My babies all arrived this morning. At 6:40am I got my call from the post office and drove into town to pick up my babies from Ideal. The box seemed so small for so many lives to be enclosed!!
Got them home and sorted into their brooders. Almost immediately there was a problem. It was clear that one of the gooslings thought my place was way too cold and was going to tell the whole world about it so they got moved for a few minutes into the chick brooder where a 250 watt heat lamp is set up. The ducks and geese were sharing an 85 watt lamp. Ducks were huddled under the light while the chicks were all bunched up away from theirs. So next I lifted the light on the chicks and they spread out. Then I lowered the one over the ducks and away from the geese brooder. Last I moved the two geese into the ducks brooder since they share similar habits. Everyone seems to be more comfortable for now .
Problem kids: one of the geese (same one who was complaining about the cold) keeps getting into the water and has to be pulled out and warmed up! Then there are the chicks. All 25 arrived alive and in good shape. I bought one of those red plastic feeders with lots of holes for little mouths but never thought the little mouths would be followed by little bodies that once they climbed in couldn't climb out! So I lifted the lid but since it's attached I could only flip it open. Of course half a dozen chicks keep getting themselves caught under the lid!
I've got to fine toon this set up some more LOL! I'll take pictures soon and post them this evening.
MollyD
They're here!
Yay Molly!
You can snap the lid off the feeder if it's the long red plastic one. That is what we ended up doing for the same reason. Once they get bigger, put it back or they'll flip the food!
I don't know nothin' bout them geese. :)
you can just skip the feeder for a week LOL. use a pie pan, or just spread it on you non-slip flooring. it's easy to clean the poop out with a kitty litter scooper.
if you have some gladware or tupperware, a tall container will help the geese. short enough they can get there heads in , but tall enough they can't climb in...
here is a good care page on waterfowl i found the other day:
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKRaisingDucklings.html
it says they need 90 temp the first week. and wood chips are fine after two weeks, and goslings are VERY susceptible to spraddle legs....
see you soon, ne ChickenMama!
♥^_^♥
tf
I pulled that red feeder out Michelle (took up way too much room in that brooder) and put in two small bowls with their feed. They seem much happier judging by the contented peeps I'm hearing. The ducks and geese must have been really parched cause they drank and drank so much water! They dunked their heads and sat in it too. Now they're lounging under their light and preening. They look happy. I've got some yogurt warming to room temperature and I'll offer that to everyone later today. Lots of good bacteria in that. The geese and the ducks got some cut up fresh buttercrunch lettuce and seemed to enjoy picking at it. It's lettuce I've been growing so I know there are no chemicals on it.
MollyD
oh, to be a goose in your brooder, buttercrunch is my favorite!
I don't have anything like that tf :-( I know the info is not to let them get in the water but they seemed so happy in it! I made sure it was room temp too. No shrilly peeping going on so everyone must be happy.
I read that page before but thanks :-) Lots of info is better than no info!
When I arrived with them the Malamute wanted to know if that was breakfast!! Erk!
MollyD
LOL tf I grow it in large pots on my deck. Keeps it for me and not the slug and rabbits!
MollyD
be careful, and keep them dry, they really can get chilled. when my duck hatched out her own they were nearly 3 weeks old before their feet touched any ater...
what, you didn't bring your dog a donut? when i go to pick mine up [stormy/cold/rainy now], i will be stopping at the donut shop...
that is a great container lettuce!
he's already 160 pounds! Doesn't need any donuts!!
MollyD
ROTFLOL One of my BIL took his dog with him every day, to the drive thru for an egg and cheesy.
160 pounds is a lot of dog!
Oh Molly.. how much fun is this... lol Are you laughing and crying all at the same time? You little worry-wart..
Didn't you watch the show and see how the hatchary sort of throws those cute little babies around...
They aren't complaining.. those are screams of YIPEE!!! lol
I think after my first 4 weeks of a new chicken Mom.. My new expert brain tells me you will be alright.
OK, Molly, stop posting and TAKE SOME PICTURES!!!! You're killing me here....
LOL I have taken some pictures but Paul's computer is the one with the software on it so I have to wait till tonight when he comes home and persuade him there are people in serious need of these pictures!
btw my ducks are Cayuga Ducks. Two of the 4 have little tuffs of lighter colored feathers on their heads. Does that mean they're crested? What does this mean in terms of a mate?
I just went out to the greenhouse to open it up and on the way back I grabbed a handfull of lush green grass. Clipped some for the chicks and gave the rest to the geese and ducks. The geese are scarfing up the lettuce! I watched one of them tackle a piece the size of an earthworm and gulped it down. He looked like he said "ah" afterwards! LOL
They're all doing this very gentle chirping that sounds very mellow :-)
frans530 no crying here but lots of laughing! They're so much fun to watch that I keep forgetting stuff I have to get done. I'm also learning. I have their thermometer at the cool end. When it reads 79 to 81 they seem happiest and spread out all over the brooder. I think putting the geese in with the ducks was a good idea since they've led the ducks into eating and drinking. Before the ducks were just sitting under the light looking around. Now they're doing different things and checking things out. A win-win all around for that brooder. This will probably work for the next week or two.
