http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ Farming Friends Forum Tag: housing en Thu, 23 May 2013 05:20:04 +0000 http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2412#post-17784 Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:30:33 +0000 Eucybear 17784@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi<br /> I am new to the forum, but have had quails in the past which I have kept successfully with aviary birds, but I now have several breeds of hens in together (both bantam and large) and when any other type of bird comes into their territory they get very aggressive. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2719#post-17203 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:51:05 +0000 campbell ridge 17203@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Even though ducks may stick to their own kind, the urge and pull of other ducks being nearby will always be there. My two groups constantly bicker and misbehave when together but in times of crisis and when at rest, they all like to be close together - even if there is a wire mesh fence between them - they also squawk and shout to each other if one of the groups loses sight of the other. :) </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2719#post-17200 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:13:34 +0000 Pastordot 17200@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hmmm, I hadn't thought about the fence keeping me from being able to see them. I may need to consider a more open fence design with chicken wire. </p> <p>These ducks will be in the back yard (a fenced in area inside my fenced in back yard), which is separate from the side yard where the other ducks visit.</p> <p>Presently, for the time being, George and the other two are in an enclosed area up against the house on the side where the others visit. George is actually originally from the group of the ones that visit- he is the one that injured his leg and couldn't walk- so I kept him separate to keep him safe. </p> <p>Then when the Cayuga appeared under my bush and was so friendly I put her in with him and she seemed right at home. The Black East Indian is a bit more skittish, but gets along well and lets me pick him up. I don't think these two were ever actually 'in the wild' except maybe for the short time before finding me. </p> <p>Lucky, who was rescued at one day old, has been inside since coming but I take her outside on the sunny days to forage and romp in the back yard. </p> <p>I plan to re-home George to a friends farm that has several other ducks and a nice lake in a fenced in area all to themselves. He doesn't seem to interact much with these two and I think that since he was previously used to having the lake when he was in the wild, he will enjoy being where he can swim more freely. It would probably be very therapeutic for him.</p> <p>Hopefully these three will get along well together. If they should decide to go 'sow their wild oats' elsewhere I won't keep them against their will, but they seem quite content for the time being. Actually the Cayuga and East Indie did get out one day last week when I had put a newer bigger pool in their enclosure and didn't put the piece of wood that I had as a sunshade back on the top. </p> <p>I realized it as I was driving away to go somewhere and spotted them walking out of the yard and across the street. I felt so sad to lose them, but figured that as long as they were happy it was ok, but then the very next morning they were both back by the enclosure and seemed quite happy to let me pick them up and put them back in. I think they decided they have a good thing here. (...and no other ducks chasing them about as those others seem to do constantly....)</p> <p>Blessings,<br /> Dottie </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2719#post-17195 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:38:00 +0000 m40mo 17195@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>mine free range but in turns due to males fighting and are locked in their pens when we go out for their own security dont have the thick wooden fence anymore Dottie mainly because its hard to see them through it lol x<br /> do think your situation though is entierly different to ours as the ducks you are talking about are basically wild ducks or at least have experience being wild, and you are visited daily by the other wild ducks, can't help feeling if the 3 you mention are allowed to free range then one day maybe next spring they will go off with the others, sorry if that sounds harsh or sad but its a very strong possobility and your youngest will also be able to fly so that also has to be considered xx </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2719#post-17191 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:11:54 +0000 campbell ridge 17191@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Dottie, my ducks are free range as we do not have a fox problem (never say never however) They live on grass, have access to plenty of drinking and bathing water and food - layers pellets - all day long. They are locked overnight in a garden shed (their palace) where they do not have food and water, from dusk til dawn - or 7.30am in the summer.<br /> Sarah </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2719#post-17173 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:38:07 +0000 Pastordot 17173@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Thanks Mo. I have not seen any foxes in this area, although I have been told that there could be so I would want to protect them from that just in case. The other ducks that visit seem to stay in my front yard really late at night sometimes, just sleeping in the open not too far from my house- so I'm not sure if that would indicate there is not predators like that.... </p> <p>I was figuring on using a wooden fence like yours and then putting the wire netting on the inside like you did so nothing can get in or out. will that be good enough to keep foxes out? I know they will need to be locked inside at night as well so we will be putting a door on the house and make sure they all go in there each night.</p> <p>Blessings,<br /> Dottie </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2719#post-17172 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:29:08 +0000 m40mo 17172@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>its just bird proff netting Dottie do you have things like fox mink etc that are the real worry x </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2719#post-17171 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:18:00 +0000 Pastordot 17171@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I did see a hawk in my yard that one day that tried to take a young mallard, and we have cats around. </p> <p>The ones that I am presently keeping in the small enclosure by the house do not have anything on top except a piece of wood over the outer most part- which was actually put there because other ducks were getting in and then going crazy because they couldn't get back out.