Its winter so time to rethink the pond. My pump gets clogged almost daily with feathers. Does anyone have a good feather excuding/filter solution? I tried some diy hacks like plastic baskets and mesh bags. Anyone using garbage bin pre-filter/skimmer with lava rock and chicken wire.
I did buy a...
I've done shavings/straw layers the last 3 winters but am going to try wood chips (free from Chipdrop) this year and straw. The straw is to just give them something soft to snuggle into when it's extra cold. It's also lighter for half frozen mucking out. The pine shavings compress and don't...
The sandbox pool goes away when the hard freeze comes (which makes it too heavy to dump.) One oval rubber tub says out all winter with a heater. They don't wander and stay close to the coop when it's snowy. Rain, snow, deep freeze the birds choose to go out all day every day. If the weather is...
I have a Chinese knock off turkey sized door I got from Amazon that is no longer available. It has a daylight sensor that I supplement with LED lighting to keep it open at night. It also has a sensor if a bird is in the opening. Been working great since 2021. If you are an engineering sort it...
Drakes for sale. Ancona x Runner. $15. I have a chocolate and lilac/lavender I'd really like to go to a breeder. Also some splashy colors.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ancona-x-runner-drakes-wa-idaho.1641474/
Ancona x Runner duck flock so some are pure and others crosses that may look pure. Voice and/or drake curl sexed. $15 each.
Ancona pure white
Ancona pure white crested
Ancona black and white, recessive chocolate x2
Grey Mallard Runner x3 (eclipse plumage)
Solid black
Black with white chest and...
Feeder goldfish here are 50 for $10. Less expensive than chain pet stores but not cheaper than feed. Mine are gobbling a $25 bag of feed every 5 days right now so I feel your pain.
I'm really happy with this Ancona x Runner cross so thought I'd share.
Drakes: Ancona Black, chocolate recessive; his son; Mallard Runner.
Hens: Ancona, only recessive (no black). Runner: black, blue, mallard.
Overprotective Ancona Mom is giving the stink-eye. Edit: 2 Ancona drakes behind her.
My boys tend to have a wife and 2 or 3 other girls in his harem he courts treats well. But as soon as the other drake's back is turned he is sprinting over to force breed those girls. I had one drake abandon his harem in the back yard to charge all the way around the house to force mate the...
250 gallons I way too small. I had 15 ducks and 4 geese last year and my 10ft round, 2.5ft deep above ground pool (dug into the ground) was always a mess. Feathers, poop, dunked billfulls of mud, etc.
Be sure to add a surface skimmer for all the feathers. My current pump is getting clogged...
I bought a folding coop this year and I'm happy with it. I put it inside the big coop with a heat plate, food, and water. As ducklings aged I propped the door open so babies can go in and out but adults can't. You can also take it outside for sunshine time. I used it a second time to keep mamma...
Rubber tubs are great in winter. Even when they freeze solid they don't weigh too much to flip and thry put up with the abuse of being kicked or stood/jumped on. Mine fit 3-4 ducks or 1 goose. I use a use bucket heater that keeps it open except on bad sub-zero snaps.
I also have a pond with a...