Need help with lock down! :) duck egg

[lissygirl]

@salsan20 the coop looks great! How did you find that online? I'm needing to get one soon as I am in college and classes start next week. I may try the fresh egg route since you mentioned it, that sounds better than going by post, and they always have a minimum Oh, and I have news! Cody quacked today!! It was the first time and it was right when I got home from work, and he wasn't very happy with me at the time so unfortunately his first quack was an angry quack and not a happy quack, but it was still very cute!!
@Aronia- I'm sorry, I don't live in that area

 

[salsan20]

He added the door now too!
Hubby made it from scratch, not bad for a chef lol! Very proud, took him about 3 and a half hours but its great and it has a door now. He picked up a load of fence posts and tacked wire directly to it thenbuilt and hung door seperately and cat proofed the top, but I think he was spurred on by me looking at things like this...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOG-HOUSE-C...130?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item46253f6c02

Except in the uk its over double the price and a little bigger, thus the diy burst.

How cute, cant wait for my two to quack! He is growing so fast!

 

[lissygirl]

It looks amazing!! Your hubby is talented! I was wondering what you use to line the ground, do you use wood chips?

 

[salsan20]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/composting-with-chickens
http://www.communitychickens.com/the-deep-litter-bedding-method/

Im planning on having the chickens scratch out the bottom from my compost and scratch it around and poo etc and as it builds up I can shovel it back in the top or put it on my veg garden. I hope that way it becomes fairly sustainable particularly as my compost is high carbon from all the wood shavings. If that doesnt work then my back up is the deep litter method but then I have to figure out how to keep it out of the pond. I like self sustaining plans that are environmentally friendly so that is what im aiming for. It has a dirt floor currently.

 

[lissygirl]

Thank you, those links were so helpful! That sounds like a wonderful idea.
Are your babies getting feathers?? Cody is covered with them

 

[salsan20]

Yes! They are really spiky when you cuddle them! Flubber has more feathers than Daisy, he has patches above his wings and on his wings, his tail etc. They are really copper coloured patches which surprised me. Still no quacking sadly. I have been putting them in their coup for a few hours at a time much to their disgust, they love being in it with you but as soon as you walk away you get followed with loud peeping and then they sit by the gate waiting for you to return. If you come back they continue having fun, but as of yet they wont settle there alone, I put the chicks out for about thirty minute sections with them and then they relax but they wont relax without the chicks or a person. Is Cody the same, needing constant company?He is such a handsome chap! Must take some more photos of mine but they dont stay still!

 

[lissygirl]

Aw I would love to see the copper feathers!!! They sound lovely. I'm not surprised they get upset when you leave them, but it's interesting that they are ok if the chicks are there They are like little brothers and sisters Yes, Cody gets very loud and peepy if I leave the room. Since his brooder is a big plastic container, I've started carrying it around the house with me and setting it down in whatever room I'm in. Then he also spends a lot of time in my lap or following me around. He also discovered the dog's water dish and immediately hopped in it, now I can't get him out of there! He's been quacking a lot more, finally some "happy" quacks But I have some big news!! Today he swam outside in his little pool and in the bright sun I saw some bright emerald green on his tail feathers and the top of his head!! I can also see green in his new feathers on his shoulders! So I'm thinking he is probably a boy!! That's very exciting because we've been wondering! But I'm a little worried if he's a drake he will try to fly away when he's older :/

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[salsan20]

Aww he is charming, I doubt he will ever leave as he is so imprinted on you! I love the pool, how do you keep it so clean? Mine turn theirs into a swamp in about ten seconds!

Mine still dont quack, keep waiting for it! Daisy has less feathers so I can still tell them apart! Thankfully they havent found nutmegs bowl yet, how does your handsome dog feel about sharing his water?

 

[lissygirl]

Oh they are so darling! He doesn't get it very dirty, I don't know how! But I rinse it out right afterwards. I love your little pool Rusty isn't too happy about Cody taking over his bowl, and I have to wash it out with soap after because Cody always potties in it :/ so we're trying to keep him out of it. They really love water, don't they!
I found this pic from 2 weeks ago, can't believe he was this small!!

 

[salsan20]

Four weeks ago today they hatched, it is impressive how much they've grown. I keep looking at the duck eggs in the incubator thinking how did they fit?? I wish mine kept it clean, even though they have the pool they turn their water into a swamp as well! He was the cutest duckling!!