</p> <p>Mo, I was looking at your duck pen photos a little bit ago and it looks like you put netting of some sort on top. Perhaps I should do that as well to be safe in case. What kind of netting is that...? </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2719#post-17170 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:03:10 +0000 m40mo 17170@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Dottie grass is by far the best but will get muddy also an area for them to dig up worms etc, the biggest consideration you really must make is security from predators, not sure what they will be where you are but sure there must be some x </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2719#post-17169 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:40:29 +0000 Pastordot 17169@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hello Farming Friends,</p> <p>I am preparing to set up a duck area in my back yard and am open to suggestions/ideas. </p> <p>I presently have a Cayuga female (Daphne) and a Black East Indian male (Indy) that were rescued from the lake across from my home when they were apparently dumped there about two months ago. They have been staying outside my house in a dog/or baby corral with a small pool and plastic molded dog house and seem to get along just fine with each other and are very friendly and tame. </p> <p>They will be joined by Lucky, a Blue Swedish female that I rescued as a baby 6 weeks ago and have been keeping inside. </p> <p>I envision a fenced in area for them inside my present back yard, with shrubs and flower gardens around the outside of it and a swimming area and yard space, inside the fenced area with a large dog house which will be converted into a pen for them (we will add a door and other means of accessing it to clean it).</p> <p>What would be best for their area inside the fence- straw, wood chips, stones, or grass...? </p> <p>I am on the East Coast of the USA and we are having very mild Fall weather right now, but should be getting colder very soon, so the gardening won't be getting done till Spring.</p> <p>Any suggestions, pictures of your duck areas, or ideas would be greatly appreciated.</p> <p>Blessings,<br /> Dottie </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2412#post-14694 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:48:03 +0000 admin 14694@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi quaglia,<br /> Yes I have, mine are in an aviary that I can stand up in and sometimes if they get spooked they will fly up. they don't like sudden movements and they don't like me wearing a red/pink/orange top, these colours seem to really spook them. You could put some soft material on the roof of the hut to stop them hurting their heads.</p> <p>Mama has just let me know that I missed out the not in the above post, so it should have read. I would not keep quail and hens together. sorry about that, was typing too quickly and not proof reading!<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2412#post-14692 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:31:31 +0000 quaglia 14692@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Thank you for all the advice - just to check with sara and birdwood - you haven't had trouble with the quail banging their heads on the roof of a hutch. i've been told that can happen when they are startled, move to a new place etc<br /> Thanks again! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2412#post-14689 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:01:25 +0000 admin 14689@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi quaglia,<br /> I would not put quail and hens together. I have read that quail can get poorly from living with hens and as has been mentioned I have found hens to be a more agressive breed towards other species of birds. my hens will square up to my ducks who are larger than them if the ducks get too close!<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2412#post-14687 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:58:25 +0000 Birdwood 14687@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>I've got a couple dozen quails in their own hutch. There was a fighting issue with the males, where one had his head so badly pecked that he lost all of his facial skin and feathers. After he healed I tried putting him and two hen quail in with my chickens, and they nearly got eaten. The chickens went at them insanely. So unless your hens aren't as bloodthirsty as mine, it may not work well keeping the two species together. I have large-fowl chickens, but bantams may coexist well with quail, being more size-similiar. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2412#post-14680 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:33:38 +0000 quaglia 14680@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Thank you for the info. Is a vertical water drinker an option for them do you think?<br /> My chicken are pretty easy-going but will bear the caution in mind!<br /> Thank you again </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2412#post-14679 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:28:48 +0000 RPun 14679@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi,<br /> I have japanese quail and to be honest they seem very docile and don't fly up. Apparently they can jump/ fly up to 6 or 7 feet...<br /> I have got a circular chicken pellet feeder and this is very good for my quail, but I also have an aviary drinker and this doesn't work very well- they just kick the straw etc into it and it gets dirty and clogged.<br /> Sorry, I don't know about the chickens, but I think I have read in previous posts that some breeds of chicken are very aggressive, so not sure...<br /> from Jane </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2412#post-14677 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:21:56 +0000 quaglia 14677@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I am just about to acquire 4 quail. 3 hens and 1 cock. I am planning to keep them in a chicken-type run and coop but am concerned about them bashing their heads on the wire when they fly up startled. Are there solutions to this? Also, I already keep chickens - is there a possibility of putting them together further down the line? Are there particular feeders that suit quail?<br /> Thanks for all advice - needed and welcomed! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1296#post-10238 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 21:13:12 +0000 vernonpurcell 10238@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>My ducks just rested up on the snow, but when I put some staw in their pen they we all on it. They preferd the insulation of the staw. