Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

The one on the right could be a duck-billed swan

Thank you for seeing clouds my way...

And that's still a beautiful view.

It is. Next time we have dragon clouds I'll be sure to get a picture too.

 

[rjohns39]

I think I would go slightly nutty with all the chirping about to hit your place. That is a lot of eggs & potentially an awful lot of chicks!

I set the eggs a day later than planned, so now I'm playing Russian roulette with the postal system. The birds have to hatch and dry by a specific time or I'll have a lot more than I planned on.

 

[Ribh]

Nothing but darkness and rain here this morning. Poor chooks only have one hour of run-time today and it's too wet for them to enjoy it.

A gloomy sort of day for working big hours. And the big chill is about to hit down there. Stay warm & safe.

 

[Ribh]

I set the eggs a day later than planned, so now I'm playing Russian roulette with the postal system. The birds have to hatch and dry by a specific time or I'll have a lot more than I planned on.

Oh! Gosh! I'd be a nervous cot case juggling that!

 

[Ribh]

@MaryJanet: How are the girls coping? I know they are restricted this week.

 

[Ribh]

I have a question for you lovely people. My neighbours had a pair of Muscovy ducks for the first few months they were next door. Then mumma duck went off the lay & they got bored with looking after the ducks so rehomed them ~ I suspect as someone's dinner as the big bag of duck feed did not go with them. It was given to my husband who sees no difference between duck food & chicken food. I won't feed it to my hens as I suspect it won't be nutritionally balanced. It was made for ducks, not hens, right. Sorry, I'm a waffler. All I really want to know is can I feed duck food to chickens? Otherwise I will ask round for a duck owner & pass the feed along.

 

[MaryJanet]

It was dark when I arrived home last so they'd already roosted when I checked on them and I couldn't really tell. I've just come in from letting them out and they seem unhappy about the rain. I put their breakfast nibbles in the little coop which at present provides a shelter in the run with the door permanently open and the nest box accessible. So, they went from big coop to little because of the rain, but at least doors are open. Sandy and Janet seem sprightly as usual but Mary was uninterestedin leaving the dry confines of the big coop. Usually she's out the door like lightning.

 

[MaryJanet]

And a moment ago I watched from the backdoor as they put themselves back into the big coop. So that was ten minutes of run time, poor things.

 

[Ribh]

A little rain doesn't usually faze mine but yours have the cold to contend with as well. I do hope your weather improves soon. Shortest day of the year coming up!
We can look forward to a little more light soon!

 

[rjohns39]

I have a question for you lovely people. My neighbours had a pair of Muscovy ducks for the first few months they were next door. Then mumma duck went off the lay & they got bored with looking after the ducks so rehomed them ~ I suspect as someone's dinner as the big bag of duck feed did not go with them. It was given to my husband who sees no difference between duck food & chicken food. I won't feed it to my hens as I suspect it won't be nutritionally balanced. It was made for ducks, not hens, right. Sorry, I'm a waffler. All I really want to know is can I feed duck food to chickens? Otherwise I will ask round for a duck owner & pass the feed along.

Jeannie, it's fine to feed it to your birds. It's higher in protein, niacin, methanone (sp) and one other substance (sorry old brain), none of which will hurt your girls and may even make them more healthy. Ducks and turkeys require higher levels of all of those things than chickens, but my chickens (turkey mentors) loved their turkey feed and were extremely healthy and resistant. Truth is you can even give a few more treats while they're eating it because it is well above the minimum standard.

Feeds are formulated based upon minimum cost for maximum production. There are issues with giving too high a protein for long term, but one bag is definitely short term.