Recent content by Sosalty

Makes sense. We've loads of young hawks squawking thru the day. One coyote goes on a yipping spree multiple times a day. He is wily and has outsmarted me at every attempt to get him. He comes close but remains in cover. I've never seen him. There's snappers in the creek. The grown woodies...

I had a big snapper that slept 40 yds from pond. He'd travel to the water around 11pm, then return to sleep under a large boulder around 4am. Try laying some long string around the pond come evening and check it early next 'morn. Might work for both Otter and Snappers.

We've lots of Woodies come in last week of Feb. The hen in our tan nest box had 11 ducklings bail out into the pond. An hour later mom led 'em thru the woods to the creek, late April. Sadly, our trail cam wasn't sensitive enough to photo the little guys jumping. (I've reset the sensitivity.)...

Lined or stone/cementous Coy Pond concept is where I think you're planning to go. Making a third 8" shallow is a great idea. 100sq.ft.+ of water surface is large enough, ducks will have a blast, [but you will have mucky water, plan a way to drain and change water often and think...

Muscovy eggs are similar in size to chicken jumbo eggs. Duck starter with niacin is good, later all flock pellets (check niacin). Snacks such as peas and mealworms are rich in niacin. Had a hen same size as her brother and at 7 weeks figured out, she was a Lu-roy, not a Leroy.

True, they spend their nites on the island. They do visit their pen and prefer to lay eggs there. Easy to get 1 or 2 in, but not all 3 as they're hesitant to enter with me there around sunset (but all 3 will visit mid-day when I'm cleaning.) 1 at time will enter for a minute but then head...

There's 3 hen black Muscovy; maybe 7.5lb per bird. They're 10 mo. and likely siblings purchased from Metzer's farms. I had white duckling Muscovy before and they perched. Not these blk, only occasionally perch on large rocks at the ponds edge. They walk (all over really) up a slight slope...

Thanks Tookie. Glad you mentioned "it's the ammonia," not just the moisture accumulation. I've so many ways to go for this project. They rarely poop (ammonia) around their nests now that they're laying eggs. Since they sleep huddled together and only when the temps drop frigid, I'm leaning...

" I've almost given up on my 3 Muscovy hens going into their pen at nite several times. I search these threads regularly trying to understand what's happening. Not certain, but at this point my guess is they have a strong attraction to their natural pond, they've all been zapped by the...

Looks great with lots of room/pastures. Dogs would need contact with both the high wire and other fencing that's wired to a ground rod, for it to zap, since some dogs 'climb' rather than jump over.

I know, it's spring going on summer. But May/June is slated for the major build or rebuild duck pen/coop. Since my Muscovy hens insist on sleeping on the pond island, and will only take refuge in their coop when it's below 20f degrees; I'm torn between putting in ventilation and making their...

The article is lengthy so I pasted the main idea: https://learnpoultry.com/ducks-niacin-deficiency/ Allowing the ducks to free-range – Another excellent way to prevent niacin deficiencies in your duck flock is by allowing the birds to free-range. Free-range ducks feed on many niacin-rich foods...

Having 'coons in close proximity has got to be unnerving to both you and your ducks. Feed 'em only in your run?kennel where 'coons can't get. Corn/pellets dropped will pay them off. Coon proof nightly storage. Secure simple latches and knobs, 'coons have thumbs! Yes, electric fencing works...

Remove pool from run (if practical). lure 'em into run with treats. Reintroduce pool to run once they're comfortable. Make water entry and exit easy. Try putting in snacks and later treat 'em with live minnows. Start with shallow water they can stand in. Some have had to devise clever water...

3 today: my 3 Muscovy laid their 200th egg around May 1 I thought they were quitting a while back yet they took a 2 week sabbatical and took up laying again. Most days 3 eggs, once a week or so, just 2 eggs