Re: Wintertime issues

sbffalo_at_bbtel.com
Date: 01/24/05

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    Date: 23 Jan 2005 17:01:15 -0800

    mlowry3@bellsouth.net wrote:
    > My two ducks (White Pekins) seem to be coping with our freezing temps
    > and snow, but I have a couple questions:
    >
    > 1) They stopped laying eggs when the days turned short, but a friend
    > of mine says his chickens have continued to lay eggs, and they're
    kept
    > in an unheated, unlit barn. Do chickens and ducks follow different
    > laying schedules?
    >
    > 2) I put out a big pile of soft hay for the girls in hopes that they
    > might want to make a nest or something. So far, they still seem
    > content to just hunker down out in the (relative) open areas. Do you
    > suppose they just don't need/want a nest? I'm a little surprised,
    > since the weather has turned rather foul with temps in the teens and
    40
    > mph winds...
    >
    > Thanks for any input.
    >
    > Mark

    Hi, Mark!
    1.) Most ducks are seasonal layers, meaning that they do not lay in
    cold weather or after a certain time in Autumn beyond which their
    offspring might not survive the Winter. There are exceptions (like
    Khaki Campbells or Blue Swedish), but your White Pekins are seasonal.
    2.) The White Pekins that I've known have not been exceptionally smart.
    If you have a SECURE enclosure that you can teach them to come in to,
    that would help them through the Winter. When they are ready to lay
    eggs, you will start finding them in the enclosure in the morning. My
    seasonal layers usually started laying in mid-Februrary or early March.
    When teaching the birds to go inside, it helps to feed closer and
    closer to the enclosure each day, then herd them inside. If they are
    happy inside (find food, warm hay, etc.) they will continue to go in
    easily at night. All I have to do is walk to the barn and "quack" and
    mine come running.
    Hope this helps a little!
    Kathleen
    Straw Barry Fields Farm
    Beefalo
    Kentucky, USA

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    • Re: Wintertime issues
      ... > My two ducks seem to be coping with our freezing temps ... Do chickens and ducks follow different ... but your White Pekins are seasonal. ... If you have a SECURE enclosure that you can teach them to come in to, ...
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