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@dheltzel Are you starting with adults or ducklings? If you are getting ducklings, could I get some from the same order? I don't want to resell and steal your market, but I would like to raise them in the spring from ducklings.
 
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AnneInTheBurbs said:
So sorry you lost one. Predators are the worst. I put an automatic door on my coop that can be set to close at certain light settings, or at a set time. It has truly been a lifesaver. They are expensive, but I never have to worry. I knew I was going to have a lot of birds, so I suspected it would be worth my while. It certainly was. If you or some you know is handy, they could probably make one for you.

My door has only failed to operate once, when the battery ran out after a year of use. Hope that helps. :hugs
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I do have one--you are right--it is a Godsend. (I am actually on my second--the motor on my first burned out in July). I don't know why she was in the run when everyone else was in the coop. I do think there may have been something amiss since she wasn't growing well,although eating well and friendly as can be. I wish I had brought her inside. I already have Daffodil (recovering from suspected botulism) inside!
 
OhHeyItsDevon said:
I am brand new to having my own chickens. I have always been around barn chickens and my friend has about 30 on her homestead. I have always wanted them and Hubby just gave me the green light to get some of our own! I ordered chicks through mypetchicken.com, and we will be getting 8 pullets in April, 6 Wyandottes (3 different varieties) and 2 Speckled Sussex. We are building the coop in our garage with an attached run.
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Hello from near Erie, PA! Congratulations on getting your chickens in the spring! I have a Speckled Sussex and they are such pretty chickens!

PugNut said:
Hi Devon! I just saw your other thread, and I am in the same boat as you! I'm getting babies late April. I'm down near Gettysburg. It will be fun to experience this together!

And to everyone else - I've posted here a few times and my big new is that I'm getting 7 (hopefully) pullets on April 24. I am officially taking the plunge! My goal is 5 hens, so I ordered two extra in case of loss or sexing errors. If I have extra, I plan to rehome them. I plan to, anyway. :gig I ordered a mix of breeds, but am open to switching things around if there are hatch problems. I ordered two Buff Orps and two EE's - those were my definites because of temperament with the Buffs and the blue eggs with the EE's. Then 1 each of Speckled Sussex (already wishing I had gotten 2 but didn't want to overdo it as a newbie), Australorp, and Dominique. It was SUCH a hard choice, as I'm also interested in Salmon Favs, Welsummer, and Light Brahmas.

And, I've taken your advice and will be converting my pole barn (formerly goat-inhabited) into a coop after all. I've begun work, and am partitioning off a 10'x12' inside for a coop. Then the "run" (more of a paddock) will be a weirdly shaped 24' x 20'x 10' x 12'. There are opportunities for expansion. And yes, I'm using a ton of hardware cloth everywhere!

Thanks to all of my months of research, I am now suffering from "Chicken Information Overload" :p -- "deep litter or not? Fermented food or not? Medicated starter or not?" But I'm VERY excited and looking forward to sharing with you all.
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Congratulations to you as well for getting chickens in the spring! I have Speckled Sussex and Buff Orpingtons and an Easter Egger. Wonderful breeds!
 
Lelanae said:
I do have one--you are right--it is a Godsend. (I am actually on my second--the motor on my first burned out in July). I don't know why she was in the run when everyone else was in the coop. I do think there may have been something amiss since she wasn't growing well,although eating well and friendly as can be. I wish I had brought her inside. I already have Daffodil (recovering from suspected botulism) inside!
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Poor thing, there may have been something wrong with her. How old was she? If she was bullied, they may have been a reason that she was outside of the coop. I had s turkey who was bullied out a couple of times by my rooster. Unfortunately, she got nabbed by a predator too.
 
Checked my broody eggs tonight, no internal pips yet out of the three that I candled. That’s not too surprising though, and it’s better if she hatches them in Friday or Saturday so I can observe and make sure everyone is doing well.
 
AnneInTheBurbs said:
@dheltzel Are you starting with adults or ducklings? If you are getting ducklings, could I get some from the same order? I don't want to resell and steal your market, but I would like to raise them in the spring from ducklings.
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I'm planning to buy adults so they should start laying in the spring. I'm never in a hurry to get ducks hatching, the ducklings are very messy indoors. Well, outdoors too, but it's less bothersome there. Still, every egg they lay will go into the incubator, regardless of the timing.
I've never had bantam ducks before, just the Welsh Harlequins and a few brief stints with Pekins that didn't work out for various reasons. Calls are quite difficult and often poor layers, so I'm avoiding them in favor of Australian Spotteds, a little larger than a good Call, but smaller than Mallards. Very few people keep the Australian Spotteds because they are not a recognized showable breed like the Calls. I'm hoping to popularize them around here if they are as good as the reports.
 
dheltzel said:
A week or so ago, when it first got really, really cold, 2 silkies decided to go broody at the same time. I told them they were nuts and it seem to have worked, they gave up after about a week.
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I'm glad they gave up for you. Ana isn't one to give up the nest though. I've stuck ice packs under her which she determinedly heated to 100° every time. Sticking her in the broody breaker only gives about a week's break lol. She's a nut!
 

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