The Quack Shack

[Miss Lydia]

@Luv Ducks what a pretty drake.

 

[Luv Ducks]

@Luv Ducks what a pretty drake.
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Thanks Miss Lydia for the picture of Pepper. I think he almost looks plastic he is so pretty. He started out a Runner Duckling baby but now is more horizontal than vertical. I think he might be a snowy Mallard but not sure. He came from our Rural King in a bin listed as Runner Ducklings.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Never give up. Day 32 and trash day so I went up to empty the incubator in the trash. I have babies! Last night was the only time I'd failed to check them. I had some power outages is why they took so long. I got two babies and one egg with the ring of death. When I candles them yesterday they weren't even shadowing. They look fine and healthy for now. I'm checking them every hour just in case.
Invisible duck has not gone missing today.

I am not sure how many days some of last summer's Incubator-Gang spent in their eggs, but i suspect many of them needed more than 28 days. I read somewhere that the babies suspend their growth when the eggs become too cold.
Please have a close eye on those two, i have lost at least five ducklings last year to what i suspect the long-term consequences of being cold as an embryo/hatchling. A warning-sign is when they tire very quickly and tend to sleep a lot.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

We're gonna get kicked out if we keep this up.

I don't think so! - I assume, every dux-keeper has to develop a thick-fur…

Nice, it's 4 C here. Another few days of 'nice' weather like this, then back to around -15 at night next week. But, I can't complain. It isn't -50.

A weak cold front is forecasted to come through tonight/tomorrow and temperatures will go down a bit. The next cold-snap is predicted for the end of the month and after that it looks like we're through. Potatoes will go in early March and i have started to prepare soil for the seedlings. - To Blanca's amusement, she was wagging her tail like crazy when i was wagging the plastic-strainer i use for the soil.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

No more. I through these in after my black runner drake was killed by dogs. He was a young drake and still learning what the corkscrew was for. So out of 7 I set only 3 were fertile. So these 2 are all I'm getting. At least I got 2, I don't have hillbilly patience for raising A single.

Raising a single duckling is fun but a bit stressful.
Raising two ducklings is fun too and less stressful as they still have company when you're on the throne.
Raising a dozen ducklings that think you are their momma-duck is borderline suicidal…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I was too tired last night to look but I thought I had started something once but couldn't remember...

I know what you're talking about, sometimes i cannot remember the path to my mattress...

Thread 'I WANT YOUR VET'S INFORMATION' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-want-your-vets-information.1347703/
I think I'll wake that thread back up and see if we can't get some more info from others.

I searched within BYC for things like "List of avian vets", "Avian vet", …
But i have not found that thread.
Imho a »Helpful Lists« section should be added somewhere in BYC at a prominent place in the site, together with other lists that have been created in the past and new lists that should be created. (Here's another list: »Local Feed-Mills«)
And a dedicated project-manager is needed…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Frank I have 15 ducks altogether. I have Khakis, Runners, Mallards, Rouen, Call ducks, Muscovy ducks and my Mule Duck. I love an assortment.

Same here! I started with Runners and worked myself up to the heavier breeds. Buff Orpington, Magpie, White Layer,Blue/Black Swedish… And a lot of Barnyard surprise ducks. So far the White Layer is my favorite Breed.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

When it comes to technology I am illiterate and have a cheap phone.

Okay, if your phone is unable to run the BYC-app. - Afaik with the app you can just snap a picture and it will be inserted automagically into the message you are writing.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

@Luv Ducks what a pretty drake.
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Indeed! A very handsome boy!

 

[Canadian Wind]

I don't think so! - I assume, every dux-keeper has to develop a thick-fur…

A weak cold front is forecasted to come through tonight/tomorrow and temperatures will go down a bit. The next cold-snap is predicted for the end of the month and after that it looks like we're through. Potatoes will go in early March and i have started to prepare soil for the seedlings. - To Blanca's amusement, she was wagging her tail like crazy when i was wagging the plastic-strainer i use for the soil.

Wish I could start preparing things for planting, but there's still over a foot of snow on the ground in most areas. And ice. Lots of ice.

The project for the next few days is to try to dig my car out.