenhearted. I'm holding onto a hope that she's made herself a nest with some eggs somewhere.

 

[cavemanrich]

I ideally want 2 hens and 1 drake.

Just a thought,,,,,,,, Keep one hen and one drake. See how things go keeping ducks. You will see that keeping that pond clean can become a chore/challenge. Especially when full grown. I do see that you have a koi swimming around in there.
You will need to change out a quantity of water every so often. I do not know the frequency.
This is what I would do.
Have a full size barrel of water that gets to de-chlorinate naturally always on standby. (I assume you get chlorinated city water, if you have own well, then disregard what I'm writing) Pump out same quantity of water out of pond, and water your garden with it. Replenish pond with standby water. Refill barrel with city water and let de- chlorinate again.
If you think you are ready for more ducks, then hatch out your own duck eggs.
I do understand why you want 2 hens. You don't want one hen to be over-exercised.

 

[Molpet]

I really need a few prayers right now. My beloved Phoenix is missing. She disappeared for a spell yesterday afternoon for a few hours and then showed back up. I figures she might be laying an egg somewhere in the woods. I let her and Jasper out around 11:30 when I got home. My dad saw them all not an hour before dinner at 5:30. I went and mowed some of the lawn until the sun went down. Still no Phoenix. Jasper has been looking for her as well. I put Jasper with Jake and the girls so he wont be alone tonight. Jakes been a good boy with him and letting him hang out, so he should be ok there.

My heart is heavy. If shes really gone, DS is going to be brokenhearted. I'm holding onto a hope that she's made herself a nest with some eggs somewhere.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

She's home!. Showed up just now on the back porch after the roos had been crowing awhile. A little damp and hungry, but ok. I really hope she doesn't have a nest somewhere and keeps doing this. I'll be a mess!

 

[Molpet]

She's home!. Showed up just now on the back porch after the roos had been crowing awhile. A little damp and hungry, but ok. I really hope she doesn't have a nest somewhere and keeps doing this. I'll be a mess!

 

[Faraday40]

She's home!. Showed up just now on the back porch after the roos had been crowing awhile. A little damp and hungry, but ok. I really hope she doesn't have a nest somewhere and keeps doing this. I'll be a mess!

THANK GOODNESS she's home & safe!

Do you see any other signs of broodiness? If so, you may want to lock her up in a cage for a while. (Wire bottom to break her, or just give her a nice nest & eggs.)

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Do you see any other signs of broodiness?

I havent noticed anything. Shes acting pretty much normal except for maybe not wanting to be held quite as much. But its been really hot, I wouldnt want to be held either.
Today she's been in the nightly rubbermaid box and acting like she wants out desperately. I took Jasper to see her briefly since he thought she was still missing. She put he head down low and puffed up like a cat and growled. Didn't do that with me or make the horrifying screaching sound, but she was very displeased with him. I was thinking about giving her an orp egg or two. I only have 1 good egg from her. All the others have been sitting for 2 weeks because shes been laying somewhere else. If i could just find out where she's been going.....

 

[homeschoolin momma]

I havent got the pictures of the lavs yet, but here's micro.