Larkwell Valley (2023)

[troyer]

Have to keep an eye on one of the pastel calls. I think they might have had a seizure yesterday while in their water bowl. She started going under while spinning over and couldn't stand up or keep her balance for a few minutes after I scooped her up. She's acting fine now, but it definitely spooked me and my mom when she just started spinning

Does it have anything to do with getting too cold in the water?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Does it have anything to do with getting too cold in the water?

I don't think so. That was my first guess, but it was only the one duckling out of over a dozen, and she's mostly feathered. It also was decently warm water and airwise in their pen.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Little Littles are doing great. Littles are as well

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Chocolate runner little little disappeared out of the pen last night when i was putting birds away. No clue what happened, still keeping an eye out for him, but I didn't find any sign of him last night

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Still didn't find him. What my main guess is is that he wandered outside and a magpie snagged him. They've snagged broody raised chicks before, so I wouldn't put it past them to grab a lone duckling that got lost. They do okay when the lamp gets unplugged over night, so I'll keep hoping that he just shows up, but I don't think so at this point.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

@WVduckchick and @shawluvsbirds , I have a penciled and 3 pastels. How old should they be before I can start telling boys from girls at a glance? I have a bunch of quackery so I can't really tell by listening without walking away from the barn with each individual, but I'm starting to get nervous all of my calls might be girls

 

[shawluvsbirds]

@WVduckchick and @shawluvsbirds , I have a penciled and 3 pastels. How old should they be before I can start telling boys from girls at a glance? I have a bunch of quackery so I can't really tell by listening without walking away from the barn with each individual, but I'm starting to get nervous all of my calls might be girls

At a glance it'll be at least a couple months. They all feather out looking female then in a few more weeks they will go through a juvenile molt and drakes should get their curl.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

At a glance it'll be at least a couple months. They all feather out looking female then in a few more weeks they will go through a juvenile molt and drakes should get their curl.

Okau, so if I don't see green heads when they finish feathering in their first coat, it's not too late?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Okau, so if I don't see green heads when they finish feathering in their first coat, it's not too late?

i never call it for sure until they completely lose theor baby peeps and have a definate quack or a rasp.

 

[JacinLarkwell]