tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post9212189856612713294..comments2024-03-18T12:04:27.789-05:00Comments on A Home Grown Journal: Shuffling Ducks (And Chickens and Geese)Mama Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-27689537314509419252017-05-15T07:46:53.337-05:002017-05-15T07:46:53.337-05:00Farmer Barb - It seems lots of folks (including us...Farmer Barb - It seems lots of folks (including us) are having trouble getting good hatches this year whether it be under broody bird or in an incubator. We've struggled with having small batches of birds of different ages, too. A real problem when trying to integrate them so we don't have so many single or few ducklings/goslings/chicks to raise. <br /><br />Why the rubber mat under the incubating eggs? For more warmth in the incubator? Did they check the temp? Should be right at 100 degrees but no higher. And why did they block all humidity? The eggs need the humidity and with eggs in an incubator, you usually have to periodically sprinkle water on them. Curious . . . and, yep, we sure do learn all the time!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-80319549718923593902017-05-15T07:10:31.178-05:002017-05-15T07:10:31.178-05:00I just candled my duck eggs and have one lone embr...I just candled my duck eggs and have one lone embryo out of seven eggs. I am sure it was due to negligent handling of the eggs prior to incubation. Now that I have read the book, I have eight more eggs to put into another incubator so that lone duckling (if it hatches) won't be too much bigger than subsequent ducklings (should I be blessed with any). My chick additions will be coming to me on Friday as week olds. One of my preschool clients hatches chicks but doesn't want to keep them. They got two out of a dozen they set. They put a rubber mat under the eggs for hatching and blocked all the humidity and most of the chicks died in their shells. Lessons we learn...Farmer Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07596672416236302171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-37870716929555422742017-05-10T19:17:02.168-05:002017-05-10T19:17:02.168-05:00Rain - Let's see if I can come up with a count...Rain - Let's see if I can come up with a count without actually going out to count beaks. Chickens (counting the adults and chicks just started) - 42, ducks (also adults and ducklings) - 21, geese - 8 adults and the one gosling. Waaay too many!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-89516577629771729462017-05-10T08:48:37.095-05:002017-05-10T08:48:37.095-05:00Hi Mama Pea :)) That is such a nice story to read!...Hi Mama Pea :)) That is such a nice story to read!! I love reading about your flock. I'm so happy all the little ones are best buddies now. Do you have a head count on all of your birds? Seems like you have a lot of them! :)Rain https://www.blogger.com/profile/14377719049819222133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-37958915333325049152017-05-09T16:21:46.342-05:002017-05-09T16:21:46.342-05:00Kristina - Yepper, things are going very well . . ...Kristina - Yepper, things are going very well . . . if we can keep track of who goes where, when they're old enough for different feed or can be out on some green grass, etc. It's all fun, but I sure hope we don't have to keep as many ducks and geese after this coming winter -- again! Seems they all need more time to mature so we can figure out who's going to be a good breeder to keep. Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-33044119204058438362017-05-09T16:18:05.268-05:002017-05-09T16:18:05.268-05:00Dawn - Yep, gotta make sure everyone is taken care...Dawn - Yep, gotta make sure everyone is taken care of, kept in fresh water and food, are safe and brooders, houses and chicken tractors kept clean. (Why is it we do this??)Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-12829332668887057472017-05-09T16:14:27.529-05:002017-05-09T16:14:27.529-05:00Michelle - We're sure hoping our new bantie ch...Michelle - We're sure hoping our new bantie chicks will be natural setters and mothers for us next year. So much better than raising "store bought" chicks in a brooder. 'Course, if you can find pullets, that would be a good way to go, too.Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-48675515260076085712017-05-09T16:12:56.577-05:002017-05-09T16:12:56.577-05:00Susan - Things have been so crazy around here late...Susan - Things have been so crazy around here lately, I honestly don't know which end I'm sitting on . . . that is when I do get to sit. ;o}Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-45722184792482745872017-05-09T16:12:37.545-05:002017-05-09T16:12:37.545-05:00I left an egg in the coop this spring, but the one...I left an egg in the coop this spring, but the one broody lady decided "nope" she didn't want to sit on it anymore. Sounds like things are going swell in the poultry department.<br />Pioneer Woman at Hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16533698959389851926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-36945381449432150692017-05-09T16:12:01.227-05:002017-05-09T16:12:01.227-05:00Glenda - Well, bummer none of your heirloom girls ...Glenda - Well, bummer none of your heirloom girls still had that broodiness in them!<br /><br />We've never had better setting mamas than a bantam. Our one remaining bantam hen is 6-7 years old and even though she still gives us an egg now and then, she's turned in her raising chicks button. That's why we ordered six bantam chicks with this last order we just got. Apparently, broodiness hasn't been yet bred out of the bantams. Hooray for that!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-17914022835466285862017-05-09T16:08:44.904-05:002017-05-09T16:08:44.904-05:00MrsDM - Ya know what? When you retire you are goi...MrsDM - Ya know what? When you retire you are going to be busier (and happier!) than ever before!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-83579801613069011732017-05-09T15:21:05.730-05:002017-05-09T15:21:05.730-05:00I have been shuffling chicks and broodies and gett...I have been shuffling chicks and broodies and getting some fostered on, its a busy time of year with new flock additions Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05213759909336433460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-64062795034853584992017-05-09T12:27:35.530-05:002017-05-09T12:27:35.530-05:00I do hope the gosling is adopted! Lots of new fowl...I do hope the gosling is adopted! Lots of new fowl there; I could use a few new pullets but I think I'll wait until next year to look.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01550786937196525098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-46940558238902276852017-05-09T12:04:32.385-05:002017-05-09T12:04:32.385-05:00How do you keep track of all the comings and going...How do you keep track of all the comings and goings? I'm glad the little ducklings were nicer to your gosling. Chicks can be so nasty!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12573143203599624833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-76325372956313664352017-05-09T11:52:42.559-05:002017-05-09T11:52:42.559-05:00I hope you do get a broody hen. My heirloom girls...I hope you do get a broody hen. My heirloom girls didn't. Of course, no rooster so it worked out well anyway.<br />The last success I had was when we had bantams (banties) and they would raise chicks every spring. I should try to get a couple....but then I would need a rooster. We don't get along well!gldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645803822598151817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-27305074860773440592017-05-09T11:35:25.841-05:002017-05-09T11:35:25.841-05:00The joys!! I dream about having my own little flo...The joys!! I dream about having my own little flock one day. I just need to retire first! Araucana are first on my list....MrsDuncanMahoganyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14530532280823055509noreply@blogger.com