The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: doganjo on October 12, 2010, 09:44:24 am
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Does anyone know where I can get chick crumbs in the Stirling area - I know David at Tilly may have them, but if he doesn't is there anywhere else?
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sorry, can't help you there, Annie (would know Fife)
but I take it CONGRATULATIONS are in order?? How many?? :&> :&> :&> :&> :&> :&> :&>
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Kerstin, there are three - born on Monday last week. all 6 hatched but one that was cracked late on Monday night was dead next morning when I got up - no idea what happened there s there was hole the size of a half crown and the beak was out, another had a gammy leg and I just found it dead one morning, a third obviously had come out too soon and was still attached to it's yolk sac. There is a ginormous yellow one, and two black/brown ones a bit smaller. I got chick crumbs at McCaskies but tehy only had a 5kg bag and at the rate these are going trhough food it won't last very long. Anybody know what to put them on next and at what age?
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If I remember right they are better going on to duck crumbs...something to do with the protein levels!
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How lovely - how did you get the funny mix? Same here with the chicks: 3 mums, all looking fairly the same, same dad, 3 chicks in different colours (white, light brown and black!).
Member SuppliesforSmallhoilders should be able to help you out if you pm them, they mightnot have seen your news yet :D :&>
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annie,i got some at caledonia market (i think that's what it's called - its near the thistle centre?). 25k bag for about a tenner if i remember rightly
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remember some chick crumb has certain things in that will kill ducks. i think its the cocci additive they put in some brands so make sure you get some that is ok for ducks.
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remember some chick crumb has certain things in that will kill ducks. i think its the cocci additive they put in some brands so make sure you get some that is ok for ducks.
OK now you've got me worried!
It's Dodson & Horrell non GM poultry starter crumbs - oil 3.3%, fibre 3.3%, Lysine 1% (what's that?), Protein 19%, ash 5.1%, methiomine 0.4%(what's that?) No mention of cocci anyhting in the ingredients - wheat, soya, barley, vegetable fat, vitamins, phyzyme (what's that?)
Help - I'm an accountant not a flipping scientist! ::)
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poultry does usually mean all - if in doubt give them a call or email! :&>
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I've scoured this bag and can find nothing else on it it says it is non GM, vegetarian formula and traceable raw materials.
Methiomine is an amino acid, same for Lysine and Phyzyme is an enzyme that helps them absorb amino acids
Surely it must be OK.
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blurb from their website
>>High quality complete feed is designed to encourage birds to take food and is suitable for all classes of poultry and duck. To be fed up to 6-8 weeks of age depending on the type of bird. Starter Crumbs contain an organic acidifier to help prevent infection and disease and can be fed with herbal tinctures for an all natural approach to managing the bird through periods of stress.<<
your ducklings are safe :&
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Thanks, Kerstin - now for a person who googles everything why didn't I think of that!!!!!! ::) ;) ;D
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Will be trying them in the bath this evening when a friend comes over to tea - will get better photos of them than in their brooder box. And don't worry, I WILL use warm water and I WILL dry them off properly before they go back in there, don't want them catching cold or getting arthritis in their dotage, do we? ;D ;D
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;D ;D :&> :&> :&>
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OK, the smell cannot be tolerated any more :notwell: so this weekend they have to go outside! I have a shed, I have a heatlamp, I have an extension cable, there is a tarp on the shed floor, I have a big flat metal dish for their food and a plastic blow up baby pool for their water, I have puppy pen panels to keep them in one area of the shed 4 foot by four foot, the shed has double doors I can open up during the day once the dogs have been out. At the moment they are having fun in the bath as it is easily cleaned and their box is absolutely minging, but they have to go back in there at night and I have to keep the bathroom door securely shut - caveat pussycat. ::) Anything else?
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Sounds like you have everything covered Annie. I know that smell only too well! ::) Just keep an eye on them for the first while yo gauge the right height for the heat lamp.
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Sounds like you have everything covered Annie. I know that smell only too well! ::) Just keep an eye on them for the first while yo gauge the right height for the heat lamp.
Thanks, James. It's been off during the day for the last three days and only on at night. Will I need to have it on all day when they go outside? They are almost 3 weeks I think.
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If they are going to be coming in and going in freely I would keep it on as it is soooo cold. If they are going to be outside all day and just back in at night put the lamp on about an hour or so before they go back in.
