The Old Folks Home

[chickadoodles]

 

[perchie.girl]

Horrific end to a horrific week. At least I hope it's an end. Last Saturday there was a fox out. Our duck pair free ranges. I ran out and closed them up and my general rule is I lock them up a week to make the fox "move on" and then let them out. This morning I thought about keeping them in, but figured I was going to be home and it had been a week and they bolted as soon as they saw the open gate. I went into the bathroom a few minutes ago. The bathroom has a great double window overlooking the chicken coop. The chickens and turkeys were all freaked out and staring at a fox eating something. Turned out it was boy duck that the fox had just gotten.

My panic ended up waking BF up. BF sleeps in the emperors clothes and thought nothing of grabbing the rifle (I had the Walther hand gun) and sneaking out of the house, around the side and trying to get the fox that got the duck (he's a good boy). On the other side of the chicken pen was another red fox, trying to get girl duck. I could have gotten it but it would have scared the other fox that BF went after. I was ready to shoot if it came after girl duck, but wasn't going to risk it otherwise.

Both foxes got away.

Girl duck is miserable. I've posted her on the Maine thread hoping someone wants a really well behaved and good laying duck.

Oh my what an ordeal....

Emperors clothes.... LOL.

Ilost a whole flock of chickens that way sneak attacks while I was at home... it was a bobcat. jsut one chicken at a time enough to feed herself and her kittens...

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: So very true! I spent 22 yrs of my life alone because I did not want any more men in my children's lives after my 2nd divorce. But after my kids were grown I asked my higher power for a soul mate and for him to be put in my lap so that I would know he was the one for me! And he did! Yahoo! I now have my soul mate and I have never been happier than I have in the last 5 years!

Thats sooo awesome....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

We had a weasel or a skunk get into the hoop house last year and killed most of our juvies. I was a raving lunatic after that. That's also the day I signed up for trapping class.

I had a raccoon take out Most of my juvie Guinea keets took me for ever to find out where it was getting in.....

. Went from close to forty to around ten....

deb

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Both our TSCs have ducklings but they have mallards and campbells. That was going to be an option for me if I couldn't rehome her. Unfortunately I don't want mallards or campbells. My other options are to put some of her eggs in the bator but that will be at least 8 weeks before she has friends (and I'm out of brooder space). My last option is to put her eggs in her coop and hope she goes broody again, then she won't be so "lonely" for the 4 weeks of incubation and she'll have immediate friends upon hatch.
My rehoming ad hasn't gotten any interest. I can't eat her.

Thoughts?

 

[perchie.girl]

Both our TSCs have ducklings but they have mallards and campbells. That was going to be an option for me if I couldn't rehome her. Unfortunately I don't want mallards or campbells. My other options are to put some of her eggs in the bator but that will be at least 8 weeks before she has friends (and I'm out of brooder space). My last option is to put her eggs in her coop and hope she goes broody again, then she won't be so "lonely" for the 4 weeks of incubation and she'll have immediate friends upon hatch.
My rehoming ad hasn't gotten any interest. I can't eat her.

Thoughts?

I wish I had some I never raised ducks... Can you give her a mirror for temporary company? the Guineas love admiring themselves. How about craigslist or is that not an option for finding ducks....

deb

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: So very true! I spent 22 yrs of my life alone because I did not want any more men in my children's lives after my 2nd divorce. But after my kids were grown I asked my higher power for a soul mate and for him to be put in my lap so that I would know he was the one for me! And he did! Yahoo! I now have my soul mate and I have never been happier than I have in the last 5 years!

Thats sooo awesome....

deb
Thanks Deb. And just to let you know my sisters husband of 20 yrs passed abt. 8 yrs. ago and now she has a boyfriend and she is 64. So it is never to late to find love if you really want it in your life.

 

[chickadoodles]

SCG I hope you find the right solution for your duck. SCG they grow so fast you would only need them in a small tote for a couple weeks then they could go outside. Here I put mine out at a week old in a brooder with a light in it and enclosed in the back with a bed of straw. *also you could just use a tote temp.*

I did not ever want any ducks. And now they are coming out my ears! I can't even give them away. DH said wait till people come to get chickens and turkey and we'll get rid of them then. I sure hope so.
We are keeping Duck Duck and Little Missy DH is even going to make them a run so they can have more room and a pool but the rest have to go.

 

[Amberjem]

 

[Amberjem]

Both our TSCs have ducklings but they have mallards and campbells. That was going to be an option for me if I couldn't rehome her. Unfortunately I don't want mallards or campbells. My other options are to put some of her eggs in the bator but that will be at least 8 weeks before she has friends (and I'm out of brooder space). My last option is to put her eggs in her coop and hope she goes broody again, then she won't be so "lonely" for the 4 weeks of incubation and she'll have immediate friends upon hatch.
My rehoming ad hasn't gotten any interest. I can't eat her.

Thoughts?

pound or local chicken resque