The Quack Shack

[Canadian Wind]

I'm really really starting to hate chickens... I haven't had any problems with the ducks!

This is just a rant, but geez!

My first experience was with getting my Lav Orps back in June or July. With one of them sick. She made it through and went back with the others. I had five, from 4 weeks old to a few days old. The baby had a black butt, but seemed okay. He never grew much, and when he developed splay legs on top of everything, I just decided to put him down. Lost another one to heat, and another to unknown causes (just found her dead in the coop). The remaining two seem okay, fingers crossed.

Then there's my daughter's bantams. One Cochin got heat stroke and she is still inside the trailer with me. Mostly as a friend for the Silkie that went blind.

Got her some more chickens at a livestock sale. OEGB roo has scale mites, so I have to treat him and his three girls. On top of that, he went and had a seizure today! I thought for sure he was going to die, but he recovered after about a half hour and is now back in with his girls (who all flipped out, btw).

Noticed yesterday that the Cochin/Silkie hen was limping. Checked her out. Scale mites.

Now we're going to treat the whole bunch of them, just in case.

It's just one thing after another with these chickens!

The only redeeming thing, so far, is one little Cochin cockerel who is the friendliest thing ever and will climb into your lap, perch on your shoulder, demand hugs and nuzzles.

Give me DUCKS anytime!!!

Rant over.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They most likely came with the scaly leg mites right? Easily treated from all I’ve read. Hope so anyway.
Sorry about the Orps. I bought chicks in that breed last year for my broody bantam all 3 died. Love the sound of your bantam Cochin cockerel. He sounds like a keeper for sure.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Coming back to the Angel-Wing issue with the Black Swedish, i finally was able to make a short video of the rascals:

They are really hard to catch because they are so active!
Now is that Angel-Wing? - The last group of flight feathers grow up- and outwards.

The one Blue Swedish ducknager started to show the same issue, but somehow her feathers have changed their direction of growth.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Boy that was hard, they were moving around so fast. I did see one that looked like angel wing. If their flight feathers are still growing in you can still wrap with success but you'll have to keep the duckling out of water while wrapped. It usually only takes a couple day or 3 to get the wing fixed.

 

[Pyxis]

Puppies


My bed frame broke. Just snapped while I was sleeping. That is not the dog's fault, lol. Anyway, mattress is now on the floor while I wait for the new frame to arrive. Doesn't bother me, actually.

Pixel has been laying on it instead of her bed. Also fine.

What is NOT fine is her peeing on it! Ugh. Just had to strip all the bedding and toss it in the machine.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Yes it was hard to get these rascals on video! Now imagine how hard it will be to catch and wrap them! No way. And there is no way to keep them out of the water for, ummm even a single minute…
They literally run circles around me when i'm outside.
It has gotten better since Friday - when i recorded the video.
Since it isn't a life-threatening issue, more cosmetic, i won't upset the whole gang by chasing them around.
It is just strange that none of the other nine ducknagers, plus the two rascals that Pinball has raised are showing the same symptoms. The only difference is that the Swedish Ducks are heavier breeds than all other birds i have. I was surprised how large they grew. They are even larger than the White Layers.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Puppies


My bed frame broke. Just snapped while I was sleeping. That is not the dog's fault, lol. Anyway, mattress is now on the floor while I wait for the new frame to arrive. Doesn't bother me, actually.

Pixel has been laying on it instead of her bed. Also fine.

What is NOT fine is her peeing on it! Ugh. Just had to strip all the bedding and toss it in the machine.

Similar thing happened to me with my IKEA bed: It has metal rails on the long sides which support the mattress base, one of those broke out of the fake wood-material.
My solution was to go to the local re-store and buy a metal bed-base that fits into the bed. placed the mattress-base and the mattress on top of that and done.
As for the peeing: No Duck will ever be allowed in the house!

 

[Pyxis]

Similar thing happened to me with my IKEA bed: It has metal rails on the long sides which support the mattress base, one of those broke out of the fake wood-material.
My solution was to go to the local re-store and buy a metal bed-base that fits into the bed. placed the mattress-base and the mattress on top of that and done.
As for the peeing: No Duck will ever be allowed in the house!

This was a fully wooden frame that I've only had for about six years, I think? One of the long rails on the side just randomly snapped right down the middle! It was a pretty jarring wake-up call, lol.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Speaking about Pinball Duck's rascals: She did it again! I am 90% sure both of them are drakenagers! They are over eight weeks old and still peeping…

… and currently at their all-terrain-duck stage. Look at those long legs!

 

[Canadian Wind]

I think you just have weird ducks, Hillbilly. They want to look like jet fighters.

Yeah, they came with the scale mites. Tomorrow, we grab all of them, even those without symptoms, and vaseline the heck out of them.

That Cochin cockerel is the sweetest thing, yes. I've been teaching him how to 'Step Up' on my hand, like I would do with my lovebirds.