Pipd's Peeps 2014!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Usually, they meet the flock at 4 weeks when they first go outside, start staying outside overnight (but are still separated by a fence) at 8 weeks, and are let out to mingle with the flock by 10-12 weeks. I wait until later to remove the fence because once they are in with the big girls, they're free-ranging, and I'm more comfortable with my free-rangers being a bit older. Plus, they should know by then where to go at night. At minimum, though, when I introduce them into the flock, I make sure they have had about a month of exposure to the flock so that the big girls are mostly ignoring them at that point.

This year, though, the babies were very delayed in going out because it was very wet and rainy, and so they are going to be going outside for their first night after only a short time going out during the day. But being so much older, they should be fine. I plan on letting them stay outside overnight on Wednesday, although I can guarantee I will be freaking out the whole time. We'll see.

The ducky hatching eggs should be here on Thursday (which worked out nicely--I actually planned to take the babies out on Wednesday before I knew when the duck eggs would be here!). Of course, there is no guarantee that any will hatch, but I'll to my best and hopefully will be able to post duckling pictures later on!

 

[lightchick]

Your getting ducklings! I was thinking of getting a duck, but need some advice.......I want a quiet duck, but I want a good egg laying breed (either Campbells or Runners), but no one will tell me which breed is quieter. I really hoping my new chicks are girls, but the striped chick (we named her Ana like in frozen the movie) is standing up really straight when "she" gets alarmed. So I think "she" might be a he, but only time will tell.
BTW Love your chicks! They are getting sooo big! How well do Dorkings lay?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Well, I'm new to ducks (or, I suppose I will be new to ducks), so I don't know if I can help you as to which is quieter, but I do know that Campbells are really pretty and runners are funny as all heck! Sorry, that probably not very helpful at all.

I wouldn't worry about behavior as much. I was sure Georgie was a boy based on her behavior, but now that she's 8 weeks old and has no wattle development, no color in her face, etc., it's pretty clear that she's not a boy. She and a few of the other babies stand up when they're alarmed, too, and they're all definitely girls. What you want to look for is comb and wattle growth, although if they have beards, they will usually not grow wattles. Also, once they feather in, their feather pattern will be a good indicator as well.

I'm not sure how well Dorkings lay, but I do know they are slow to mature, so they don't start laying until later than, say, production breeds. But they are sooo sweet and cuddly and calm, and usually if a bird lays later on and fewer eggs at a time, they will lay for more of their life. For example, I have a 9 year old Easter-egger that laid fairly well until she was about 7 years old, but my red sexlinks, who started laying early and laid almost every day, have nearly stopped laying now at 3-and-a-half years old. So I guess the answer depends on if you want a good layer for short term or long term.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Today, the babies are 9 weeks old and Poppy and Vi are 10 weeks old! Lots of things have happened over the past week! I meant to update here, but never got around to it.

On Wednesday, Tilde and the littles moved outside permanently! There were a few cold nights (well, 40's and 50's), so I gave them a huddle box to keep warm, but they almost immediately took to perching and have preferred either sitting on the huddle box or using the perch in their section of the coop! Such smart babies! I've taken the huddle box out because it's warmed up a bit now, and all is well.

At that point, they also moved in with Tilde with no fence in the way! Tilde, in true older sister fashion, has been pretty sassy with the babies and pushes them around a lot (no offense meant, of course, but I have an older sister so I'm speaking from experience ). However, now that they're getting used to one another, she has begun tolerating them standing near her. But whenever they get on HER branch or dust in HER dustbath, she makes sure they know their mistake! Luckily, there's only one of her and seven of them, so she has too hard a time trying to keep them away from the food or the water.

Now that they have met the big girls, I am not surprised to tell y'all the big girls are not impressed! I got a few looks from them, as if they were asking if I had really done this again! But for the most part, save for some angry looks from jealous Roha when I give the babies attention in her presence, the littles have been ignored by the adults.

Oh, also on Wednesday, since they were mentioned on this thread, my duck eggs arrived a day early--and before the incubator arrived! After some mild freaking out (okay, maybe not mild...), I was relieved when a big truck pulled up a few hours later and dropped off the incubator! The eggs were set on Thursday, and I believe Tuesday or Wednesday is the first candling day according to the guide I'm following. Will update on them then!


Anyway, here are the babies today! I have lots of pictures of them to share and some of the older girls, too!

Elda Cuddles!

Kit-kit the talker!

Georgette the klutz!

Graceful Louise!

Mabel the worrier!

Pretty Poppy!

Voracious Violet!

And because she's part of the 'little' flock for now, here's Tilde. I think she's around 10 months old now.

Hmm... Everyone but Elly is facing the right... Anyway!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

The babies are enjoying their jungle-like enclosure! Lots of grass and weeds to disappear into.

Here's Elda 'blending in':

Georgie claiming a log:

Kit-kit... I don't know what to say about this one, I just love how it turned out!

Love, love, love these Dorkings!

Meanwhile, Louise is walking away in a huff!

And Violet has reached the size where she takes up much of my lap. She's more fluff than fat, though.

 

[ChickenChatten]

The chicks have grown up so much! Do you happen to know what type of a camera you use? You're pics are all beautiful!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Cuddle time! Look at Elly's sweet face!

Here's Elda and Violet having some cuddles. I'm relatively sure Vi would have disappeared under my arm if Elly wasn't in the way.

Mabel's sweet face.

Louise! I love her eyes!

Poppy's prettying herself up for the photo op.

...And they all cooperate to make a mess.

Meanwhile, Tilde's sitting on her own, and she's not happy about it.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

The chicks have grown up so much! Do you happen to know what type of a camera you use? You're pics are all beautiful!

Oooh, I'll have to go get it to reply. I never remember. It's some sort of Nikon, though. Glad you like the pictures.

ETA: Okay, if I'm reading it correctly, I have a Nikon D3100 with an AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm lens.

 

[ChickenChatten]

Thank you!

 

[lydzchix]

I've so enjoyed reading your thread. My chicks are hatching and shipping tomorrow. These are my first. I grew up around chickens but that was 50 yrs ago.

I'm getting 6, Australorp, golden-laced Wyandotte, Welsummer, Buff Orpington , Silver-laced Polish and an Easter-Egger. Hopefully, they will all arrive healthy. Pictures of your babies are so cute!