San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[Cryptkeeper]

In 2 days I should have some Black Copper Marans hatching under my broodies ... Squee! I think I have 11 eggs (maybe 10?) and when I candled after a week and a half they were all going strong. The eggs are so dark I haven't bothered since, but if all goes well we'll have quite a few babies.

My plan is to keep one or two, as my dark eggs layers, and sell the rest on Craigslist. Any BYCer who wants one or two can have them for free.

Let me know!

Aumlet
I would be interested in two of the BCMs you should behatching, do you ever head down or out Lakeside way where we could meet?

 

[desertdarlene]

Hi again everyone!

I went to Lake Murray and, yet again, there are two, new, fuzzy month-old or so Pekin ducklings dropped off there. I heard they've been there for a couple of days. One duckling has fishing line wrapped around his tongue or mouth, I think, and there is a fishing weight on it that he is trying to swallow. I don't think it's lead, but it might be. Many fishermen have stopped using lead. The other duckling is much more energetic and even though he gets upset when the two get separated, when they get together, he viciously bites the duckling with the fishing weight and that one has a raw spot along his back.

I don't think I can take them and since it's warm and they seem not to be in any immediate danger, I may have to leave them there unless someone here can take them. I am a little worried about the one with the fishing line and weight, but I have seen him drinking and eating (when the more aggressive duck lets him eat). They're fairly large, so they're not in danger from herons, gulls, ravens, etc. But, they're not totally inegrated with the wild ducks, so they're off by themselves a lot.

I have photos and will post them in a few hours or so. I have a strong feeling that they're both male, though the weaker duckling did have a loud peep.

PM me if you want to arrange a rescue. I should be available all weekend and early Monday. Weekends are busy there right now.

 

[RHRanch]

I put a double apron (chain link, then 1/2 x 1/2 wire on that), 2 feet out, all around my runs. Still, in one pen, I have either squirrels or gophers tunneling into the run. I can see on the outside where the critter went to the edge of the apron and tunneled all the way in. I could pull my hair out!! I hate to take it all off and have to dig down...this So. Cal. dirt is not easy digging as we know. I'm worried that something other than a squirrel or gopher is going to find it's way in through the tunnels created by the first little beasties.
What are your suggestions? I'll have hubby set traps in the holes tomorrow...I'm so hoping it's just gophers. Is it just me or is the rodent population INSANE this year?!!
My semi-feral kitties in the garage better hurry up and grow so I can get them to work.

The rodent population is insane this year - there just are not enough predators to take care of them. Ecosystem out of balance. It could also be rats burrowing under your pen. I have issues with rats and they can dig deep and are smart. They make a hole similar to a gopher hole but a bit smaller and very round.

 

[desertdarlene]

Here is a photo of the two dumped ducklings. You can see the sinker on the duck in the back. The one in the front is aggressive to him and is biting his back down/feathers off. Despite that, he is very protective of the one in the back and if the two are separated, he immediately goes looking for him.

​

 

[Aumlet]

Poor babies!

 

[desertdarlene]

Poor babies!

 

Yeah, even though they're partially feathered, they still got soaked while swimming. Luckily, it is warm today and the water is warm, too.

 

[LavendarFeather]

The rodent population is insane this year - there just are not enough predators to take care of them. Ecosystem out of balance. It could also be rats burrowing under your pen. I have issues with rats and they can dig deep and are smart. They make a hole similar to a gopher hole but a bit smaller and very round.

I've got holes all over the property, and I don't know for sure who is making them. I know we have gophers, I assume we have rats, I have seen mice, bunnies and a few ground squirrels. My runs are converted dog runs, so only about 5' wide. I put 6"x12"x1" pavers all around the inside perimeter, with the short side facing the wall. I am thinking of going back and laying a sheet of hardware cloth right down the center, and setting the stones to overlap it. The stones are an inch high, so I could put an inch of dirt over the metal flooring. I might even trench it an inch deeper at one end, slope the HW cloth down, so it could make a better spot for dust bathing. Would this work?

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Here is a photo of the two dumped ducklings.  You can see the sinker on the duck in the back.  The one in the front is aggressive to him and is biting his back down/feathers off.  Despite that, he is very protective of the one in the back and if the two are separated, he immediately goes looking for him.

[FLOAT=LEFT][/FLOAT]

If anyone wants to take these two and needs help catching them up I could help with that. Maybe an informal "Save the Ducks" meetup at the lake is in order.

 

[desertdarlene]

I called animal control and they said I pretty much had to call them when I get there and see them so that they know exactly where they are. I was thinking of going back there, now, but they're gong to close the gates at 8. I wonder if I should ask the ranger's office for help, maybe? I haven't had any luck with them in the past and was told that it was OK if they needed rescuing to take them.

 

[UrbanMamaHen]

In 2 days I should have some Black Copper Marans hatching under my broodies ... Squee! I think I have 11 eggs (maybe 10?) and when I candled after a week and a half they were all going strong. The eggs are so dark I haven't bothered since, but if all goes well we'll have quite a few babies.

My plan is to keep one or two, as my dark eggs layers, and sell the rest on Craigslist. Any BYCer who wants one or two can have them for free.

Let me know!

Aumlet, I would love to get two of them (girls) if you still have some that are not spoken for.