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One of Valhalla's Ancona ducklings at five days old. She had a lot to say to the camera! |
We'll start with this report on raising different poultry flocks that will soon provide all the eggs and some of the meat needed for post-9/11 combat soldiers and war zone civilian workers who come to the property.
Over the past months we’ve raised Guinea fowl keets, Freedom Ranger chicks, Ancona ducklings, Midget White and Narragansett turkey poults with success. Sure, we’ve had a few losses early on, especially with the Guineas who seem particularly fragile as keets, but have been 100% with the chicks, ducklings, and, so far, with the poults. Knock on wood.
We don’t
have any secret touches. We read just about everything we can, select the most
applicable lessons, and learn from trial and error. However, we have picked up
on a few tricks that have worked for us and may be helpful to anyone in a
similar situation.
With the Guineas, we found that introducing finely chopped greens (clover and dandelions were favorites) at a very early age really pleased and stimulated them. The keets seems extraordinarily shy and fearful of any new object added to their brooding facility. Even a rock would spin them into fits for hours. We made a small roost for them and they cowered for two days before finally climbing all over it.
With the Guineas, we found that introducing finely chopped greens (clover and dandelions were favorites) at a very early age really pleased and stimulated them. The keets seems extraordinarily shy and fearful of any new object added to their brooding facility. Even a rock would spin them into fits for hours. We made a small roost for them and they cowered for two days before finally climbing all over it.
We had
read extensively about introducing greens to chicks and ducklings but none of
the literature mentioned offering it to Guinea fowl. Intuitively, it made great
sense. Guineas are omnivorous and should be interested in greens. Atypically,
when we poured a small amount of greens around the litter they hit it like a
school of piranha, cleaning it all up in minutes. Daily, we’d add more, varying
the type by what was handiest to clip and always trying to include some of the
clover and dandelions they favored. Every offering was multispecies and
included grasses as well as broad leaf “weeds.”
We
handled the keets a lot, and have followed that same pattern with chicks,
ducklings, and poults. It seems to give them much more confidence around humans
when they free range later, for all of the birds approach very close and many
actually snuggle or ask to be petted. Visitors have noted that they’ve never
seen Guineas as tame as ours.
In
contrast to the keets, the chicks, ducklings, and poults are intensely curious
and are immediately attracted to anything new introduced into their
environment. So we began experimenting with different “toys” – anything ranging
from a plastic cup, to a small ball, to a cardboard box, or even an empty plastic
soft drink bottle – and they seem to enjoy it immensely.
When we see aggression – and it pops up with every poultry species in our experience – it seems to indicate boredom. So we give them something to distract them from picking on the weak by introducing new experiences into their environment.
When we see aggression – and it pops up with every poultry species in our experience – it seems to indicate boredom. So we give them something to distract them from picking on the weak by introducing new experiences into their environment.
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Portable pet fencing is invaluable for safely moving ducklings around the yard - and for separating out any injured birds while still allowing them to safely stay with the flock. |
As soon
as possible we moved the Anconas outside during the day, using a combination of
supervised free range and the remainder of the day in an enclosed portable pen.
The variety has reduced aggression considerably – we simply don’t see them
picking on each other any longer – and today we moved the two healing ducks
into a similar pen adjacent to the flock so that they could get some sunshine
and fresh air too, and enjoy themselves foraging. Within a few more days we
expect to be able to reintegrate them back into the main group without any
feather pecking.
As soon
as they don’t need brooder lights any longer we push poultry outside in nice
weather either in protected, portable pens, or letting them range under
supervision, and get a taste for the outside world. This gets them eager about
foraging at a young age, lets them see the other resident fowl and animals (including
the cats) up close, and gets everyone accustomed to living with everyone else.
These little tricks have worked for us and we
hope that others might find something useful here that will help you, too. Most
of all we have greatly enjoyed the interaction with the poultry and look
forward to them getting older (and, we hope, wiser) so they will free range
together without serious argument.
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