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1296#post-10236 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:42:22 +0000 Omegaman 10236@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>That's lovely, Dottie. I am so envious that you have your own local lake and ducks. If the lake is a reasonable size and not frozen over, and there aren't too many ducks, I am sure they will find enough food. Like you, however, I would still be feeding them treats anyway. I always promised myself that I would not try to "domesticate" my wild ducks or their offspring but I still couldn't resist feeding them. They are such endearing creatures, and so friendly. Keep up the good work and enjoy their company!<br /> Ken </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1296#post-10235 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:18:41 +0000 Pastordot 10235@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Thanks Ken,</p> <p>I would expect that the mallards will fly to wherever it is warm and protected. </p> <p>I was thinking of the other ones that we have on our lake that look very domestic and don't fly. Just curious what they do.</p> <p>They've been coming to snack at my house in the mornings and afternoons, but it's not their main diet, just extra treats, so I don't think they depend on it at all, just seem to like the diversion I would guess.</p> <p>Blessings,<br /> Dottie </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1296#post-10233 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 10:32:52 +0000 Omegaman 10233@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Dottie<br /> Wild ducks are generally able to cope, provided they haven’t become too dependent on people feeding them. They are incredibly well insulated against the cold conditions, and are sensible enough to know when winter is coming and fatten up on the right foods. My wild ducks only came to my garden during the breeding season but I was always aware that their “home base” was elsewhere and that it was quite normal for them to visit other ponds and lakes in order to feed. The danger occurs when they are so overfed that they can’t fly elsewhere to get to alternative food sources, or they don’t want to fly because people regularly feed them .... and then the people stop. As long as they can find some open, unfrozen water they should be OK. Since moving house, I still miss my visiting wild ducks but in all the years they came, when they flew off at the end of the season I never had any worries about them not being able to cope with the cold weather.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Ken </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1296#post-10210 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:48:11 +0000 Pastordot 10210@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Sarah, in another post you mentioned that you have wild ducks that stay on and around their ponds throughout the winter.</p> <p>I know that a lot of you are having worries with your ducks with the extreme snow, cold, and ice that you all are having and am just wondering how the wild ones seem to be coping with it all.</p> <p>Blessings,<br /> Dottie </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1120#post-8054 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:54:56 +0000 admin 8054@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Jonathan,<br /> I am sorry that Phoebe is looking waterlogged.<br /> I have read that shaft lice can be a cause of this as the ducks/geese over preen as the lice are itchy and this can damage the preen glands. Illness can also damage the preen glands and then the waterfowl can get wet feather.<br /> Sometimes feathers can get soiled by spores or plant oils and this can lead to wet feather<br /> Wet feather can be resolved when the waterfowl goes through a moult.<br /> Is it possible to shelter the area where Phoebe ranges so that she can still range about in her usual space but can keep dry as I know she is blind so I know it's important for her to know where she is, otherwise I would suggest keeping her inside. Are you able to keep her in her hut with food and water?<br /> Does Phoebe allow you to pick her up, if so I would gently dry off her feathers, although I am sure you are doing this.<br /> Hope she is ok.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1120#post-8052 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:45:29 +0000 Mama 8052@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi, I do have geese but no idea about the illness. So sorry that she is not well on top of everything else. Do hope someone can help you and Phoebe. If you look at the<br /> Poultry Keeper.com it does have interesting info about wet feather . We learn something every day .Regards Mama. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1120#post-8047 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:13:44 +0000 fagusabello 8047@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Ah, I am now very very worried about Phoebe (my blind goose). It has been raining for two days here and while the others (Ducks &#38; Geese) look fine, she looks waterlogged. I think she has "wet feather" disease. Any one with experience, any help please? </p> <p>Thanks.<br /> Jonathan </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=989#post-6728 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:53:33 +0000 Mama 6728@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>And cleaning !!!!! Mama </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=989#post-6713 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 05:36:56 +0000 campbell ridge 6713@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Keeps us out of mischeif eh girls? think of all the other things we could be doing..............<br /> like spending money or anything else for that matter </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=989#post-6710 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 05:23:11 +0000 m40mo 6710@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>lol my Pete is a ff widow too, but at least i dont natter through all his boring tv programms<br /> Mo </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=989#post-6705 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:45:05 +0000 Mama 6705@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>My hubby knows I go to bed with Farming Friends or facebook , on my laptop of course. We can not help having such lovely pals .Yes Lisa's pics of the huts look great. I am sure they would do well selling them . I would not be on either if it was not for FF and enjoy every minute . I wanted advice and just happened to find the web site . I don't have a lot of input at the mo but still love reading all .Mama </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=989#post-6703 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:21:31 +0000 quax 6703@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Well, it is so interesting to hear everyone's point of view, ideas and clever tips and of course see all the lovely pictures. Even if they aren't of ducks!! </p>