So discouraging

[shwestleigh]

Sounds like a lot going on for a first time poultry owner. I would make sure the turkeys are separate. They need lots of space.
Maybe even put the ducklings in their own separate space for awhile until you can rule out other animals causing issues. I set up a small dog kennel to separate my new birds and have a piece of fencing that stretches the length of my run that can be moved easily to separate or open up as needed. Always have options available that you can control to help with the management of your flock.

That is def something we’ll be doing sooner rather than later. I didn’t think it would ever be an issue they never acted this way to any of my other ducks, though they are scared of our new guineas hens, we will be downsizing soon when some reach age, we have some that are meat birds, like the turkeys. So that’ll help, thank you

 

[Ascholten]

I just think that the grief comes with the amazing experience that birds are.

I absolutely agree. I have a Cockatoo that I have had him for years. He's family, If something happened to him, well, I just don't know how I'd handle it if we want to be totally honest. Here's hoping he outlives me, I don't want to find myself in that position, although the urge to kill him is pretty high on some days, like when he chews up shoes or something.

Back to the 'bashing' No, nobody is bashing you, but THAT is my point kind of, oh just never mind, it's not worth the time trying to explain.

As birds get older, ... think teen agers, and 20 somethings that know EVERYTHING, just ask them, they'll tell you. The same thing happens in a way, in the bird community too. Those cute fluffy fuzzy things that got along, now all of the sudden turn into teenagers, that the hormones are kicking in, suddenly want to kill each other and need their OWN SPACE, and in some breeds, LOTS of it too. So you wanted to butcher them, and were prepared to do so. Did you know how much room that dozen of them actually needed to keep them safe until they got to that age, or are you now finding out the hard way, that maybe you really only had room for one or two?

This isn't about your feelings, this is about what's best for your birds. Things can go bad quickly that can kill entire flocks off in a day or so. Yes they will end up dead when you butcher them but still, need to be kept healthy until they reach that point.

My unqualified opinion, take it or leave it as just that. You have too many birds, you probably don't have the room to house them properly. So, your options.
1. Cull some of them a bit sooner than you expected to.
2. Get more room for them (is this really feasible?)
3. Give some away, (Probably an easier option)
4. Hope they don't kill each other or get sick and die until the time when you kill them in the planned way.

I honestly don't see this problem getting better as time goes on, it's not one of those type of problems. You are probably going to have to make a decision here that you are not going to like.

Aaron

 

[addctd2plnts]

I am really getting discouraged with trying to raise my birds this is my first time ever having any. I have a multi flock of ducks, geese and turkeys and I am having the hardest time with the ducks. Ive lost a number of ducks and my youngest ones who are 8weeks old we put out and everything seemed fine my geese occasionally would pick at them (5) then all of a sudden they’re not acting right I lost another one in its coop last night, had to bring one inside cause my turkeys were attacking it and the other ones. So I isolated them to a pen to be away from all the other birds. The turkeys won’t do it to any of my other ducks that roam with them so idk why they’re singling out these ones.. I hatched these ones so it’s emotional for me to keep seeing these things happening to my ducks. They have numerous water sources, numerous feed areas and a whole yard, I’ve eliminated all hazards that I can find that could potentially be making them sick. I’m about to give up and get rid of them all but I’ve invested so much into them. I know I need to pen up the turkeys but everytime we try they destroy the fence and I can’t get my bf motivated enough to put up good fence posts to pen them. That alone is making it harder on me cause I’m the one that tends to them 90% of the time . Sorry for the rant, I’m just so upset and discouraged, I don’t want to do it anymore but I’ve always wanted to have ducks. Idk what to do

I think I heard you can't use poultry netting for turkeys, but you can for other poultry. Premier 1 Fencing has poultry netting you just step in the ground and you can easily move it. You DO need to electrify it if you want to protect them from predators! It might help you to put the ducks/geese in the electric netting away from the turkeys. Look on Craigslist for another coop. Right now the prices are coming down and you may find a nice homemade one for cheap! Lots of people got poultry in the lockdown and are now getting rid of them since they are back at work. Also watch Facebook marketplace. Search for chicken coops and chicken tractors. OR if you just want to pen the turkeys or ducks, Stromberg's Poultry has a chicken tractor we use during the day for our ducks with a kiddie pool in it. It's like a dog pen half covered with tarp for shade and the rest covered with netting. We left the netting a ft longer at the bottom, although we have no daytime predators, except Hawks. Our multiple dogs roam the property and that keeps daytime predators away.

You've got lots of options! If BF won't help make accommodations, bet he might contribute as an early B-day gift or early Christmas gift....

 

[Ascholten]

you have a duck tractor that you can move the pool around in too?
How does that work? Does it? How well? THis really has my interest if it's true!

On the chicken stuff cheap, Id have to say that might be depending on where you live. Prices of stuff is through the roof now, and more people are finding their own chickens cheaper for eggs etc, and not too hard to take care of, for the most part. Around here I have not seen that yet. I hope it's true because I can use an additional tractor or two and not pay stupid 500 dollars for one !!

Aaron

 

[Floof]

What is holding you back from making your own fence? You can pound in the t posts with a post driver and attach hog panels to it. That's probably the cheapest option. You could also look for chain link panels in your area (2nd hand-- sometimes people just give them away!) and those go together super easily. You can also drive t posts and then slip a wood pallet over the top to make a fence too. These are often free and will last a couple years without needing to be painted.

I know it sucks when someone agrees to doing something with you and then doesn't hold up their side (anyone else remember "group projects" growing up? Ugh...) but you can really only control yourself and if you love this hobby then don't let this stop you.

I would divide the yard into a couple designated areas with some cheap fencing and see if that resolves your problem. If thats not an option then contain your assorted species of meat birds into hoop coops until processing time. This has the added benefit of restricting movement so they will fatten up quicker.

 

[Ascholten]

Most birds don't really need a lot of 'up' room either, just 'out' room, so some stakes and chicken wire might work too for temporary fence.

Aaron

 

[shwestleigh]

Update.. found out one of our cluster of shrubs and trees in the middle of our yard has orange jewel weed and creeping butter cup in them, both are toxic. My bf found my babies in there earlier this week and then they started to get sick I lost two more yesterday so the two left I brought inside and started giving activated charcoal too last night both are doing better eating some and drinking a lot talking to me like crazy so that’s a good sign. This keep going. Going out to chop everything down and till up the buttercup tonight.

 

[Ascholten]

That might not be the best solution there. You would be better uprooting and throwing in trash TBH. Chopping down takes care of problem temporarily, tilling, the roots are still there, it will just be right back up in a few weeks. You need to uproot and get rid of it for good. Another option might be to spray some weed killer down. Salt water works wonders, non toxic and takes out weeds (and everything else too so be careful).

Good Luck.
Aaron

 

[CrazyChicken Lady]

My goodness that explains a lot. I agree with Aaron through, that stuff will just grow back. If you want your babies to be safe, you should pull out the roots.
Good luck with the little ones recovering!

 

[shwestleigh]

My goodness that explains a lot. I agree with Aaron through, that stuff will just grow back. If you want your babies to be safe, you should pull out the roots.
Good luck with the little ones recovering!

Yea I’m going to do what I can pulling roots is prob what I’m going to have to do, where most of these are is where we are planning on putting our garden next year so we’ll just have to get it ready sooner. Thanks everyone