MollyD
congrats molly!
i've been pulled in every direction, so a bit behind
we never hatched out any more babies in the incubator & the five ducklings have a home and the one gosling is SPOILED....was so lonely when the ducklings left my husband held it two nights in a row to get sleep!
our toulouse geese pair had 4!
was surprised at that....they had them swimming in the first couple of days....made me worry, but they all did ok with their mom & dad
we lost the smallest one of the four this morning, but the other three are doing fine
your babies sound like they are doing well:-)
Congrats! I am glad everyone arrived happy and healthy.
larlienda they're beautiful! When I watch the wild ducks they're taking their babies into the water right away. Guess they can't afford to wait till they're older. These guys are so funny. They grab a mouthful of food and then run to the water and drink. Sometimes they jump into the water and play a bit then they come out and preen their feathers under the bulb. A few mins later they're at it again!
LoraK I think one of the ducks may not make it. It's the smallest and seems to be getting weaker instead of stronger with each passing hour. I can't get it to feed like the others. It drinks a little water but that's been it. Sleeps a lot too. I let Ideal know there was a problem with this one.
The rest seem fine. There's even some horseplay going on. I gave the chicks some grass and one of them grabbed a piece and ran with others behind. Earlier I fell asleep on the sofa next to the brooders and when I woke all the babies in both brooders were sleeping too! LOL As soon as I moved they did too.
MollyD
good thing you don't have those goats yet!
cheer up, the other duckie may pull through. some are just tired from the trip, & if he isn't hungry yet, he won't eat...
hugs
tf
Yes it is! I was so happy that everyone did not arrive here today. We're getting the goats on Sunday. Paul has the day off and can help me then. He finally picked up the last of the fencing today. We're hoping to get more done tonight but it's clouding over so we're a bit worried about the weather. I'm so tuckered out I haven't done much on my own today.
We've got about 50' to finish the fencing and then there is the gate which has to be mounted along with a pole to lock it on to.
That baby was weak even in the box. When I opened it he was the only one lying down. I guess I'll know by morning.
MollyD
Congrats Molly, and poor little ducky baby. Hope he pulls through. Cant wait to see your pictures! -Jaime
Thanks Jaime,
He's still hanging on. I've been dipping his beak into water with vitamins and electrolytes. Can't hurt and will at least keep him from dehydrating. He tries so hard to follow the others and gets tuckered out from it.
Now my chicks are whole other story. I thought Buff Orpingtons would be these mild tempered little things. They're a bunch of hooligans! One will grab something and run. The others will give chase stomping over anyone who gets in their way! I'm already thinking I need to move those 10 into their own brooder asap!!! Like a little street gang!
MollyD
Well, when they start putting graphiti on the brooder walls you will know its time!!
I think they've already started LOL I heard this rat tat tat sound. Looked over and there were several Buff butts in the air. They were trying to rip the piece of wood that holds their heat lamp up!
MollyD
No, surely they are not Orpingtons! Orpingtons are sweet and cuddly and good, good, good--Ask any book on Poultry....unless maybe you got all roos.......:0)
cat, you are soooooo rotten!
Ouch! LOL Maybe they are. Suppose to be a straight run of 10. Was hoping for some pairs but maybe there are just 10 dinners!
Here's a shot of the hooligans ^_^
MollyD
and another
and the geese
more geese
crested Cayuga duck and goose
assorted waterfowl LOL
Cayuga Duck without the cresting
The little Cayuga Duck didn't make it :-( He died during the night.
MollyD
awwe.. so sorry, Molly...
frans530,
Thanks. I was sorry but not surprised cause he was in real bad shape. The trip here took a lot out of him. He was clearly the runt of his clutch.
MollyD
soory about your guy. my blue girl didnt' make it through the night either, and i got up several times. but not the last time she need help. ;-(
btw, my straight run i bought in FEb turned out 85% roos... they are free ranging and growing so fast!
all those pictures look great, i bet you are a busy mama!
You're not kidding! I'm changing water on the ducks and geese about every 3 hours cause they make it so messy! Just now I heard what sounded like a horse race in their brooder. It was one of the geese running with a particularly juicy piece of lettuce!
They're starting to know my hands. The geese so far have the most personality :-) A good thing since they're among those staying with us (as in not for dinner!). The ducks are way shyer than the geese and seem to defer to them on everything. They're not afraid of them cause at rest time all of them cuddle up together.
Chicks need either a larger brooder (they're in a 90 gallon) or two brooders so the little thugs can have their own space. Just my luck they'll all turn out to be roos. I told Ideal about the dead baby and they're crediting us for him.
I noticed that Ideal charged us for a small order even with the addition of the ducks and geese. How many do they expect you to buy so you don't have to pay that surcharge? I'd rather spend the money on chicks than on a surcharge!
I can't wait till the geese and ducks have an outside space. They so want to be swimming. Too cold outside for them though. Next week they're going into the greenhouse (I'll run the heater for them in there) and I can put out a small tub for them to have fun in.
These kids all move so fast that I'm afraid to take them out of their brooders for pictures. That shelf liner seems to give them a really secure grip judging by how they move on it! Thanks to who ever it was that mentioned it cause it's great!
MollyD
Great pics. You are right, those orphs do look like a wild bunch. Everyone looks so happy and healthy. Thanks for the pics, and keep the updates coming!
Will do!
MollyD