Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[OneMountainAcres]

I'm getting frustrated with my girls. I want to let them free-range all day. They absolutely love to and get upset when I don't let them out but I only got 2 eggs so far today. ..2! Out of 11 girls laying right now. They have to have a hidden nest outside somewhere but I don't have time to follow them around looking for it. Doesn't help that hubby will run out and let them out when I want to keep them in. Argh! Frustrated!

 

[fisherlady]

I'm getting frustrated with my girls. I want to let them free-range all day. They absolutely love to and get upset when I don't let them out but I only got 2 eggs so far today. ..2! Out of 11 girls laying right now. They have to have a hidden nest outside somewhere but I don't have time to follow them around looking for it. Doesn't help that hubby will run out and let them out when I want to keep them in. Argh! Frustrated!

I can understand your frustrations!!

. It is difficult to do sometimes but you may have to be the 'mean one' for a few days and insist they stay in till mid day (about 2pm maybe?)... this will force them to use the nest boxes inside and after a while they will get the idea. Though outside 'hidden' nests are always a risk with any birds on free range.
Send the kids outside with orders to search out the hidden nest areas.... they should be able to spend some time this weekend following birds! LOL

 

[stake]

I'm getting frustrated with my girls. I want to let them free-range all day. They absolutely love to and get upset when I don't let them out but I only got 2 eggs so far today. ..2! Out of 11 girls laying right now. They have to have a hidden nest outside somewhere but I don't have time to follow them around looking for it. Doesn't help that hubby will run out and let them out when I want to keep them in. Argh! Frustrated!

Auro:

I have as many as you and I only got two today...I have some that are molting and some are just slowing down.....

On a side note....my broody has taken the chick back outside today....as of 5:30p they are still out and she doesn't seem to be heading back to the coop....(I'll probably have to re-locate them later tonight)....

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Auro:

I have as many as you and I only got two today...I have some that are molting and some are just slowing down.....

On a side note....my broody has taken the chick back outside today....as of 5:30p they are still out and she doesn't seem to be heading back to the coop....(I'll probably have to re-locate them later tonight)....

I'm still going to try to follow them when I can. Last time I shrugged it off as them just slowing down I found a stash lol. Good luck with your momma and baby. Cloud and Cookie have been looking like they want to take theirs out but I think I'm going to wait until the babies are about 2 weeks old before I let them take them out. Cookies are a week old already and they're all starting to get tiny little feathers already! It amazes me

 

[Blarneyeggs]

This is probably the world's crappiest thrown together run ever but it'll serve it's purpose. We had to use any scraps we had laying around.

This one is nicknamed "Shackles". Our little splay legged baby. I took off the bandage yesterday evening and he's walking perfectly now

This is lucky on the day we almost lost him. He's bounced back and just as silly as all his brothers and sisters

Cloud and her brood. She's teaching them how to scratch and dig and search for food. Lucky is that little grey one there

"I've got you under my wing" little Cookie and all her babies peeking out.

and the kids are loving every minute of this

The girls have been being wonderful mothers so far. They bring their babies out first thing every morning and make sure they're in bed every evening. They've been showing them to scratch and dig and where the food and water is. Cloud attacked the fence today when one of the dogs got too close. Little Cookie is a bit fiesty. She'll attack the fence dividing the broody run if any of Cloud's babies come to close while Cloud seems to pace the other side now and then watching Cookie's babies lol. Ok, I'm done hogging the thread for now

This is probably the world's crappiest thrown together run ever but it'll serve it's purpose. We had to use any scraps we had laying around.

This one is nicknamed "Shackles". Our little splay legged baby. I took off the bandage yesterday evening and he's walking perfectly now

This is lucky on the day we almost lost him. He's bounced back and just as silly as all his brothers and sisters

Cloud and her brood. She's teaching them how to scratch and dig and search for food. Lucky is that little grey one there

"I've got you under my wing" little Cookie and all her babies peeking out.

and the kids are loving every minute of this

The girls have been being wonderful mothers so far. They bring their babies out first thing every morning and make sure they're in bed every evening. They've been showing them to scratch and dig and where the food and water is. Cloud attacked the fence today when one of the dogs got too close. Little Cookie is a bit fiesty. She'll attack the fence dividing the broody run if any of Cloud's babies come to close while Cloud seems to pace the other side now and then watching Cookie's babies lol. Ok, I'm done hogging the thread for now

Hey! that run is awesome. Don't short change yourself. Cute chicks and cute kiddos!

