Update on Bent Beak

[henry]

Hi Everyone,
just thought i would update you with some photos of Beaky, and the new duck house.
I watched her this morning preening herself and feeding from the bottom of the pool, i also gave them and the chooks some spring greens and they liked them, she had no problem unless they where flat on the floor, but she would get them in the end. The photos are of Beaky & the chicken coops and the duck house. They seem happy in there but do you think it is big enough. I decided to lower the paddling pool into the ground instead of on the top in the hope that she will be able to get in.
We did not get the Muscovey we were expecting as the farm manager had already found a new home for it.
Pete

 

[dorsetduckowner]

wow! That is really interesting! She looks to be able to preen properly as her feathers are in good condition, although as I am sure you are aware she may not be able to waterproof herself as well as the others so it is VITAL she can get out of the pool with ease. I would be tempted to put a stepping block in the pool so she can hop out if she gets waterlogged, they can tire very quickly if this happens and then drown.

It isn't clear where there area is (you asked if it was too small) There seems to be a covered area on stone and then a kind of tunnel/plastic box and a wooden arc structure and then the pond... are these all interlinked? Do they have access to grass/pasture of any description?

Zo
x

 

[henry]

Hi Zo,
sorry should have explained better. the room enough was the A frame house i made for them, I made it from a paste table with tongue and groove for the back and the door at the front with Butyl pond liner to water proof it. the long garden tidy ior the older chicken and the rabbit hutch for the two young ones. I am absolutely fascinated by them all, been outside with ducks and chickens just watching them and having 2 cups of tea and 5 hours had gone by, i feel like i have been hypnotised.
I let them out first thing, they have a soil area lots of weeds around the garden with pots of food put in little places for themwith bowls of water they go away in the evening about 5pm with fresh supplies and fresh hay. I am using rabbit hay at the moment but am thinking of switching to straw do you think straw would be better for them.
Pete

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hi {ete

oh yes, ducks are the best time wasters ever! I spend HOURS just watching mine!

YES hay is not good for ducks as it harbors mold, mold is deadly for ducks, in any guise, this includes yeast in bread. Straw and/or wood shavings is good for their night time quarters. Mine tend to like staying up until dusk, as evening are prime fly catching and slugging time

I am still confused about housing... they seem to be in a wire structure and I cant really see the a frame house too well? Could you explain?

Very interested to see how Beaky gets on, how old is she?

zo
x

 

[henry]

Hi Zo,
she is just 12 wks so i have been told but she is twice the size of the chickens. Am i okay with hay for the chickens or is it bad for them as well.
The wire frames are 7 ft long 4ft wide and about 3ft high they are for day use when i go outI have one for the ducks and older chook and the other for the younger ones as the older one bullys them if confined. The rabbit hutch is for the younger ones at night the garden store is for the older chook and the a frame is for the ducks, although it is at best a temporary measure until i can get something bigger. I will start a new thread with some other photo's.
Pete