Michigan

[keyt1969]

We have the same flooding problem here too, but it never floods where I want it to lol.

Last summer, pretty much out of desperation, Aric dug a good sized hole in the ground, then used a pool cover inside of it. We use bricks and small logs to hold it down which is also good for the smaller ducks to use to get out. It's also good for clean up. Just take the bricks and logs off, pull the cover out and hose it off.

But, after visiting a woman who lives locally and has a HUGE setup for ducks, we were given the brilliant idea on how to do it with mortar and sand. Once it's not so muddy out there it's what we plan to do and give one side a slant with ridges. But for now I have the pond with the cover and a plastic kiddie pool and it works out fine for the time being.


On another note, did the floating test on the questionable hatch date eggs. Only two are duds! That cheered up my day. Now off to the hospital because I received a call from the doc that something wasn't right on one of my tests. Nothing new lol

 

[chikkaboomboom]

I have ponds in the front yard and the back atm, but no ducks, I do not really count the wild ones who stop to check it out, we do have many Sandhill Cranes around here they can be really aggressive if they have a young one with them, low water table here also I have had ponds till mid July here a few times, then a mud hole the dogs really enjoy romping in ug...Ive tried to talk DH into digging a permanent pond but so far no luck, then I could get a few of those fluffy ducklings...hmm the wheels are a turning now....
16 4 week old chicks and 6, 1 week olds, wish I had gotten both batches closer together, as it is it will be sometime before the EE's are big enough to fend for themselves with the bigger flock. Today is a cloudy but dryer day enjoy everyone .
I see dandelions popping up already have to go pick them for the chicks.....

 

[fifelakelooper]

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Good luck on those test results Keyt

 

[RaZ]

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Only other chicken lovers would understand that enthusiasm!

I am huge compost fan from way back when. Only got into chickens to add to the piles.

Just kidding about that, I've been wanting chicks for several years now, for pest control and eggs.

 

[theron]

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Thanks! I know I get the "oh that is an unusual name" alot!

I was named after my great great grandpa.

 

[Chickmate]

RaZ - I keep thinking I should do the compost thing, especially now that I have chickens!

Keyt - Prayers for you and the tests.

chikkaboomboom - I never thought of picking dandelions for the chickens! DUH!! Sometimes it takes me awhile.

I also keep thinking of ducks and would love to have a few of them on my pond, but everyone says they are so messy in the coop. I also worry about them on the water with the hawk problem I have. Lots of hawks around here. Keyt, could you advise on how messy a few ducks would be in the coop with my chickens? What about in the winter when they are all cooped up for such a long time. Would the chickens pick on them? I have no way to keep them separate.

 

[Mom 2em All]

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I have ducks with my chickens- I keep the water outside. I have a heated water bowl for the winter- and I have to fill it regularly. The ducks were never kept cooped up. They dont like it. They stay out in the run, and they arent affected by the cold ice and snow and sleet like the chickens and myself are. They just need shelter from the wind- I made a lean-to for them. I dont know why their feet dont freeze.

 

[keyt1969]

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All last summer I had 7 ducks living with about 45 chickens. It wasn't a problem at all. The ducks slept on one side of the coop (actually an old converted barn that was used as a game room until I moved in lol) while the chickens slept on the others. As far as mess, they were messier outside than they were inside. All of my ducks LOVE the winter, especially my little calls. The chickens avoid the snow like the plague but the ducks will stay in it no matter how deep or cold it is! My ducks don't put up with anything so the chickens leave them alone for the most part.
I have my chickens and ducks separated now, but only because they have an in-ground pond that Aric and I dug and I had a near drowning incident with one of the chickens, so we split the chicken run in half and built another coop.


By the way, the test results were fine. Kinda gave me a laugh though. I had my gall bladder removed in 1997, appendix in 2002 and right kidney in 2005 then a hysterectomy this past February. Well because I've had a total of 47 surgeries, over half of them in my abdomen there was a lot of scaring in the hysterectomy. This required dissecting my bladder which has caused major pain since. I went and had tests to see if everything was ok. The stupid doctor that read the tests thought I might have had cancer again because he saw a "fuzzy spot" and no kidney. The fuzzy spot is the scaring and the no kidney is..well..no kidney lol. I tried to get the doc to pay for my gas considering it's $4.17 a gallon and about 25 miles away and he was too stupid to read my files at the hospital! That didn't go over too well

 

[Chickmate]

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I have ducks with my chickens- I keep the water outside. I have a heated water bowl for the winter- and I have to fill it regularly. The ducks were never kept cooped up. They dont like it. They stay out in the run, and they arent affected by the cold ice and snow and sleet like the chickens and myself are. They just need shelter from the wind- I made a lean-to for them. I dont know why their feet dont freeze.

Wow, the ducks stay out in the run all the time? So if I put up a small dog house type of thing in the run with straw and kept the water outside, they would be happy? I would like them to go in the pond, that's they whole reason I would have them in the first place, but in the winter they would be OK outside in the run? My run has a roof on it so it keeps the snow out for the most part. In the summer I would let them out to go in the pond but I wonder if they would come back at night to be locked in the run, or would I have to go chase them? I've never had ducks before! Thanks for any more advice. Also, what breed of duck would you suggest if I just wanted to keep a few?

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
I have ducks with my chickens- I keep the water outside. I have a heated water bowl for the winter- and I have to fill it regularly. The ducks were never kept cooped up. They dont like it. They stay out in the run, and they arent affected by the cold ice and snow and sleet like the chickens and myself are. They just need shelter from the wind- I made a lean-to for them. I dont know why their feet dont freeze.

Wow, the ducks stay out in the run all the time? So if I put up a small dog house type of thing in the run with straw and kept the water outside, they would be happy? I would like them to go in the pond, that's they whole reason I would have them in the first place, but in the winter they would be OK outside in the run? My run has a roof on it so it keeps the snow out for the most part. In the summer I would let them out to go in the pond but I wonder if they would come back at night to be locked in the run, or would I have to go chase them? I've never had ducks before! Thanks for any more advice. Also, what breed of duck would you suggest if I just wanted to keep a few?

My ducks go inside on their own if it's dark. If it's lighter and I want them to go in then I have to more or less push them in. I just walk behind them and they go in. Yes, my ducks absolutely love the snow, rain and wind. It's funny, my little call ducks stay outside no matter how cold it is. I just take the snowblower to the run to make a pathway if the snow is really deep.

As far as a really good duck to start with, I'd suggest either a call duck which is very small and extremely quiet or a cayuga. Also a mallard which are medium size. I wouldn't suggest a Pekin right away if you've never had ducks before because they tend to be tempermental and VERY loud!! I have all of them. Runners are good too but can also be a bit loud. If you don't want noise go for males because you can barely hear them.