New Arrivals! (pic intensive) - more on page 2

[katharinad]

Quote:
It's very nice, but I see a problem with the gate. Some predator could dig under it. I would suggest to get 12" square concrete pavers and set them into the soil on their sides. Basically you bury them 12 inches into the ground. I've done this with my outdoor setup and it does seem to work well.
Katharina

 

[chickenlover54]

wow! nice pen!

 

[WadeMD]

Quote:
It's very nice, but I see a problem with the gate. Some predator could dig under it. I would suggest to get 12" square concrete pavers and set them into the soil on their sides. Basically you bury them 12 inches into the ground. I've done this with my outdoor setup and it does seem to work well.
Katharina

There are 12-16" stones set under the sand beneath the gate, which are sitting on top of 1/4" hardware cloth. In addition, there's hardware cloth that 'drags' the ground to fill the 2" gap under the gate itself. I actually have to figure out how to increase the size of the gate because it is currently only 4' tall.

On top of all this - and its not installed yet - is 4' electrified poultry netting (inside the yard) and I will run electric wiring outside in 3 lines as well.

I sure hope its impenetrable! Thanks for the suggestion tho.

 

[WadeMD]

Here is a short video clip of the ducks zooming across the yard (first attempt at using their wings for the whole group). 8 weeks of age.

This also shows the pen in the corner, so you can see how large it is relative to everything else.

 

[chickboss]

I love it! And your ducks are so pretty! That pen is DuckKnox for sure! I love the electric netting, we are using it as well so that I can move the ducks and chickens around the property. They won't be able to truely free range because we have really big dogs that I don't trust around birds. Anyway, a skunk hit the electric netting surrounding the area we set up behind the house to be like an outdoor nursery and sprayed. LOL, my dog was barking like crazy from inside the house and I went out to check it out and was hit by a wall of skunk scent! And I saw the little bugger up on the slope right above the run. I was like "Hurray for electric fencing!" I have been worried that our solar charger wouldn't put out enough kick at night, but apparently it works really well! I love your pond!

 

[WadeMD]

Thanks! So far I have no indication of how well the electric fence works aside from 1 fried toad and the dog nose that touched it (she hid under my legs the rest of the afternoon), but the solar charger appears to work well (even in a poor location). We only really let the ducks out while we're home during the day for security reasons.

Last week, while emptying the pond, the chocolate runner(s) totally freaked - they sounded an alarm call for hours while it drained. Now, the entire herd (not really a flock, since they all run around on the ground) stares at the pond wondering if its safe. They sit on the ledge and don't swim around in it much, but I figure they'll come around soon.

BTW- The run used 50' of the netting - I still have 115' left, which encircles the raised gardens, but isn't electrified just yet. I may start using it like you said and put the ducks in it while the dogs are out in the yard. The rest of the run is surrounded by single electrified wires to prevent things from climbing in from the fence sides.

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

wow your pen is amazing! i just had a question about when you first got them. i had a runner hatch looking like one of the ones you ordered. would you be able to tell me the color. heres the picture:

 

[WadeMD]

I haven't seen one with that type of coloration, but I will make a guess based on what I do know: I would say potentially a blue runner. It is not chocolate brown, nor black, and the yellow highlights make me wonder if its a hybrid. There are a huge number of color variants for runners tho and I haven't seen them all (esp not as babies)... penciled (I would expect more pure white patches), native/mallard/rouen colored, trout, etc. No reason it couldn't be something as mundane as a fawn&white crossed with a chocolate either, tho I have no idea how the color genetics works out for them.

Other people with more experience might have a better idea.

PS- What color are the feet/legs?

 

[Amiga]

I recall my chocolate runners were more of a golden color, like the one in your hand, stumble_n_mumble. Their feet and bills appeared nearly black and as their feathers came in (much darker than their fuzz), their feet and bills seemed to get lighter in color.

 

[WadeMD]

Here is my chocolate runner:

Here is the chocolate and a black for comparison: