INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
Since the number of the smaller ducks is 3 and the older flock is larger with males, I would drag the process out:
I would put one older larger duck in with them and hope that they all got along well.
Then if that was going well after 48 hours add another older larger duck.
Then add another 1 or 2 duck hens again in 48 hours or so. That would make the mixed aged flock 6 / 7 ducks 0 drakes and the older only flock 6/7 hens and 3 drakes.
I would let the mixed flock settle in for a week or so till the 3-4 older ducks started mothering the younger ones around.
Then I would get all prepared for a big switch. I would put the 3 drakes and 4 of the older hens in the pen that had been for the younger ones. At the same time I would put the younger ones with their new protectors in the older pen with a trio of the older duck hens.
Give that a week and combine the 2 flocks.

Another option is to wait a month or so until the 3 littles get a bit larger and have some weight on them right now at 8 weeks they are mostly fluff compared the full sized. They look as big but not weigh as much ~ or at least that is what happened with my ducks.
If the 3 littles are 3-3.5 months old, then put the drakes in their pen and add the little ones to the hen only duck flock. Let them settle in for a week or so and add the drakes back in.

 

[Faraday40]

my turkey hens keep looking for their tom. They prance and pace by his 3 favorite roosting areas and one is squatting for both me and my DH. I thought she was injured the first time she did her little squat and wing spreading.

I'm sorry.

That's so sad. Poor girls.
My flock is still not quite over the loss of Miracle- one my 3 Amigos. The remaining 2 Amigos visit their usual spots & get very nervous if ever separated. On positive, they are staying within sight of the rest of the flock & not venturing as far. This is good, so my roo might extend a little protection.

 

[goatluver20]

Hi everybody. I haven't been able to be on in a few months because I have been pretty busy. But I'm going to try and get on more. Hope everyone is doing okay.

 

[iamfivewire]

chisNchickins - a friend of ours raises D'uccles . i can see if she has any available if willing to drive about 100+ miles past Angola into Michigan

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Thanks for the chicken band responses!  For the rubber bands in the picture -- are they too small for adult chickens?  Are the bandettes the numbered leg bands?  Would any of these work for ducks?  I can't imagine any of the stretchy ones would stretch enough to go over the duck feet.

The packs I get are assorted, so some should fit adults. It would fit like a human wearing a hair tie on their wrist. I get them at dollar general. Bandettes are a style of numbered leg bands. They could work for ducks. They make them large enough. I don't see them coming off in a pool or anything. I wash my chickens with there's on and they dot come off. These kid you have to unroll and put on so they are a challenge to get off without fingers

 

[Faraday40]

Although I already saw this clip last year, someone sent it again to me today. I find it very funny, because now I can relate even more. Just yesterday I took some Christmas pics of the kids holding the usual holiday props. Well, last year we took some photos with the chickens by the tree, so of course now it's a Christmas "tradition."

So here's the video about the hazards of raising poultry.

 

[birdman55]

had a nice day....hope everyone else did....got the base on the four new coops done...tommarow I shall build walls, put wire up and put the doors in and then transfer the birds to the proper spot

 

[PeacefulWalls]

Since the number of the smaller ducks is 3 and the older flock is larger with males, I would drag the process out:
I would put one older larger duck in with them and hope that they all got along well.
Then if that was going well after 48 hours add another older larger duck.
Then add another 1 or 2 duck hens again in 48 hours or so. That would make the mixed aged flock 6 / 7 ducks 0 drakes and the older only flock 6/7 hens and 3 drakes.
I would let the mixed flock settle in for a week or so till the 3-4 older ducks started mothering the younger ones around.
Then I would get all prepared for a big switch. I would put the 3 drakes and 4 of the older hens in the pen that had been for the younger ones. At the same time I would put the younger ones with their new protectors in the older pen with a trio of the older duck hens.
Give that a week and combine the 2 flocks.

Another option is to wait a month or so until the 3 littles get a bit larger and have some weight on them right now at 8 weeks they are mostly fluff compared the full sized. They look as big but not weigh as much ~ or at least that is what happened with my ducks.
If the 3 littles are 3-3.5 months old, then put the drakes in their pen and add the little ones to the hen only duck flock. Let them settle in for a week or so and add the drakes back in.

Thank you! The coop where they are is a small grow-out pen so I think we need to combine the 2 options. I'm thinking perhaps we wait for another 3 weeks and then add a hen, wait the 48 hours and add another hen. The coop will be at extra max capacity with the full size ducks. Then wait another few days and take those five to the rest of the flock and put the drakes in the grow out coop for the week. Do you see any problems doing it that way? We're really ready to have the young ones out of their small coop!

The packs I get are assorted, so some should fit adults. It would fit like a human wearing a hair tie on their wrist. I get them at dollar general. Bandettes are a style of numbered leg bands. They could work for ducks. They make them large enough. I don't see them coming off in a pool or anything. I wash my chickens with there's on and they dot come off. These kid you have to unroll and put on so they are a challenge to get off without fingers

Thanks! I think I'll start with the stretchy ones and see how that goes.

 

[pginsber]

my turkey hens keep looking for their tom. They prance and pace by his 3 favorite roosting areas and one is squatting for both me and my DH. I thought she was injured the first time she did her little squat and wing spreading.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss--poor girls are demonstrating their loss, too. Hope everyone feels better soon. Maybe a few flurries in the air would make them happy?

had a nice day....hope everyone else did....got the base on the four new coops done...tommarow I shall build walls, put wire up and put the doors in and then transfer the birds to the proper spot

Pictures?

 

[Evewon]

Tried Cabbage on a string and it was a hit!