How old are they? Unless it is extremely cold where you are, they should be fine. Some hatcheries ship much farther and do not supply a heat source. Have a safe trip and me sure to post pictures
I have picked up both chicks and ducklings at our post office in the dead of winter (temps in the low 20's). Usually there are 10-20 birds in the box. They keep each other pretty warm and all have survived. I do not open any windows or us the air (I keep the heater pretty low since they are not acclimated to warmer temps). I put the box on my front seat next to me with a towel over it but loose enough to not restrict air. For me that is a 20-30 minute drive. So, I suspect that yours will do just fine. Have your brooder completely set up and a heat source going. Make sure they drink water and know where the food is when you put them in the brooder. Keep an eye on them for a bit, they will find the right space for warmth and will probably do just great.
No thanks! I'm kinda attached to these little hens. These all came from Ideal hatchery in Cameron. But thanks for the offer!I love the blacks! Do you want to get rid of any or trade for Blue/KC cross??I'm going to Caldwell this Sunday for some Muscovies and could easily swing by. PM me if interested.
These older Pekin are definitely not the mother. I purchased the ducklings from a hatchery. The adults I got from my nephew a year ago.I've had them end up together like this and they worked it out amongst themselves. I would judge letting them stay together permanently by size. Are the young ones almost the size of the others? I just introduced a male muscovy 8 wks into our flock after having him in a pen inside the big pen for 4 weeks, and 2 of those weeks I let him out to free range with them while I stood guard. He's as big as they are now and fully integrated. I haven't seen a young one caress another that wasn't their mom. Good luck on integrating them permanently
SOOO happy for you!Something wonderful happened today! As some of you may know, my flock has been very stand offish and leary of people ever since my beloved pekin girl, Waffles, died this last winter. She was bold and brazen, and would come up and eat from my hand right away, which would give the others the courage to come and eat from my hand as well. After Waffles passed, the flock hasn't been the same. They seem constantly scared and nervous.
Fast forward a few months to February when my husband came home from the feed store with 11 baby chickens and two ducklings. I spent tons of time holding the baby birds and hand feeding them, hoping that I might be able to have at least a couple ducks that I could hand feed. The results are amazing; both new ducks climb and crawl all over my lap to get treats. They don't like to be touched or grabbed, but they have no problem clambered up my lap to get their treats.
Back to today. Today was monumental. The flighty adults saw the young ones eagerly eating from my hand, and wouldn't you know it, they finally felt comfortable enough to come up to me again. It was like old times. Check it out
It started out just the two newbies, Eggos the pekin and the little runner girl I haven't named yet.
Then one by one, the others came to eat! Biff the buff, being the top girl, got her share first. Michelle the Cayuga came secon, which surprised me. She hasn't eat out of my hand since she was a duckling a year ago.
Then came Duckasaurus the runner, Tater the WH and Jeepers the WH. I was thrilled!
Does anyone know what the beginning stages of angel wing looks like?? My Pekins and Pekin/Sweedish look like their wings are starting to sag. I thought they were starting to molt but maybe not. They were hatched on February 9th.
Sorry, pictures are not real clear. It's raining here, has been for days.
Thanks. Linda
