Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[pennyJo1960]

I think they will send out more or reimburse. The chicks were very cold it was a two sided box one side was almost all dead. Looks like 11 or 12 going to be lost out of 36

this weather has been brutal boy am I ready for spring, summer do they have any warnings or could happen when it is just so cold

 

[mixedbreeds]

I have gotten chicks when it’s been much colder. I suspect that the chicks were in the back of the truck where they got a draft or they sat out on a loading dock somewhere and got cold. It rained with some freezing rain here last night but just a couple hundred feet above me it dumped snow. Something stupid happened because with that many chicks in the box they should have been ok.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I have gotten chicks when it’s been much colder. I suspect that the chicks were in the back of the truck where they got a draft or they sat out on a loading dock somewhere and got cold. It rained with some freezing rain here last night but just a couple hundred feet above me it dumped snow. Something stupid happened because with that many chicks in the box they should have been ok.

they should with that many unless they maybe where mishandled

 

[Chickielady]

I have 5 drakes. Not a single one is like what you have described. I am not saying that there are not ones like that, but overall, from my experience as well as others that have had them for much longer than me, not the norm. Drakes that are abusive should never be bred. It continues those traits. We are very careful to pay attention to this when choosing our breeding stock. As I try to place all of my personal ducks and offspring into "pet" or "breeding" homes, this is extremely important. I won't have an aggressive one.

In addition to the noise? Muscovy do not quack. The males hiss, and the females make a warbling/trilling sound. The females can quack, when startled, but nothing like a mallard derived duck. I live in city limits, in a neighborhood. No one knows that I have them, as they are so quiet.

Most drakes, regardless of breed, tend to be incredibly "randy". But I have watched my drakes mate with the females, and it has never been brutal. Again, yes, there are males like that. The male that Tom got has been very kind to his females, as I know him (the duck, LOL) personally. I think having a natural habitat as well, allows females the opportunity to get away from males that are not "respectful". The females are MUCH quicker and more agile, and can fly much better, that the heavy males.

I love the hens, I love the gentle noises they make. It is the Pekin hens that make so much loud noise, not the Muscovies.
I have to laugh every time I hear the Pekin hens, too, they sound so much like some crazy person up on the hill laughing.
Reminds me of an episode of Mythbusters, where they were testing the myth that a ducks' quack does not echo. Did you see that one ? Well, they had a Pekin drake, and no matter what they did, it did not make a peep, so they figured their myth was busted.
Then there was the next episode where they got 2 Pekin hens...........evidently they have not learned that one sex is loud, the other very quiet !

 

[Chickielady]

NOISE: I always try and approach topics with others thinking about the same things. One thing I have learned around here in the last year is that the same issues come up again and again and again. I live right up next to the county line where I could make as much noise as I wanted. I don't even have any neighbors to speak of. That said, when i got my chickens I got a rooster too. I wanted a sustainable flock. He made a racket enough to wake people a block away. I found him a good home. It didn't bother me, but I try and be a good neighbor. These Muscovy breed Ducks are essentially silent as written in other posts. It allows us not able to have a real farm type situation to maintain a sustainable flock. Had I not talked to those up on ducks I never would have known. They lay like crazy, are fantastic mothers. The fathers, from what I read, even help raising and teaching the chicks. A very social bird that seems to well, just like people. I stood in a pen with over 50 of them yesterday and half of them wanted to come up and see me. No panic with the stranger in there. You know that one chicken you have out of all of them that jumps in your lap for pets when you sit down while the rest ignore you? They seem to be like that one chicken. As with anything, you get out what you put in. I have no doubt in my mind they will all be members of the family in no time. A kind word, a treat.

Again, I want to state for someone thinking about what I just went through, they aren't chickens. Going to the feed store and brooding may work well, but in every quarter of the state there are people who raise them. From what I have seen, passionate about their breeding. Selective breeding going on etc. Starting with a good breeding stock is important. If I want to add down the road for genetic diversity, I know the people in my area now, and when I have too many Muscovy .....I know what to do and who to call. Its my responsibility now to weed out any bad apples. I get it.

I now have a sustainable flock. As posted above......so quiet nobody would even know they were there. This is an amazing bird to keep in a urban environment where noise is an issue. I am lucky and have an extensive wild area on my property with a pond, but these guys would be happy with a kiddie pool from what I read.

I am sure other breeds of ducks are nice too, for me and others facing restrictions though, I just don't see how you beat them.

They are awesome ducks ! And funny you said that, we dd have 2 large wading pools we dumped & filled fresh for them everyday. Despite all the rain here & the fact that half the land is swamp, we do not allow the birds down there due to predators, mink, fox, coyotes and bobcats rule down there, and it is so tangled with brambels and reeds that you cannot see the predators. So you have some lucky duckies !
So you mentioned "facing restrictions' what do you mean you are facing restrictions ?

 

[Chickielady]

View attachment 1279272

Wheaten ? What a beautiful photo !

 

[Chickielady]

I got my Cornish X chicks in the mail this morning along with a half dozen golden sexlinks for someone else. It was not good all the sexlink chicks were dead and 4 of the Cornish X dead looks like I will probably loose another 6 Cornish X they were very cold it’s strange as this is the first time I have received chicks in one day they came from Idaho I have never had a problem with the birds from there before. I called them they told me to keep track of loss and let them know in the morning what a bummer.

Oh that is awful !
I hope they reimburse you !

 

[Chickielady]

Well since I have nobody else to bother with my new duck pictures, you all get them. I made a rec center while they are in jail and that took about one minute. They seem to like making mud. Ive just learned to accept it.

View attachment 1279691

Those are some beautiful birds !

 

[Chickielady]

We always like photos and they like their mud



I have never ordered from a hatchery is that normal to have those losses? oh read more
sorry you lost the little ones Idaho is not far from you same distance to here
maybe might have been smarter ended up with two black banty pullets from a group I bought from the little feed store we stop at they have two sizes of shaving ? I bought the small won't do that again but bought two bales I had one here need three or four for spring cleaning sorry you lost the chicks they will replace them give you credit send out more

I have ordered from hatcheries all my life and never had more than 1 or 2 die in that whole time, and in the case of McMurray they will credit you those lost in your next order..like if I have a next order.but if I lost as many as mixedbreeds did, I would demand an entire order be sent. That is just awful !

 

[Chickielady]

this weather has been brutal boy am I ready for spring, summer do they have any warnings or could happen when it is just so cold

Yesterday was doctor's office tests, and today I got the tarps off my trailer load of potting soil & packed 6 1/2 gallong pots & planted some awesome bearded iris, "Full Tide" and "Superststicion" and some Ducth Iris, and a long planter of big leaf Basil...I am tired of winter
Supersticioun:

Full Tide:

Such ans awesome Cerelean Blue color..........I am so ready for planting !