Michigan

[Chickmate]

Quote:
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

So glad to hear you are OK, Keyt! Wow, guess I'll never complain again about my 2 surgeries!! So if I try this duck thing and it doesn't work out for me, will you and Mom 2em All help me out be adopting my 2 or 3 ducks?

I would really love to have a few, but I don't want them if they can't leave the run to go out in the pond and I can't let them go in the pond if they won't come back at night! What do you duck ladies think?

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
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

So glad to hear you are OK, Keyt! Wow, guess I'll never complain again about my 2 surgeries!! So if I try this duck thing and it doesn't work out for me, will you and Mom 2em All help me out be adopting my 2 or 3 ducks?

I would really love to have a few, but I don't want them if they can't leave the run to go out in the pond and I can't let them go in the pond if they won't come back at night! What do you duck ladies think?

I have already adopted 5 of Mom2EmAll (Kim)'s ducks lol.
Ducks are creatures of habit...at least mine are. They don't leave the other animals (chickens) or me. Especially the calls because I've had them since they were a week old. If your water isn't fenced in I suggest trimming their wings. I do that in the fall because we have a lot of ducks that fly over and I don't want them to take off with them, especially the mallards.

Do you have a facebook account? I have all of my pics there if you're interested. I think a few ducks would be a great manageable amount and you would LOVE them!!!

 

[Chickmate]

I do have a Facebook account, how do I find you? I said I have never had ducks before so I'll show you how dumb I am about them. My whole 5 acres is fenced in, but I didn't think domestic ducks could fly?? Do I feed them the same as chickens? I was just kidding about you guys adopting them, I wouldn't expect someone else to clean up my mistake. I just really want to be sure they would be OK and happy and will come in at night so nothing gets them. I would only get 3 and if it didn't work out I would post them for sale in the auctions section.

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
I'm probably the only keyt (katherine) harrington on facebook lol. Or you can find me under my email address [email protected].
Yes I've seen my ducks fly. The calls don't nor do the cayugas because they are too heavy. I think the only ones I have that might are the mallards but they've never tried.

I literally have hundreds of photos on my fb account that will show you what I have and my small set up

 

[RIRJen]

so I watched the show "I want a baby" tonight...rocked Aaron (my 9month old) to sleep while I was watching it and bawled my eyes out. It showed 3 couples- one adopting, one IVF and one Surrogate...the adoption one was heart wrenching. It takes a strong person to give someone their baby. (Three weeks before we found out we were pregnant with Aaron we had gone to an adoption meeting to start the process, we had been trying for over 3yrs and over 1yr with a dr's help) Ever want a good strong cry watch that show!!! It's only been 2 months since my baby nephew passed away and I have a hard time seeing a baby without tearing up or flat out crying.

You never think it will happen to your family until it does.

 

[Chickmate]

Quote:
I'm probably the only keyt (katherine) harrington on facebook lol. Or you can find me under my email address [email protected].
Yes I've seen my ducks fly. The calls don't nor do the cayugas because they are too heavy. I think the only ones I have that might are the mallards but they've never tried.

I literally have hundreds of photos on my fb account that will show you what I have and my small set up

Keyt - I found your FB account and the first thing I saw is that TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY, so have a happy!!!

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
I'm probably the only keyt (katherine) harrington on facebook lol. Or you can find me under my email address [email protected].
Yes I've seen my ducks fly. The calls don't nor do the cayugas because they are too heavy. I think the only ones I have that might are the mallards but they've never tried.

I literally have hundreds of photos on my fb account that will show you what I have and my small set up

Keyt - I found your FB account and the first thing I saw is that TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY, so have a happy!!!

haha thanks. I almost forgot lol

 

[Mom 2em All]

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?

I would suggest MUSCOVIES...because I will soon have a zillion babies needing homes.

They are big, they dont quack-they hiss, they wag their tails like a dog, and they are excellent at fly control, and friendly ducks.

Im on facebook as well- Kimberly Raupp.

 

[DaughterOfEve]

good morning byc michiganders. I was awakened this morning with a lovely sinus headache. Tis the season. Started the IV of coffee and checked on the fuzzy butts. Hoping it dries up soon. I do not have standing water in the yard like some I have seen on this tread. We are pretty high and dry for the most part. We got some good thunder boomers last evening with down pours intermitently. Enough showers already, bring on the flowers!

 

[Mom 2em All]

Quote:
I hope your head feels better soon!

My entire backyard is under water. Its booming out there right now, and pouring down rain. I have no idea where the water is going to go. If I see my chickens on little rafts, I will start worrying.