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Oh no - once they are out in that shed they are there till they can go in with their Mum and Dad! There is NO WAY they are coming back in my house! Anyway, there may be little brothers and sisters awaiting their box if I can get it cleaned out well enough.The shed is draught proof and I can shut the doors if the weather isn't good.
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I don't know what setup you have doganjo (or location) but inside (their house) with a good haybox to snuggle up in used to be the old fashioned way. Ducklings usually come off heat completely at 3 weeks (mine hatched same day as yours).
Ideally, they should be fully feathered before they go outside, it's getting a bit nippy now.
This is one idea: a medium sized dog cage in their house, lined outside with paper sacks on all sides bar the door (for added insulation), and then inside, fully lined as a haybed. Letting them have a bit of a run during the day, and then into the haybed over night with the door closed so they stay together. That should give them plenty of ventilation from the cage door area (and no draughts).
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That's more or less what I have outside. It's my large potting shed - I have a large dog cage out there with a wooden base in it, which I could cover with plastic to stop it rotting and to clean easily. Not sure what I could cover the sides and top with though, but will work on that tomorrow. I have a puppy run that I can put round the cage so they have an area to play and a wee baby's paddling pool for water - blow up type. However, I've just run out of straw and to be honest I'm not convinced of its usefulness as it would spread all over the place. Their Mum and Dad have straw but they have a proper shed and the babies will go in with them as soon as they are big enough anyway. I have towels in their box at the moment which I change about twice/three times a day, although I wouldn't do it that often once they are outside. I have a lot of old towels so could carry on doing that, especially as I have a spare washing machine for my dogs beds anyway. Any other ideas for bedding in a dog cage?
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Do you know if they are males or females yet? I mean, have you sexed them!! I am collecting the hubbards this w/end so hope they will not mind the pen!
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Annie, apparently ducklings can mistake shavings for food - so better use any other bedding. Other than that, all sounds perfect for your youngsters ;D :&>
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Kerstin, what age would I be able to sex them? At the moment 2 of the three look much bigger so give the impression of being drakes but I know that isn't a sure method. Do I have to wait till their voices mature?
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voices and curly tail feathers. It's a wee bit early to tell...aren't yours mixed breed? Then size might not be an indicator. :&>
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Dad is a Swedish Blue, Mum is a Khaki Campbell as far as I know - mixed brownish shades. Jack is a lot bigger than Jemima I must admit. The grey one with the cream chest bib last time turned all white. So this one might too.
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My ducklings are now 4 weeks old and have been out in the shed for a week. They are fine there but obviously they need to get outside soon. Can anyone give me advice on how to integrate them with their parents (who don't know them), and also when they will be able to be in a shed with an open pop hole. Their Mum and Dad are in a big run that they theoretically at least can't escape from.
Any thoughts folks?
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I'm a bit excited..................... ::) :D I am almost 80% sure I heard two of my baby ducklings quack, which means they are girls. I've asked before but can anyone advise me how soon I can put them in with their Mum and Dad. They are fine where they are except I can't leave the shed door open in case the cat has a go at them - or the dogs for that matter - so they have daylight but no view if you know what I mean. They must be about 4 or 5 weeks old now. The duck shed isn't really big enough to split. The rats wouldn't take them now I don't think as they are quite big.
I need to get rid of the rats but can't put poison down because of Rio, my cat, who is a hunter/killer/eater ::)
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Annie, I can't advise you on the "reunion" with mum and dad as I got mine quite late from James - I wished I had done it earlier at the time, I remember that because they were almost fully grown and simply strangers to the others. I left my chicks out to meet dad and the harem at about 5 weeks, they did get shoved around but not too badly.
Regarding poison and cat - the environmental guy left a secure poison box for outside so the birds don't have access to it. He also said that the cat would have to eat about 20 poisoned mice to get a problem. Should she show any signs of bleeding from nose, ear or mouth she had too many and will need the vet to give a coagulant.We've had poison out for several years now and never had a problem with the cat, she also does not seem to be interested in poisoned mice, they don't move fast enough to trigger her hunting instinct. :&>
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No no no. Never put poison down for rats / mice. Not even in a box especially made for the stuff. Poultry, cats etc WILL eat carrion.
I'm not meaning to offend anyone, and I know some will say 'but he must know his job' - but it would take eating 20 poisoned mice to 'show up' (of course he would say that, he's selling the stuff)? There is plenty of evidence to prove otherwise. Do you think you could eat the equivalent of 20 mice worth of poison and think you wouldn't feel the effects?