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Would any of you in the West Chester/Kennett Square area be interested in "duck sitting" periodically when my husband and I go out of town? We would be willing to pay $10 per visit (once per day). I don't think there would be much to do. I'm planning to get automatic feeders and waterers if I can ever decide among the multitude of products out there. I think it would mostly be collecting any eggs that are laid, maybe adding a little fresh bedding a couple of times, making sure they're acting "normal," and verifying that the coop/pen are undamaged and secure. No coop or pen cleaning would be required since we usually don't go away for more than a week at a time.

We're thinking about going to visit family over Thanksgiving week as we normally do, so that would be the soonest I'd need anyone. That's not definite since I'm still on the fence about it for other reasons, but I'm just going to put it out of my mind if I can't find someone to check on the peeps. We have a neighbor kid who looks after the house when we go away, but I'm hesitant to task her with this since she doesn't know anything about ducks and I've never had flying ducks before now. She's very responsible, but I'm worried that she might accidentally let them escape and they would fly away.

Thanks!

 

[barbiegirl]

Would any of you in the West Chester/Kennett Square area be interested in "duck sitting" periodically when my husband and I go out of town? We would be willing to pay $10 per visit (once per day). I don't think there would be much to do. I'm planning to get automatic feeders and waterers if I can ever decide among the multitude of products out there. I think it would mostly be collecting any eggs that are laid, maybe adding a little fresh bedding a couple of times, making sure they're acting "normal," and verifying that the coop/pen are undamaged and secure. No coop or pen cleaning would be required since we usually don't go away for more than a week at a time.

We're thinking about going to visit family over Thanksgiving week as we normally do, so that would be the soonest I'd need anyone. That's not definite since I'm still on the fence about it for other reasons, but I'm just going to put it out of my mind if I can't find someone to check on the peeps. We have a neighbor kid who looks after the house when we go away, but I'm hesitant to task her with this since she doesn't know anything about ducks and I've never had flying ducks before now. She's very responsible, but I'm worried that she might accidentally let them escape and they would fly away.

Thanks!

Maybe you can have your neighbor house sitter come over and get comfortable with the ducks. Have her help you take care of them now and that way when Thanksgiving comes you and her will be comfortable when you visit family. Hopefully you will find someone to help with the duckies.

Mother nature has a sense of humor. I went to take care of my crew and it was only drizzling. I start to take care of everyone and the sky opens up and it turns into a monsoon. I got soaked and had to change.

I just hope I don't get any sicker. Pretty sure I have bronchitis again and don't want to go to the doctors.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I'm still going to try to follow them when I can. Last time I shrugged it off as them just slowing down I found a stash lol. Good luck with your momma and baby. Cloud and Cookie have been looking like they want to take theirs out but I think I'm going to wait until the babies are about 2 weeks old before I let them take them out. Cookies are a week old already and they're all starting to get tiny little feathers already! It amazes me

They grow up way too quick!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

  Maybe you can have your neighbor house sitter come over and get comfortable with the ducks. Have her help you take care of them now and that way when Thanksgiving comes  you and her will be comfortable when you visit family.  Hopefully you will find someone to help with the duckies.

Mother nature has a sense of humor. I went to take care of my crew and it was only drizzling. I start to take care of everyone and the sky opens up and it turns into a monsoon. I got soaked and had to change. I just hope I don't get any sicker. Pretty sure I have bronchitis again and don't want to go to the doctors.

I hope you feel better! Being sick is the pits!

 

[hendricks115]

Mother nature has a sense of humor. I went to take care of my crew and it was only drizzling. I start to take care of everyone and the sky opens up and it turns into a monsoon. I got soaked and had to change.

I just hope I don't get any sicker. Pretty sure I have bronchitis again and don't want to go to the doctors.

Same thing happened to me and I just got over being sick. Seems like the down pour stopped the minute I got under the porch roof but it was too late I was already soaked thru!