|
BHB posted:we have muscovies and they do chase around flies and such sometimes, but I wouldn't get them expecting them to solve any fly problems. they also require more maintenance and effort than chickens. Thank you! What kind of special care do they need? What do you like best about them and what is your least favorite thing about them? I’m also interested in raising them for meat, do you have any experience with that?
|
#
?
Oct 12, 2021 01:40
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 12, 2024 10:40 |
|
|
Joburg posted:Thank you! (I'll be answering with my partner's help, she has a good bit more experience) special care: they want water pools, which they'll dirty up very quickly with mud and poop. they'll also stay in one area and muck it up more than chickens. My partner mentions at the farm the flock had a large grassy field complete with pond, but they stayed entirely around the food/water troughs and turned the area into a plantless mudzone. Our own bird area we keep separated from the green zones and chip or cover with straw because they keep the whole area eaten to the ground. You also have to be more aware of your flock's gender composition, ducks can be brutal to each other when you have too many boys to girls. you would also want to read up on their sexual behavior in general, which is often pretty unpleasant. overall you're just looking at more cleaning, more plant destruction, and more poop. The good news is that as much as all of that applies to Muscovies, it applies far more to other types of ducks. Muscovies are smarter, more personable, and cleaner than the other varieties we used to have. They also hiss and hoot instead of quack, which I find pretty cute and which won't likely bother the neighbors. I most enjoy watching them, the ladies have very active group dynamics that involve a lot of hooting and tail wagging. They'll also come up and do little bites at the air at me when they think I have a treat for them. The boys are pretty easy to befriend as well. I least like how much the boys can be assholes to each other and to the girls. it's even a classic reason for people who get ducks to give when getting rid of them. The boys are the meat birds at double or more the weight of the girls, but they're not a great feed-meat ratio due to how long they take to grow. the meat is pretty tasty though, if you've ever had Barbary Duck somewhere, it's that. that's a jumble of thoughts so here's Opus, my special drake: BHB posted:
|
|
#
?
Oct 12, 2021 04:43
|
|
|
We had our first chilly soaking rain of the fall, and our birbs were not happy. Most of them just sitting under the coop and a few in the coop taking turns poking their heads out. Can't say I blame them I basically did the same all day.
|
|
#
?
Oct 12, 2021 05:03
|
|
|
Amazing that the larger goats let the tiny one stand on them.
|
|
#
?
Oct 12, 2021 07:56
|
|
|
those are some delightfully plump goats and basilisk ducks 
|
|
#
?
Oct 12, 2021 11:26
|
|
|
 egret has always been super shy. she hates to be handled and doesn't show much interest in what humans are doing, unlike the others - even kestrel is easier for me to pick up than egret now, he's calming down with repeat handling but she still panics every time. but she is an absurdly beautiful bird
|
|
#
?
Oct 12, 2021 11:56
|
|
|
Looking at getting some sort of solar powered light set up in our coup for the winter just to help keep the girls laying eggs regularly. Anyone use anything like that? Have any links?
|
|
#
?
Oct 12, 2021 21:06
|
|
|
BHB posted:that's a jumble of thoughts so here's Opus, my special drake: Thanks for all the info, I love your drake.
|
|
#
?
Oct 12, 2021 22:10
|
|
|
Injured chicken is hobbling around and eating and drinking, so fingers crossed, she'll be ok!
|
|
#
?
Oct 12, 2021 23:01
|
|
|
Way to go cheep cheep
|
|
#
?
Oct 13, 2021 13:37
|
|
|
good luck to your chicken! look at these little beasts, they look so innocent  but my pumpkin tells another story  
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 06:31
|
|
|
hahaha oh no! will the pumpkin recover?
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 06:44
|
|
|
not to sure. I harvested all of them and put them in the garage so the green ones can hopefully finish ripening and no more will be pecked. I'll wash this one with a bleach solution and that might help it maintain its integrity?
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 07:13
|
|
|
Might as well just give up and let them have it. They've got the taste for Jack o lantern blood now. Think how much chickeny joy will be had!
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 16:08
|
|
|
they were already given two small pumpkins which gave them a taste for it but i want the big ones to carve. they can have it back later i guess
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 16:23
|
|
|
City of Glompton posted:good luck to your chicken! Haven’t you heard the tale of the Headless Horseman? You have a chicken missing a head right there, so she’s probably looking for a replacement. 
