I was up late and so got up late. I didn't realize that it was rainy outside until I heard the thunder. Grabbed my husband and we ran out to make sure our 5 week old babies were in the coop, not the rain. No, electricity in the coop! Geez! Some were in there cause I could see them with the light from the open door. Ran back out into the rain and into the run, searching, while my husband tried to figure out why the heat lamps were out. Found 2 chicks with a hen, found several more under the board going up into the coop. Where, oh where were the rest? Tossed those babies in through the chicken door and ran back around the building to count how many were inside. Hubby is yelling, "Are the lights on now?" How would I know, I'm outside in the rain! Opened the door and found the lights were on, yelled at hubby and saw that there were babies in the cage in the coop. Whew! All accounted for.
I had planned on putting my 2 week old babies out there today since I have 4 day old babies but now, I'm afraid. The 5 week olds are still using the cage. I guess they feel secure in there. If I leave the cage door open, which I have been doing for the 5 week olds, the 2 week olds might get out in the rain and drown.
We had a large kids pool that someone gave us in the run but 2 chicks drowned in it so we got a smaller one that they should be able to flap a little bit and hop out of. We were using the bigger one because we can't keep the ducks out of the smaller size and they got the pools nasty too quickly. We were having to change the water 4 or 5 times a day. Now, we hope they will swim in the big one and leave the little one for drinking out of. Hmmm, 4 ducklings. They may choose to use the smaller pool. They are not following the big ducks around yet but they do sleep with them. The adult ducks come out of the run to forage but the duckling stay in and that's ok with me. I shut the gate and they do their thing.
The 2 week olds are not totally feathered but about 80%. I think it is warm enough at night for them to be out there and with the heat lamps on the cage, they should be ok. I had hoped that the 5 week olds would have integrated themselves into the flock by now, or at least have gone outside as their own flock. Nope, they are still acting like babies. Sylvia
I had planned on putting my 2 week old babies out there today since I have 4 day old babies but now, I'm afraid. The 5 week olds are still using the cage. I guess they feel secure in there. If I leave the cage door open, which I have been doing for the 5 week olds, the 2 week olds might get out in the rain and drown.
We had a large kids pool that someone gave us in the run but 2 chicks drowned in it so we got a smaller one that they should be able to flap a little bit and hop out of. We were using the bigger one because we can't keep the ducks out of the smaller size and they got the pools nasty too quickly. We were having to change the water 4 or 5 times a day. Now, we hope they will swim in the big one and leave the little one for drinking out of. Hmmm, 4 ducklings. They may choose to use the smaller pool. They are not following the big ducks around yet but they do sleep with them. The adult ducks come out of the run to forage but the duckling stay in and that's ok with me. I shut the gate and they do their thing.
The 2 week olds are not totally feathered but about 80%. I think it is warm enough at night for them to be out there and with the heat lamps on the cage, they should be ok. I had hoped that the 5 week olds would have integrated themselves into the flock by now, or at least have gone outside as their own flock. Nope, they are still acting like babies. Sylvia