Much more I could write on this but it's off topic!!!!!
GRRRRRR >:( >:( >:( >:(
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Doganjo, to try to help you - my ducklings hatched same day as yours. Have been mixing with adults now for just over a week and sleeping in same quarters for last few nights. This is how I did it, don't know your setup but maybe you could adapt it:
Appx one week of:
Night - Ducklings in sep sleeping quaters to others. Day - Ducklings could see out through temp chickenwire fence but not get out, so all could see each other. Fed inside sep to others.
Followed by appx 3 days of:
Night - Ducklings still in sep sleeping quarters. Day - Ducklings out with others (they have lots of room to get away from others if necessary).
Now:
Fulltime with adults. Night in same house but a few sep haybeds made up inside so ducklings can stay together.
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.....couldn't add anymore text to last post but re food:
When the ducklings still had sep sleeping quarters, I fed them separately in the eve but when they mixed in the day I let them have breakfast outside with the others. I made sure there were enough feed containers down and let the ducklings out first to have first 'raid'. The bigger birds will barge them out of the way so keep an eye on them at these early stages.
Now they are all together I still make sure I have plenty of feed containers out, but they all have both meals together. The bigger birds will race out over the ducklings when I open their door first thing so you have to be careful they don't get trodden on by an eager hungry adult. The adults might show who boss a bit but overall they should be fine. Just keep a careful watch on them.
If they aren't getting their fair share you may have to give them an extra meal and keep the adults back (with a bit for them) whilst the little ones scoff.
Hope this helps.
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Ohlala, no offence taken. We did have NO choice. They were and would be everywhere eating not just our food but my books and actually the house, floorboards, and beams. We tried all humane methods including the frequency thing, traps, you name it, for years. As I said - no choice. How do you cope with them then? :&>
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Thanks for help, Ohlala, re integrating ducklings but I have no way of separating them from the adults - once they are out there they eat the same as them and sleep in the same place, so maybe best I keep them separate for a couple more weeks.
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Anyone know when I can give them adult food - they just scatter the chick crumbs unless I moisten them. When they go in with Mum and Dad I will have to feed them the same anyway, but with egg laying more or less stopped for the winter they could probably eat the chick crumbs and growers pellets too, couldn't they? These ducklings re getting almost as big as the parents now so I think they'll be OK to integrate in about a week. Plus I'm pretty sure at least 2 of them are girls. I just need to cover the sheep wire with netting so they can't get out of their run.
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I think you will be OK at 6 weeks old!! Ducks, well male ones are sexed crazed bests!!!
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absolutely, Sandy! Maybe not so much at this time of the year ;D
But the youngster boys are usually troublemakers until integrated! :&>
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Right, I think next weekend is free so they are going round to the front run with their parents then. I'll start introducing some pellets gradually too.
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Mine (same age) get a mixture of chicken pellets and about a week later I introduced duck pellets (which are a little larger).
:farmer:
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I put them in the shed last night after I put Mum and Dad in. When I opened up and let the parents out into their run Dad immediately went over to them and I thought he was going to threaten them through the wires - but no, he went and lay down beside them. Mum was too busy eating to notice they were there! ;D It was dark when I got home tonight so they were still out, obviously didn't know they should go inside with Ma and Pa. So I shuffled them into a corner and put them in one by one, opened up the hatch and they all went inside. Will just have to remember to feed them their chick crumbs after letting Jack and Jill out to the big run for their pellets. So far I think I have at least two females and the third is the smallest so with a bit of luck they all are.
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How nice, good you chose to do it now! Would have loved to see their Dad with them! :&>
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Here they are - http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u16/doganjo/
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Good to hear your ducks are doing well Annie. My four can go outside during the day and do sometimes but often or not they are running around in the stable building. I have two Saxony drakes who quake but they are males, the Indian runners make more of a honking noise, only three have the curly tail so it was a bit confusing at what I had. Mike my friend breeds ducks, he came to collect what I thought was a female but he assures me it is male. I have mine just as pets so not bothered about no eggs, over the summer they will be outside in a large inclosed run with their pond. I love to watch them when I clean this out and fill again with clean water, they are like kids playing in a bath. Its a childs paddling pool that is easy to move about. Mine are now on wheat which I put into a basin of water, this stops the chickens stealing their food and it does say to give it soaked. :)