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 16:36
|
|
|
yeah now she's having to use a branch as a head
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 16:55
|
|
|
lol i was just noticing that it's very difficult to get their heads in the picture, they're always pecking the ground here they are enjoying some leftover groats this morning 
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 17:23
|
|
|
borbs aplenty 
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 20:20
|
|
|
Joburg posted:Haven’t you heard the tale of the Headless Horseman? You have a chicken missing a head right there, so she’s probably looking for a replacement. Genuinely opened that image in a new tab to zoom as I tried to determine if it was pecking the ground or just a
|
|
#
?
Oct 14, 2021 20:29
|
|
|
triangle hen
|
|
#
?
Oct 15, 2021 01:14
|
|
|
City of Glompton posted:lol
|
|
#
?
Oct 15, 2021 01:15
|
|
|
 when i take the lid off their box in the morning, moose lifts her wings and all the chicks flutter out from underneath like moths
|
|
#
?
Oct 15, 2021 05:11
|
|
|
Little mama Moose!
|
|
#
?
Oct 15, 2021 07:34
|
|
|
mahershalalhashbaz posted:
We need footage of this. NEED!
|
|
#
?
Oct 15, 2021 09:02
|
|
|
Captain Log posted:We need footage of this. NEED! 
|
|
#
?
Oct 15, 2021 12:55
|
|
|
mahershalalhashbaz posted:
 how precious
|
|
#
?
Oct 15, 2021 14:51
|
|
|
Here are a few of our girls who are looking fantastic coming out of their molts: Nooter:  New Girl:  and Papi (who did not want to be photographed):  also got a video of my special girl climbing up in my lap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcIJGB8Zhxg e: also seconding the need for video of quail peepers 
BHB fucked around with this message at 23:01 on Oct 15, 2021 |
|
#
?
Oct 15, 2021 22:53
|
|
|
I don't have chickens, but I follow this thread because chickens are great and y'all are great and I love following along with your bird adventures. Anyway I came across this photo of sweater chickens and thought you might enjoy.
|
|
#
?
Oct 16, 2021 19:47
|
|
|
Ah, what do you know? I DO enjoy! Thank you!
|
|
#
?
Oct 16, 2021 20:11
|
|
|
So much chicken poo poo on the sweaters
|
|
#
?
Oct 16, 2021 20:15
|
|
|
Mustache Ride posted:So much chicken poo poo on the sweaters Nope, only if the fabric goes between their legs. These look like front, over the shoulders and under the wings.
|
|
#
?
Oct 16, 2021 21:38
|
|
|
I dunno, my girls manage to poo poo on each other's heads occasionally. Sometimes I think producing poo poo is their true function, and the eggs are just incidental byproduct. Imagined fucked around with this message at 22:09 on Oct 16, 2021 |
|
#
?
Oct 16, 2021 22:07
|
|
|
effervescible posted:I don't have chickens, but I follow this thread because chickens are great and y'all are great and I love following along with your bird adventures. Anyway I came across this photo of sweater chickens and thought you might enjoy. this is delightful!
|
|
#
?
Oct 16, 2021 22:36
|
|
|
What breed is that on the right?
|
|
#
?
Oct 16, 2021 22:40
|
|
|
Imagined posted:What breed is that on the right? Polish?
|
|
#
?
Oct 17, 2021 00:07
|
|
|
BHB posted:Nooter:
|
|
#
?
Oct 17, 2021 00:19
|
|
|
aww she loves you so much 
|
|
#
?
Oct 17, 2021 01:15
|
|
|
Cross-posting from the Comics thread:Professor Wayne posted:The Far Side
|
|
#
?
Oct 17, 2021 16:54
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 12, 2024 10:40 |
|
|
quail o'clock has returned to my house. they come to our yard to feed in the morning and evening. yesterday evening i watched them for a long time before i spooked them by dispatching a hornet that landed next to me. this morning i had to spook them when i went out to close the gate that the chickens were heading for anyway here they are running away  i want to be a quail watcher when i grow up, they sure are cute
|
|
#
?
Oct 18, 2021 16:23
|
|