Intro

[Mimi13]

Welcome to the best and most informative site known. If you can’t find the answer(s) here, there must not be one. Have fun with your chickies, so to be big birds, and hopefully some cute little duckies as well.

 

[N F C]

Make yourself at home here, thanks for joining us!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Chickens and ducks - maybe? 1 duck especially a drake is a recipe for problems.

 

[WVduckchick]

Welcome to BYC. Chickens and ducks - maybe? 1 duck especially a drake is a recipe for problems.

Maybe... maybe not... but definitely good to be aware of "possible" problems.

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under Tiffpalm Welcome and Congratulations!

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

If you would like to share Pictures and Stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out

 

[AmazingRachel]

Fyi, ducks are messy. I hatched them and kept them for two weeks. Even after changing the brooder boxes everyday, it always smelt of spoiled sour cream. Ducks also need to be housed separately from chickens due to possible bullying and different waste management needs.
For now, hold off on the ducks. Research duck house/coop designs that would properly meet their needs if ducks are something you really want. They are more sociable than chickens and great winter layers.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Tiffpalm]

Ok, so I decided to nix the duck idea and I got 3 more chickens, so now there are six! So far things have been great but one of the new babies chirps non-stop! It is 6 days old. I’ve had to clean it’s pasty butt twice, but I’ve seen her poop since then and it seems fine. I know the brooder is warm enough and there is plenty of food and water for all. Any suggestions, she makes it hard to sleep at night.

 

[WVduckchick]

You may actually have it warmer than she was used to before, which sometimes can cause the pasty butt. Try some Vaseline on the vent after you wash and dry her.
Are you using a heat lamp or what for heat? I use a brooder plate and find they are very quiet at night in full darkness (or just a nightlite)

 

[Tiffpalm]

You may actually have it warmer than she was used to before, which sometimes can cause the pasty butt. Try some Vaseline on the vent after you wash and dry her.
Are you using a heat lamp or what for heat? I use a brooder plate and find they are very quiet at night in full darkness (or just a nightlite)

I’m using a red bulb light in the brooder. It is definitely warmer than where she was previously. The feed store was having trouble keeping them warm enough in their pen. I will try the Vaseline. Any other suggestions? I heard she might need sand or grit. What do you think?