Illinois...

[BReeder!]

Duck friends, can I feed a baby duck chick starter in a pinch? A neighbor found a single duckling in their yard and no mama nearby. They posted in our neighborhood FB group asking if anyone has seen mom or knows where this baby came from but it looks like it's only a few days old -- maybe a week? If she can't find the rest of the family soon, I wanted to walk over some chick starter just to get the little bit something to eat. I'm likely the only one in the neighborhood with anything even close. Unless we have someone with ducks who lost one! LOL!!

In a pinch you are fine, but make sure you supply niacin. Smashed peas is a good source or you can buy vitamins to mix in the water. Niacin deficiency can cause a lot of problems for ducks, especially ducklings.

 

[BReeder!]

We lost a poult over night. I got up this morning and one of the four was just dead in the brooder.

 

[Molpet]

Hello!
We are in search of NPIP Disease testers.
Pullorum and avian and if there is any other testing needed that is new. We have not been checked by the state yet because they have suggested searching for testers with antigen/specimen to test first. That will be are longer wait. Can anyone help with dwindling down the list of who is still available to provide the service. Thank you so much!!!!!

Last I heard the antigen was on national wide backorder

 

[Molpet]

We lost a poult over night. I got up this morning and one of the four was just dead in the brooder.

Sorry it passed

 

[Faraday40]

We lost a poult over night. I got up this morning and one of the four was just dead in the brooder.

Oh no! Could it have been smooshed at the bottom of a cuddle huddle?

Mine have been free range. Thankfully the only thing that happened was once a poult couldn't find its way inside the coop/run. (They really aren't bright.) It got scared and stood out in the open at dusk crying for mama. Yes, all the nearby predators would know exactly where to find an easy snack. When I went to pick it up, it ran under the coop where I couldn't reach it. I had to get Cookie to call the poult out from hiding so I could pick it up. Thankfully a happy ending.

 

[Faraday40]

Not an expert on things like this,,,, but my search for fertilizer came up with this
ALL PURPOSE
Try soaking those eggs in it,,,,, never know, you might get a MIRACLE CHICK
AND PROBABLY LAY GREEN EGGS
View attachment 2185534

I certainly don't need my flock to grow any bigger! LOL My lav orp pullet is already bigger than her turkey siblings.

 

[Justso]

None by me at all yet

Lots here! All up in the treetops though.

 

[Faraday40]

Lots here! All up in the treetops though.

Cicadas
In the early morning they're drying out their exoskeletons and can be found lower in the trees. By afternoon, the newly emerged ones can fly very well. They all join in their deafening chorus in the trees. Today DS & I had to shout to each other when near the trees. Shake a branch & watch them soar.

 

[BReeder!]

Oh no! Could it have been smooshed at the bottom of a cuddle huddle?

Mine have been free range. Thankfully the only thing that happened was once a poult couldn't find its way inside the coop/run. (They really aren't bright.) It got scared and stood out in the open at dusk crying for mama. Yes, all the nearby predators would know exactly where to find an easy snack. When I went to pick it up, it ran under the coop where I couldn't reach it. I had to get Cookie to call the poult out from hiding so I could pick it up. Thankfully a happy ending.

Smooshed is a possibility. There's was room in there for the four of them still, but cuddling at night could have done it.

 

[BReeder!]

In good news, A'hole is laying again. She laid several eggs over the past week actually. She is my least frequent layer, yet doesn't seem broody ever. She is a Cuckoo Marans. She goes many months without laying and then decides to lay again. Last time she only laid afew eggs and quit again. That was months ago - March I think. I'm hoping she still lay for the rest of the summer now. I am not to confident in that though.