The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[mlm Mike]

Is it possible to "tractor" ducks with the chickens or does it get too hard when keeping a container of water for them to play in inside the tractor run? Am I being clear as mud?

So far we tractor around our 6 chickens in the front yard, small though. No way we could fit ducks in there so we are thinking of making a larger tractor coop/run with big wheels to deal with the swampy GA lawn issue. But will keeping a kiddy pool or what not for the ducks in such a thing I think it might be hard to get in there and dump the pool every night and refill where ever we move it the next morning and so on, not to mention add to the swamp (sinking in it when you walk) issues. We are trying to keep the grass nice!

The other option is to clear some land, not a lot of room there, on the side of the house and make a permanent coop/pen. It is closer to the property line though and might it get smelly?

(4 ducks and 4 bantams would be in it)

If you are trying to keep some nice grass, I would sacrifice an area to keep the ducks. They will dig holes in the yard, eating worms and grubs. The noise might be a bigger issue, than smell, some ducks are more talkative than others though.

 

[chicken pickin]

Since everyone is talking about ducks what are some breeds that are flightless?

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Trying to catch up here after too many days of animal drama to sit at the computer....


Here is an update on the HAL cockatoo....his eyes are just starting to open Eating every three and a half hours now! And sharing his brooder, (in his own container), with the two call ducklings that took me 4 days to hatch. Assistance needed all the way....

This is a picture of the cockatoo right after eating. Note the full crop! Be glad you raise chickens

♥

 

[mlm Mike]

Since everyone is talking about ducks what are some breeds that are flightless?

Just about all the domesticated breeds are considered flightless. The ones that do fly are Mallards, Muscovy, and I believe calls.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Sad morning for me...went out to feed the animals and found one of my NYD cockerels dead on the coop floor. He had been acting weird for two days...not eating, just drinking, lethargic (he NEVER lets anyone near him, yet he let me pick him up...after which he threw up on me). I tried to get advice in the emergencies forum, but no luck. I think my head roo...huge EE...got tired of the cockerel mounting his hens when his back was turned and finally drop kicked him...because I cut the cockerel open to see if I could find any reason for his death, and found blood clots and something ruptured inside his abdomen.

His days were numbered, anyway. Both he and his brother are mounting hens which is a no-no. They were both destined for freezer camp this week. I just wish the guy would have gone quick with an ax then having suffered for two days...

On a POSITIVE note, egg #2 from my COB hatched the same day as egg #1!!! Egg #3 went into lockdown yesterday.

 

[chicken pickin]

Just about all the domesticated breeds are considered flightless. The ones that do fly are Mallards, Muscovy, and I believe calls.

hmm ok.

I had my first flock of ducks from tractor supply and they all turned out to be lightweight and great flyers. They were younger in this pic.



I really want to continue keeping ducks but need to keep them penned and it feels horrible to pen a bird that flys so Im looking to get ducks that are grounded.

 

[mlm Mike]

Quote: I guess some of the smaller/lightweight birds could be flyers, I forgot about those. We try different medium/large breeds for the meat.

 

[jinks12333]

Found a lone, "surprise" chick in the yard near the coop this morning. Probably a couple of days old. Well, hellooo, chick, who's your mama? Grace - the banty hen who had gotten off the Easter HAL eggs I gave her, was nearby, but not acting protective at all. Carl, my dominate roo, was keeping curious ducks and geese away from it, though. (He is THE best rooster!) I scooped up the little gal/guy, took it into the coop and placed it in the bucket nest with Buffy, (who is currently broody but I keep taking eggs from her). She pecked it, so I put it in with Angel, who has hatched and is raising two Easter HAL chicks. She accepted it. "Grafting" chicks to broody hens is an interesting process. This Easter is the first time I've tried it.

After my first hatch this April I transplanted my 10 chicks and 7 more from TSC into a grow out pen and put my injured chicken "Peg" in with them. She took right to them.... All of then!!! (Injured chicken was picked up and dropped by a hawk... now she walks with a limp so she can no longer be in the main group of chickens.... but she sure can adopt a bunch of chicks!!)

 

[bantambury]

One of Marshies chicks hatched last night! Its a cute little blonde one, so im thinking its part buff laced, since my breeder doesn't separate his colors. I relly hoping its a girl! I also hope the next one that hatches is brown or grey!

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The other egg is pipped as well, so it should be out by dinner time. Im relly wanting to buy 2 other ameraucana chicks or polish chicks from my breeder to raise along with these! OH WHAT TO DO!

 

[jinks12333]

Look who hatched last night!!!!! My boys are so excited!!!!!