Our runners are in the same pen as our bantams. Never had an issue. I just lock them out of the chicken coop for the night. Ducks don't seem to care where they live as long as they have water.
NY chicken lover!!!!
- Thread starter peggym
- Start date
It's really the wrong time of year for hatching eggs to be shipped. I personally would't trust shipped eggs with the cold of winter.
Lindsay's black drake and my black drake have that green shine to them but the black duck I have does not. Seems to be a drake thing to me or I just haven't noticed it on her.
Quote:
Stop! You're making it easier!!! Do they need separate housing from the chickens then?
Stop! You're making it easier!!! Do they need separate housing from the chickens then?
JLaw here you go...
And yes the green sheen you are talking about is really only on the drakes, as it is with any breed of duck that has that type of coloring. For instance my Khaki Campbell drake has it but not on my KC duck. I think it's just a way to distinguish the drakes from the ducks.
AQHA ~ I've read some other's mention that they keep the chickens and ducks housed together and it's worked out fine. It depends on your set up and what works for you. Ducks ARE messier inside the coop than chickens. If you keep food/water inside the coop it wouldn't be a good idea. My chickens and ducks live in the same chicken yard like Ke's but they are housed seperately. I let the ducks out in the morning because depending on the day I let them out of the chicken yard so they can get to their pond but close it back up so the chickens don't get out and end up on my porch leaving their messes everywhere. The thing you have to remember with ducks is that they don't scratch at their bedding/shavings because of their webbed feet. So instead of it getting pushed around and fluffed up from time to time like it would in a chicken coop, it gets flattened out with all their droppings on top of it really quick. So it soon looks like mud. I try to get a shovel in there once or twice a week and turn it all over to stir it up a bit.
And yes the green sheen you are talking about is really only on the drakes, as it is with any breed of duck that has that type of coloring. For instance my Khaki Campbell drake has it but not on my KC duck. I think it's just a way to distinguish the drakes from the ducks.
AQHA ~ I've read some other's mention that they keep the chickens and ducks housed together and it's worked out fine. It depends on your set up and what works for you. Ducks ARE messier inside the coop than chickens. If you keep food/water inside the coop it wouldn't be a good idea. My chickens and ducks live in the same chicken yard like Ke's but they are housed seperately. I let the ducks out in the morning because depending on the day I let them out of the chicken yard so they can get to their pond but close it back up so the chickens don't get out and end up on my porch leaving their messes everywhere. The thing you have to remember with ducks is that they don't scratch at their bedding/shavings because of their webbed feet. So instead of it getting pushed around and fluffed up from time to time like it would in a chicken coop, it gets flattened out with all their droppings on top of it really quick. So it soon looks like mud. I try to get a shovel in there once or twice a week and turn it all over to stir it up a bit.
I'm just trying to line up hatching eggs for the easter hatch along. So far unless I order for hatcheries best I found is someone that has exhibition BBS and someone that has blacks but run with kaki's. The second person said if they mix they are still black but blockier. I've found farms that are highly recommended but they only sell ducklings. I want to hatch them and see them from day 1 not have them spend 1-3 days in a box.
It could be a drake thing. I know when I got my rooster he had the bluish in his feathers and the black roo she had had a green sheen.I haven't seen hens of pure black or blue though so not sure if they pick that up or not.
It is freezing out there and snowing again of course. I just had to go out and place a hook/latch on the chicken coop to keep it from slamming shut in the wind. The chickens have been going out into the snow this year more and more so I hate to leave that door closed or go out and find out it shut from the wind. The more they are out the better!
JLaw - I'm with ya on wanting hatching eggs but I would be leary of having them shipped. I'm waiting on my ducks to start laying and even then, I may have to wait for them to be fertile. I keep reading about all these people who ordered hatching eggs but the hatch rate was lower due to them being shipped and I'm sure the weather doesn't help either. No one out your way has runners?
JLaw - I'm with ya on wanting hatching eggs but I would be leary of having them shipped. I'm waiting on my ducks to start laying and even then, I may have to wait for them to be fertile. I keep reading about all these people who ordered hatching eggs but the hatch rate was lower due to them being shipped and I'm sure the weather doesn't help either. No one out your way has runners?
How do you keep your Muscovies from flying off? I've read that they do that. Can we get pics of your ducks?
God forgive me for my wicked thoughts on getting ducks. Amen.
Lord have mercy for my wicked plans. Amen.
Is there a Duckitis? Similar to that of chickens?
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