NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

I just put the four older chicks out in the little coop, and put deer netting fencing a section of yard around it to keep them in and the grown flock out. The stuff looks so fragile I worry. Will find a hiding structure for them in case they have to get away from others. I think I remember Cass saying she used laundry baskets with some cutouts to allow the littler ones in, but keep the bigger ones out. Turned out the light on the week old chicks, the did not object...it is plenty warm in the furnace room where they are. I'm warm enough too!

Heni, your ducks look very happy.

That sounds like a good idea, and I think TOB has a large enough space to do something like that. My coops aren't that large so a laundry basket wouldn't really fit.
No one responded to me yesterday on my heat lamp ? and the ducks, but I did keep it off last night they were fine this morning. Messy brooder though, so I'll be out cleaning that today!

 

[smoothsewing]

Sorry if I missed your entrance.

Thanks much. I love reading everything here. You all are great!

 

[Lynzi777]

Duckehs in the grass - not as impressive as Gorillas in the Mist, but fun nevertheless.

Heni how are your ducks out in the yard? Mine hopped out of the pool yesterday and we had to chase them down, they were so fast. I'm curious as to how they're going to be when they're older, if they're going to dart across the yard every time I let them out or if they're going to relax a little and hang out. LOL

 

[stonykill]

Heni how are your ducks out in the yard? Mine hopped out of the pool yesterday and we had to chase them down, they were so fast. I'm curious as to how they're going to be when they're older, if they're going to dart across the yard every time I let them out or if they're going to relax a little and hang out. LOL

mine are pretty good when I let them out. Mostly they stick fairly close to their pen, not wandering too awful far. As adults they are really easy to herd. Especially if they have a drake . Mine naturally herd back to the pen.

 

[Lynzi777]

mine are pretty good when I let them out. Mostly they stick fairly close to their pen, not wandering too awful far. As adults they are really easy to herd. Especially if they have a drake . Mine naturally herd back to the pen.

I'm hoping mine stick around. I have to get to work on that house for them today if the rain stays away. I think they're all skiddish now because there are no "windows" in it so whenever someone walks up to it to come see them they go running around it a mile a minute. Once I get a view for them, they'll be able to get used to us being around and the other birds as well.

 

[Breella]

Can I get some suggestions from folks with regard to integrating the (3) younger pullets from Marquisella in with the significantly bigger (4) girls from Rancher

I intergrated Pearl (the Silkie I got from Lynzi) by keeping her in a nice size dog crate for about 2 weeks. This crate is the open wire design so they could all stick their heads in, get their pecks out but Pearl could always retreat to the back of the crate which was in the corner of the coop (my coop is rather big, if yours isn't maybe you could do it in the run.)


On another note, is it possible for an embryo to develop too fast? I'm seeing day 10 growth on day 5! (either that or it has quit on me between last night and this morning)

I'm not sure my other eggs are viable, I'm going to give them a few days but then I may give up on them.

 

[Henicillin]

mine are pretty good when I let them out. Mostly they stick fairly close to their pen, not wandering too awful far. As adults they are really easy to herd. Especially if they have a drake . Mine naturally herd back to the pen.

That's exactly how they are. When the Rouens were young'uns last year, one or two would try flying when first let out, end up halfway down the yard, then freak out and race back to the rest of the group. Now they just mosey around and hang out together - they don't even attempt flight anymore. The Khaki Campbells stick together like glue no matter where they are. They can't even get off the ground, so when I first let them out they run around like mad flapping their wings, and then calm down, eat grass, and hang by the pool. They all go back to the run at night on their own, which is extremely handy.

The biggest KC hen is claiming the sole drake for her own - she's following him around today bobbing her head with the "he's mine, ladies - back off" vocalization. It cracks me up!

Poolside life is great! All they need is a cabana boy serving fruity umbrella drinks.

 

[Glasshen]

Im loving the ducks, and the cabana boy sounded really good. If you get one of those, maybe you would have the get together....smile on my face. Pool, ducks, chickens, people who care about those, and a bearer of fruity drinks....the stuff of daydreams.

 

[Lynzi777]

After mine had no problem hopping out of the pool yesterday at under 2 wks old I'm thinking I may need a bigger "kiddie" pool for when they're bigger. All I can picture plus them hopping in and all of the water getting splashed out.

Cute pic Hen!!!

 

[miquwid]

This is good to know about ducks! I want Muscovy ducks 2 female and a male. I'm gonna dig out a place for a pond and slowly build it up like a water feature, so hopefully by next year I can get some ducks.