Preparing to set call and pekin duck eggs! Hatch day should be March 4, 2021 if all goes well!

[Painted Calls]

I didn't even think about that, but yeah, definitely more affordable. The runs I was looking at were at least $500 bucks and they weren't even that big. I could make 2 of these and place them side by side so they could get familiar with each other

I would use wire to secure the fence to the PVC frames. Even though they're temporary. I find myself using temporary things way more often than I initially intend to. Zip ties dry rot rather quickly.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I would use wire to secure the fence to the PVC frames. Even though they're temporary. I find myself using temporary things way more often than I initially intend to. Zip ties dry rot rather quickly.

That's a wonderful tip. Thank you! I have been finding zip tie pieces around the chicken yard and I'm sure it's from dry rotted zip ties. Thanks again!

 

[WVduckchick]

Beautiful babies Mare!! What luck with genders!!

Momma White hatched all 8. She took the 7 off the nest to eat, and I got to see the 8th before I left for work. I'm sure they will all be out and about when I get home. I'm so proud of her. 100% and less than 24 hour hatch!

Heather, I don't trim wings because I like them to have the ability to get away if needed. But yes, it also give them the ability to get away from us too! lol

Mine free range around my yard/house during the day, and get locked up at night. They go in on their own, right around dusk. I have a fairly large pen that is net covered, but it has zero grass, so I let them out during the days to browse. When predators are more on the hunt, I have kept them locked in, but personally, I just know that I'm going to lose some, and I'm willing to risk it. Some folks aren't as risky, so its totally up to you. Just be prepared to lose some, either way really. My back yard is fenced, but they go thru the slats and go all the way around the house. Flower bed on one end of the house must be bug heaven, they love digging in there LOL! My front yard is sloped, with a ditch where water pools when it rains. They love visiting it when its full. But mostly they hang out in the fenced yard, most of it has tree coverage, and I always have some roosters running around to sound alarms.

So much depends on your setup and your comfort level on predators and losses, etc.

The ducks could fly over the brush to your pond, if you could cut a path for yourself, it really shouldn't bother them much.

(Side note - my ducks were quacking the other morning, and I swear one of my yard roosters was quacking too!)

 

[Pyxis]

Here’s Beans now! He is such a unique color. He’s definitely one of my favorites! @Pyxis I was going to ask you about this green sheen he developed. I’m really curious to watch him develop more!View attachment 2747565View attachment 2747566View attachment 2747567View attachment 2747568View attachment 2747569

What color is his wing speculum?

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

What color is his wing speculum?

Thanks for replying.

It’s a really dark grey color, you can kind of see it in this photo. Sorry the picture isn’t the best.

 

[WVduckchick]

Bean looks like blue fawn to me, but he’s much darker than mine, so I’m curious for Pyxis’s assessment.


I finally got a couple pics of little Gharth this morning. Guessing he’s a drake, at least she/he hasn’t found a quack yet. But I’m still hoping for a quack.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Oh my gosh! I thought I lost my precious drake Paisley last night. My daughter and I were outside, along with our hens and pullets free ranging. Something spooked them and Paisley took off so far. I locked them up and my daughter and I went to look for Paisley. He was almost at the road, in a heavily wooded area. He started quacking (well a Drake version of quacking) and we were able to spot him from movement in the weeds. He acted so relieved whenever I was finally able to get him. I was surprised they went in opposite directions. Lylah and Faith called and called for him but he was so far away I don't know if he heard them or not. I am so grateful that we were able to find him as I really love that drake

Bean looks like blue fawn to me, but he’s much darker than mine, so I’m curious for Pyxis’s assessment.


I finally got a couple pics of little Gharth this morning. Guessing he’s a drake, at least she/he hasn’t found a quack yet. But I’m still hoping for a quack.
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So cute! He's so small. Does his bill seem to be getting better, worse, or staying the same? Your grays backs are getting light, like Paisley and Tully's <3 Is this their nuptial plumage change? I wasn't expecting that at this time of year but I've got a lot to learn.

Is the other bibbed looking one that has a bib that goes down farther than Gharth's, considered an incomplete magpie? Again, I have so much to learn about all of this <3

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh my gosh! I thought I lost my precious drake Paisley last night. My daughter and I were outside, along with our hens and pullets free ranging. Something spooked them and Paisley took off so far. I locked them up and my daughter and I went to look for Paisley. He was almost at the road, in a heavily wooded area. He started quacking (well a Drake version of quacking) and we were able to spot him from movement in the weeds. He acted so relieved whenever I was finally able to get him. I was surprised they went in opposite directions. Lylah and Faith called and called for him but he was so far away I don't know if he heard them or not. I am so grateful that we were able to find him as I really love that drake

So cute! He's so small. Does his bill seem to be getting better, worse, or staying the same? Your grays backs are getting light, like Paisley and Tully's <3 Is this their nuptial plumage change? I wasn't expecting that at this time of year but I've got a lot to learn.

Is the other bibbed looking one that has a bib that goes down farther than Gharth's, considered an incomplete magpie? Again, I have so much to learn about all of this <3

So glad you found Paisley. I’ve had them fly off like that too, and they usually come back quickly. But they are also happy when I go looking for them. I watched a drake fly up over some huge trees one day, the first time it ever happened to me. I didn’t think I would find him, nor would he come home. But about 45 minutes later, he flew back into the yard!

I’d say Gharths bill is the same. I don’t think the pinched sides will ever fill in. When he hatched, it was straight (top over bottom) now it is a bit off-sided, I think it’s where he scoops feed sideways. His tongue puffs out one side more than the other. I’d say that’s the way he will always be now.

The lighter greys, I’m guessing are part appleyard, or maybe light phase, or maybe just another gene mixed in. Maybe Pyxis can weigh in on that also. The one in the pics with Gharth is actually Phoenix. She looks like a grey, but her underbelly is white. My appleyards have more white involved all over. My nutmeg also has the white breast like that, so I’m not sure where it comes from.

I’ll have to look more closely at the bibbed/pied ones. With the black all over, and white only on the breast, I consider that bibbed, not pied, but it could be faulty one or the other.

 

[Painted Calls]

My turn for color analysis...

These aren't the best pics, but hopefully they'll work. If not, I can get more.

What color/pattern are Puddle (Pud) and Flipper (Flip)?

https://youtube.com/shorts/arDO8DCNiRY?feature=share

 

[Conan]

My turn for color analysis...

These aren't the best pics, but hopefully they'll work. If not, I can get more.

What color/pattern are Puddle (Pud) and Flipper (Flip)?
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View attachment 2751059
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https://youtube.com/shorts/arDO8DCNiRY?feature=share

The dark one (which one is that?) Looks like Jesus, and looks very close to blue Butterscotch. My bet is she lightens up a bit with her adult plumage.
The light one is gorgeous. I had hoped to get something like that, but you're the only one that got that color this season! I'll admit jealousy, but I don't know what color she is. Almost looks diluted silver Appleyard. So pretty, Mare.