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Post by Sylie on Jul 11, 2018 9:27:09 GMT -5
Awesome!! Ducks are pretty reliable layers, they don't slow down in winter like chickens, my cayuga lays religiously every single day. Some days the eggs are gray, some days off white, some days black as pitch. She took a week off of laying a couple of months ago and her first 2 eggs after starting up again were black black. Funny thing is, the black scrapes off hahaha, the shell underneath is white! When the eggs are gray or off white, it doesn't scrape off. Molting slows them down a pinch like every other day but they don't stop. (at least mine don't)
Seeing that you have a drake, Bubble's eggs could be fertile, you could hatch duckies!!
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Post by chickenqueen on Jul 11, 2018 10:14:01 GMT -5
They are so pretty!!!What color are they?Today they look more green than black.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 11, 2018 17:32:00 GMT -5
She just started laying my friend said, so far whitish eggs. In the light bubbles looks more seal brown, and buck has gorgeous green feathers on his neck and head. They are just a year old. They are still afraid of me so pics are not the greatest  |
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Post by maryellen on Jul 11, 2018 20:00:16 GMT -5
Video from tonight
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Post by Sylie on Jul 11, 2018 21:16:08 GMT -5
They are definitely beautiful! I'm not surprised that her eggs are whitish, that's normal. They can be anywhere from black (like I mentioned before) to off white/white ish that you are seeing. IMO that means she is a good, reliable layer, how it works (with cayugas) the black is like ink or paint, there is a limited amount of ink/paint, the more she lays, the less black they get. If she takes some time off, her ink/paint refills and the eggs will be darker again. I usually use a printer cartridge as an example. so the lighter color they are, the more regularly she is laying, it's a good thing! Someday she will give you a black one and if you are anything like me, it will be a thrill.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 11, 2018 21:29:11 GMT -5
So like chickens, the end of laying season the ink gets lighter so my blue and green eggs get really light. Im all excited now for a black egg.
I wonder, if i got another female would her and buck accept one?
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Post by Sylie on Jul 11, 2018 21:39:40 GMT -5
ducks don't actually have a laying season, at least mine don't, they lay all year but they will take a few days or a week off now and then. When that happens, the eggs will get darker for awhile, depending on how long their break is determines how dark the eggs will be when she starts again.
It's likely that they will accept another, just like chickens, you'll have to watch them for a day or two, there will be a shoving match between the girls but I'm sure Buck will be delighted. They shove with their chests and charge at each other and occasionally they will grab the back of the other's neck but it's not usually anything to worry about, just keep an eye on them. It will help Bubbles come mating season for sure. Ducks have a voracious appetite for the girls, even more than roosters and can pull every feather out of her head/face/neck/shoulders and I've seen pictures of a duck that lost her eye from being over mated. These 2 are young but come next spring/early summer, he's gonna want every girl he sees and even other boys! (I know you only have the two but he will be blowing kisses through the fence at your chickens all day long)
I find it is MUCH easier to integrate ducks than chickens, I've done it several times now with the ducks and it rarely comes to anything more than a few good shoves, maybe a short chase around the yard. I've never had any damage/injury from new duck integration.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 12, 2018 11:36:39 GMT -5
If i decide to get another 1 or 2 thats good to know. Right now im just sticking with these 2 so i get to know them better
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Post by maryellen on Jul 15, 2018 10:17:58 GMT -5
Ok . They are messy. Very messy.. so far since friday night ive cleaned the water bowl 3x friday night, pretty much every 3 hours yesterday and last night, and this morning twice already..
I didnt realize they were this messy omg.
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Post by chickenqueen on Jul 15, 2018 11:58:04 GMT -5
So,you have discovered the joys of waterfowl.Did you learn nothing this last year with my experiences with the geese?LOL Wait until this winter when all the water they splash out turns to ice.I landed on my butt more than once last year and plan on getting ice cleats this year,seriously.You have been warned.As messy as they are,I love them to death and I hope you can love the ducks,I've read they make wonderful pets,more so than geese(they have attitudes).I think I love the geese more than the chickens but don't tell the chickens..........  |
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Post by Sylie on Jul 15, 2018 12:32:04 GMT -5
I think I mentioned they were messy, if I didn't, I'm sorry. They are MESSY! Very messy!
Like CQ said...wait until winter. I would highly suggest you make or get or whatever, raised water bowls for winter or you'll never get them out of the ice. I spend half my winter days chipping and shoveling large chunks of ice out of their pen. Every night with the breaking up of ice lol. They don't need water or food once you have locked them in their coop at night so there's no point in leaving it in there to freeze, just fill the bowls in the morning and break the frozen skim off the top periodically through the day then dump at night. I'm sure that I don't have to tell you, no pool in the winter. I bring my ducks into the house once a week in winter for a nice warm swim in the bathtub, blow them dry after they've preened for half an hour or so then back out to the yard. Just make sure they are good and dry or they won't be able to stay warm. (wet down turns into icicles and ice cakes even with the warmth of their bodies)
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Post by chickenqueen on Jul 15, 2018 13:46:47 GMT -5
Sylie,I use a 2.5 gallon heated horse bucket in the winter time for the geese,it's perfect for head dipping and doesn't freeze,even out in the yard.I use a heated dog bowl in the coop because it's easier than the heated waterers which fill from the bottom, leaks and has to be protected from the elements.You can get them for under $20 at Rural King,a very good investment and saves you time,effort and grief.In the winter time,I've got heavy duty extension cords all over the yard but it's only for 3-4 months a year and saves me a lot of work and grief and no more fighting with frozen waterers or worrying if their water froze yet..
