A new ramp for the ducks

My fat little ducks can't get their butts into the pool.  I stopped and picked up some of the flat slate that is so abundant in the bluffs here in mid Missouri, but they just couldn't get up them.  So, I went to Menards.  OMG!  I could get in alot of trouble at that place.  They have Everything!  I found some 1x2 wire shelving that you use for garage shelves and I got two.  They were about 3$ each.  Then I got a 6$ utility rug like they use in resteraunts.  When I got home I cut the rug to fit each grid.  Then I used wire ties to secure the rug to the grids and the grids to each other at the short end.  It makes a perfect ramp in and out of the pool.  They are finally getting into it.  Yeah!

Louey update -- two days and no flipping.  Maybe he's getting more coordinated. LOL

Loopy Louey (Or Louise)

That silly duck was on his back again.  (I'm assuming a he for now)  I've decided to call it Loop Louey (or Louise if it turns out to be a hen).  I don't know what to do with this poor thing.  Every day it's on it's back.  I know it's been there for an extended time because the first thing it does is run to the water dish and drink.  I'm really worried that the poor little guy is going to get dehydrated one of these days.  What can I do?

Outside at Last

Last night my son and I got in the coop and scooped all their little butts outside.  Once we got the ducks out the rest followed easier.  The ducks found the auto waterer and were in heaven.  They splashed and washed and swam. LOL  The chicks were enthralled with the tall grass at the side of the pen.  I had to go out and scoop them all back into the coop at dark because the little nit wits were roosting outside.  This morning when I opened the door though, they all came piling out and headed for the waterer. 

I also planted an herb garden at the foot of the cage where we shortened it by about 4 feet when we rebuilt.  We made it alot wider though.  We'll see how the fertile ground does with the herbs.

Swamping the house

My least favorite job is swamping out the coop. These little guys don't want to go outside and they are soiling their hay every other day. Plus, my auto waterer developed a leak, so now I have real mess. I put the auto waterer back outside, but the two small regular waterers that I have don't contain enough to get them through the day. Man those ducks eat and drink alot!

I left the babies inside while I cleaned, shooing them from one side to the other. They were a bit distressed, but we made it work. I can't believe how cold it has been. I turned their heat lamp back on because I was concerned about the temp drop. One of my ducks flipped over again. Poor thing was just laying there wriggling his little butt looking at me. It's supposed to be a bit warmer tommorow. I may try to shoo them outside in the morning based on advice I got from some of the Whizbangers.

Fence Fixed but still no help

Well, I fixed the problem of tiny chicks walking thorugh the fence today. I took large black trash bags and cut them into 12" strips, taped them together with strapping tape, created reinforcements with strapping tape, paper punched them, and used twist ties and staples to attach them all around the bottom of the pen. This creates a barrier about 1 1/5 feet high that they won't try to go through.

My dilemma is still here however. They are pooing inside the house and won't come out. I really need to clean it out. Do I give them time and let them come outside on their own, or do I shoo them out tomorrow and clean it? Any suggestions?

Cornish Cross - To Raise or Not To Raise

Our current topic of discussion seems to be whether or not to raise Cornish Cross chickens. Cornish Cross from the hatchery get very big very fast. Mine grew so fast that they just didn't move. I think it was leg problems. Some of them definantely had feet problems. I know that they sure poo alot more than standard breed chickens. I bet I had to clean six inches out of the coop after we butchered.

One tip that I didn't know about was to remove their food at night. Apparently they will eat all night if you don't. That contributes to their weight gain and their leg problems. I know that I will not raise them again unless I either have my plucker built so that I can butcher myself, or I have a processor lined up to do it. Last time my processor backed out on me. They were 12 weeks old by the time we got them to a butcher. One, I kid you not, weighed 12 lbs. It looked like a small turkey. When we say they get big, we mean it.

Since they have such a fast growth rate and short lifespan, a temporary cage is not a bad thing to set up. Pick that bald spot in the yard and let them fertilize it for you. LOL. They really can't fly because of their weight. I think a standard dog kennel or 3' tall fencing would be fine to make a temporary coop. Make sure they have plenty of water and enough room to move around if they want to.

When they hit the 3-5 lb range, don't hesitate. Butcher them then and there. From that point forward it just goes downhill. After I get my plucker built I will probably raise another batch, but not until then.

Let me know your thoughts.

A great resource

If you are into chickens, and turkeys, and ducks, then you should join our Yahoo News Group... Whizbang Chicken Pluckers.  http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/whizbangchickenpluckers/  This site has been a godsend.  These folks are all about raising poultry small scale for fun and profit.  There is nothing like raising your own food and putting it in the freezer.  I am getting ready to build my chicken plucker.  I'll put posts up as I make progress.  Wish me luck.






Click to join whizbangchickenpluckers

My first Post

Wow, what a rainy dreary day. But my ducks are happy. This is my first time for raising ducks. I went to the coop yesterday and one of the poor little things had flipped over on it's back. It couldn't get itself turned over. I never knew their wings would be so small and them so big. It was funny, but I felt sorry for the little guy. They are just so cute. If you have any advice on raising ducks, feel free to contribute.