Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[RiverGoddess]

Set 2 Emu eggs ! We will see what happens!

 

[JulieNKC]

Set 2 Emu eggs ! We will see what happens!

How fun.

 

[ChristineR]

I will post some when they get here. I'm hoping for more than just black and white this year after the new additions, but I do need to keep back a few more nice black hens.... Trying to work on eliminating rust in the blacks but I have everyone in the same paddock for now. I have a few really nice blacks that were kept from last year with no rust. Then kept a drake from Boondockers that has excellent markings only to have him develop rust

On the chocolates I'm working on chest markings this year. I also have a goal of getting a nice chocolate drake (because of the sex linked gene it's been difficult to get a chocolate drake and a nice one even harder. So going to use my Lavender drake over chocolate hens and select out the best chocolate drakes.

With the blue this year I'm going to focus on getting some nice hens because I only have 1 blue drake and he needs his own flock. Probably use my silvers with the blacks and keep the best girls for the blue drake.

On silver I'll be focusing on better markings less solid patches more broken up spots and rust.

And with Lavender I'll be working on better markings

Of course keeping into consideration many other things, but these are just some of my main breeding goals this year. I'd really love to get to a show this year too.

Looking forward to seeing your results. I may end up ordering some hatching eggs from you later this spring!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

two goslings left today for their home, ducklings and chicks tomorrow!

Got these tonight as we reloaded the office brooder with clean bedding and water for the fuzzy butts. Tomorrow they move out to the brooder house

having weeep weeep weeeps of goslings in the house again

 

[JulieNKC]

two goslings left today for their home, ducklings and chicks tomorrow!

Got these tonight as we reloaded the office brooder with clean bedding and water for the fuzzy butts. Tomorrow they move out to the brooder house

having weeep weeep weeeps of goslings in the house again

Cute! I miss my khaki, she was a good duck. I love those little brown ducklings.

And of course the goslings are precious.

My mandarin drake actually ran up and ate a piece of corn in front of me the other day. And started making a funky vibratey shake out his pretty feathers call a month or so ago. I'm happy they are settling in, and their behavior seems to be more and more comfortable. I went down there tonight to take pics of the other birds in the pen, and realized I hadn't seen them. I looked closer, still didn't see them. As I was starting to really freak I checked the last hiding spot I saw someone looking at me. Silly things, trying to make me worry.



And then, when I looked at the pics on the camera later I saw the little faces had been peeking out at me the whole time. Surprised I didn't hear them in there giggling when I was starting to panic.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Looks like she claimed a nesting spot! I love the Veeeeeeep sounds from male mandies. Take some live meal worms in with you and toss out and see if they grab them. Ours dont let one go uneaten ever.

 

[JulieNKC]

Looks like she claimed a nesting spot! I love the Veeeeeeep sounds from male mandies. Take some live meal worms in with you and toss out and see if they grab them. Ours dont let one go uneaten ever.

The box is on the ground, I was going to move it up higher in a few months, that won't throw them off or anything will it?
I need to go get some meal worms. I've got a few little colonies started up so I'd have them when babies come. They've got loads of tiny babies in there, but nothing big enough to feed yet. I hope they'll be big enough in another month or so, but I want to go bribe them to like me more NOW, lol. I wonder if they like pond snails? Maybe I should take a few to them instead of giving them all to my duckling.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

I dont know if I would move it since she seems have set up shop already. maybe just onto a stump or something minor at first. Are they full winged and can fly?

 

[JulieNKC]

I clipped them, although I'll probably just leave them flighted when they molt new feathers. But I was going to move it on top of the coop in their pen, which they climb up onto with no difficulty. I was only going to move it because I thought they liked their next boxes up higher, if they like it there though then that should be fine though, right? I can always have hubby make another one and put it up where I wanted and just give them the choice I guess.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

I would leave it, and add a second so they can chose. Pinioned mandies take to low nest boxes just fine so give them the choice of two spots and look for eggs and babies