Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[Iain Utah]

Sheesh...my geese stayed over here until after dusk last night... and now it is 7am, barely daybreak... and they are already back in my driveway making sure the whole neighborhood knows they are there!

 

[Marty1876]

I forgot to tell you all that my dog (the pup) almost killed my favorite duckling. I MIGHT have had a nervous breakdown. It's a long story, but it ends with me holding the dog while my husband pried her mouth open.


Somebody tell me how to break her of this!? She licks them to death. I mean she had this thing in her mouth running around the yard while I'm chasing her, and not a scratch on the duck. NOTHING. Because she has a soft mouth on them.. like what she was bred for.
She knows it's wrong, but then does it anyway.

She will have to be classically conditioned to think a bad things happens if she touches them. (ugh, we have dog training classes here every saturday afternoon, but your kinda far away!)

In classical conditioning, something like beating loudly on a trash can lead, or setting of a firecracker, every time she goes near a duck will do it, You must keep her under absolute control (ie, not near ducks) unless you are there, and ready to do the "bad thing". Anything she really hates will do it. gunshot inthe air, firecracker, banging loudly, just something she hates. It usually takes less than two days, but its really up to you, though, to be sure it happens every single time.

I would set some in the garage, or a like area, and when she appraches, do it. After she's acting afraid in controlled spaces, move it out into the real word (your duck yard). It shouldn't be long before shes actually afraid of ducks. Its kinda mean, and very hard to condition them not to be afraid afterword, but since you don't want her to touch them, its probobly the best choice for you. (search alberts white rats for the original case of classical condition that was researched, and it'll give you the jist of it, if your interested) The poor child was afraid of white animals for the rest of his life.

Its her retreiver psychie that makes her want to pick them up. OUr new adoptee, buddy (mastiff/shepard/lab) is a butter lips, and an apportunist inthe kitches, I'm trying to decide if I should just lock him out of the kitchen (which is hard, his pee pee run is out that door) or classically condition him away from taking food anywhere but from his bowl)

Quote:
Originally Posted by QuackerJackFarms

It's a Golden Retriver/German Shepherd mix. I was told half and half. She's purty and all, but ugh! Drives me nuts because she waits till I turn my back. I don't know what to do about her, since I've already taught her that they're "mine".

Sheesh...my geese stayed over here until after dusk last night... and now it is 7am, barely daybreak... and they are already back in my driveway making sure the whole neighborhood knows they are there!

So give them the babies allready! They want them safely in their care, apparently! LOL

Duckie lock down!!!

 

[country_girl011]

Never seen anything like these before.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Spotty-Pa...ultDomain_0&hash=item46020d8b51#ht_657wt_1185

i seen these 2.
i think they are pretty but prolly a mix.

 

[Iain Utah]

They turn one month old on Friday. It is 30 degrees outside. Not sure the goslings can handle that temperature??

 

[country_girl011]

They turn one month old on Friday. It is 30 degrees outside. Not sure the goslings can handle that temperature??

i think thats still a lil chilly for them.
but i could be wrong,

 

[Marty1876]

Oh, sorry. I keep forgetting your not in a state very close.

Its been 60-80 here for days. How feathered out are they? My baby ducks go out as soon as they have 100% feathering, sooner if its warm. Never before 3 weeks though.

You do ducky lockdown tomarrow? I was too tired to candle this morning for pips, but I'm gonna move the eggs tonight (I always set eggs at 6 pm-gives me 4 hours before bed to obsess over my temp coming back to normal....I'd do it anyway, may as well plan)

 

[country_girl011]

2 rugrats are doing great today .
other baby is finally unattached from his eggs. but so very very tired.
may be tomarrow before the muskateers are reuinited.

the monsters are also doing great. i swear the girls get bigger everyday .

and i was talking a a CD breeder lastnight and she said my dark snowy hen looks like a mutation. so thats interresting.

 

[stillmecle]

My little blue Breda Polish chickens with the weird looking inside egg, are internally pipping today. I worry that they are not going to make it because of the fluid that is still in the egg and then with that weird stuff that looks like it is stuck on the inside. 2 of them are peeping at me. I hate to help but I may have to. When should I help?

 

[Marty1876]

I'd give them a little while. If they are still storng and loud, I'd relax. Once they are a bit weaker, you'll know they need you.

How are you SM? I've seen you, but havn't really chatted with you for a few days.

I've got Jumbo Peking going on lockdown today. Two have wonky cells, but one is still quite vigorous and active, the either is a little still for my tastes and happiness.

 

[stillmecle]

what have I missed lately???