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Post by maryellen on Jul 15, 2018 17:53:36 GMT -5
Yeah CQ but i didnt think they would be this messy omg. I have heated water bowls for winter and the pool wont stay. Im debating on removing it now. I spent an hour cleaning their pen. Insane.. i dont know if im up to it , ill give it another week to see if i can get a system going .
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Post by Sylie on Jul 15, 2018 21:05:24 GMT -5
Sylie,I use a 2.5 gallon heated horse bucket in the winter time for the geese,it's perfect for head dipping and doesn't freeze,even out in the yard.I use a heated dog bowl in the coop because it's easier than the heated waterers which fill from the bottom, leaks and has to be protected from the elements.You can get them for under $20 at Rural King,a very good investment and saves you time,effort and grief.In the winter time,I've got heavy duty extension cords all over the yard but it's only for 3-4 months a year and saves me a lot of work and grief and no more fighting with frozen waterers or worrying if their water froze yet.. I don't know what Rural King is but I would assume it's some kind of farm supply or pet supply or something? I'll google it. I've used a heated dog bowl before but it still freezes to the ground from the spilling and splashing then I have to chip it out in order to wash it twice a day. I'll see if I can see if I can find a heated horse bucket, I've never seen one around here. Everyone just uses tank heaters for the troughs. 2.5 gallons is a tad tall for my khaki's, I have a bucket that size just for that purpose but it's not heated. The khakis have to stand on their tip toes and then they can only get the tips of their beaks in. I just use a jumbo sized dog bowl for them. I suppose that I could cut the 2.5 gallon bucket down a little and put pool noodle covered in duct tape on the edge so they don't cut their throats. The dollar store here has 2 sizes of pool noodle so I could get the skinnier one, that might actually work! I have a thing in their run called a plastic pallet, I'll try to get a pic of it tomorrow, I just got it a few weeks ago so I don't know how it will work in the winter but honestly, I think it will solve the frozen to the ground water bowl problem since all of their splashing and spilling goes down inside the enclosed pallet thinger. It's really an awesome thing, it has solved pretty much all of the messy problems in their run. Of course, they are out in the yard most of the day anyway right now but... |
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Post by chickenqueen on Jul 16, 2018 11:27:46 GMT -5
ME,they are messy.It doesn't get better or easier.Between the poop and the water,it's a losing battle.At least you just have 2 and that may be more manageable.Winter was a new set of problems and I still haven't come up with a good plan to deal with the splashed water and the ice,except wear ice cleats.LOL Waterfowl need to be able to dip their entire heads in water to clean their eyes and sinuses or they get things like "sticky eye".Pipe insulation and duct tape is perfect for padding rough edges and you can use them to stop drafts under doors,too.It's cheap,pliable and strong.It's split in the middle already for easy on/off and you cut to fit.It was the only thing I found to completely fill the gap under my backdoor and it works great.How about steps for the ducks to reach the bucket instead of cutting it?Probably wouldn't take much.It's called a "heated flat back bucket" and it's 10" tall.Mine is 2.5 gal but they may come in different sizes.Rural King is a farm supply store with very reasonable prices.I get a lot of my stuff there.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 16, 2018 12:31:37 GMT -5
They are going tomorrow to the leader of 4h who i adopted a rabbit to a year ago. I am not capable for caring for them and this week with them has shown me ducks are not for me. I feel horrible, but the woman who is taking them has ducks, a huge pond, and will give them a great home
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Post by Sylie on Jul 16, 2018 19:54:19 GMT -5
Oh that's too bad Maryellen, I really thought you would enjoy them. At least they are going to a great home from a great home.
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Post by chickenqueen on Jul 17, 2018 9:27:28 GMT -5
I thought you'd keep them a little longer but I understand.If I didn't have the pond,I never would have gotten geese.I thought they would be similar to the chickens but it's a whole different ball game.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 17, 2018 12:09:57 GMT -5
Its just not a good match. They are not eating, and are not happy. I didnt want to prolong it , so felt its better they go to someone i know will take excellent care of them then stay here. I want them to be happy and its just not a good match.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 18, 2018 11:22:36 GMT -5
Well heard from connie, the ducks act like they belong there, eating great and swimming with her other ducks.
This was the perfect match.. i had to do the right thing for them, and connies house is it. She said they started eating right away and are very relaxed and happy
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