Silver is at it again. She tried twice last year to hatch a nest of eggs and was not successful. The first time she started a nest one of the dogs we had visiting ate all of her eggs and the second time she tried under the chicken coop and we eventually had to take her eggs when they didn't hatch. This year she tried going under the coop again, but we blocked it really good and we gave her some nesting options. She choose the blue water barrel that has a section cut out of one side. Each day she would hop the fence and visit the Muscovy Drake, Quackers, to try for viable eggs and each day she would go back to her nest and leave behind a new egg. This went on for about a week and now she is sitting on her nest full time...Before she took over the barrel one of the chickens was liking that for a nesting box too and had left behind a couple of eggs...wonder what she will do if she hatches a baby chick or two before her ducklings hatch? I guess we will have to wait and see! :0)
We do still need to fix the bottom of the coop up with some chicken wire all the way around the bottom on three sides so that the birds can't get under there, but air can. If not too much moisture will gather under the building and rot out our floor and of course the birds would go under there and hide our precious eggs from us. We are getting 6-7 dozen eggs a week and they sell for $3/dozen! If we can line up steady customers that would help cover the cost of feeding the birds. Plus if we hatch more Muscovy ducks we will be selling them in just a few months for $20 each with a minimum purchase of two.
No comments:
Post a Comment