newbie here with three chicks and a duckling. two Comets, a Delaware and a runner duck. I am petrified of predators and am researching everything. :( I am so sorry for all of your losses. I cannot stand the thought and before they go out I am going to focus on the most secure barriers I can come up with. We live on 32 acres in Western NY and have it all out here. we have 5 dogs, horses, cats and a 5 year old son. I am a SAHM so will be around a lot. We have approximately 1/4 of an acre with a falling down 6 ft. stockade fence around it that we are going to gradually replace. There is a large area within that fence next to the house where we will put the coop ( the rambler from www.chickensaloon.com and then secure a pen area. Part will be the house, two sides the re-enforced fence and a new part will have to be put up to make the rectangle. We want to put the black plastic shrubbery barrier down ( 6") and then pour cement around the fence. I will get the night time predator lights to move around and do whatever else I can do. If anyone is still reading this thread I am open to suggestions. we also will put bird netting along the top of the run. The problem is that there are no trees in the back. I need to get some put in and also find some things for them to hide under for when they spend time free ranging. In the winter I plan on letting them have a stall with a dutch door and making an enclosure for them but that is a ways away.

I'm not sure who it was that started the Aussies. It may be who you say. I'll have to look up my info. I know at least one of the 'big shot' bantam duck breeders in PA, Oakes or Sheraw had a hand in it too. Then they went to Holderread, who has been pushing them. I agree with you, there could be a wild species when crossed with the mallard which produced a viable hybrid, or the off chance that a fertile hybrid was produced and used from a cross in which they would normally be sterile. Fertile mules as in horse/ass have been reported. My big question is that with all of this documentation on the origin of the breed, with originators and everything, why is it that no one has once offered to name the mysterious Australian species of wildfowl which was used in the cross? It is my opinion that the reason is that by perpetuating this mystique, it creates higher perceived value for the ducklings in some people who just gobble up the story without question, and want to own some of these new creations. As you see, I'm much more skeptical than you. I also have reservations because of the near impossibility to differentiate the females of the 3 varieties. There is enough confusion among people already regarding proper breed and variety designations, as you know with the African and Toulouse thing that's been going on now for over 100 years. All of the new call varieties, and even some recently recognized breeds such as Welsh Harlequins and Silver Appleyards have confusing colorations that most breeders and judges cannot even agree on. How is one expected to keep pure the different varieties of these Aussies when we can't even tell the females apart? There are differences, I know, but if given one female of each variety, I doubt that there are a dozen people who could tell which one is of which variety. The Anconas, oh boy. I'll tell you now, I'm probably about to insult you. I'll start off by saying that I do support the recognition of a randomly pied duck. I'm not big into pied animals of any species myself, but I believe that there is a place for them, and that they can add another dimention to domestic waterfowl breeding. I even support anyone who creates such a breed, and introduces it to the world for what it is. My big problem here, is the unfounded claims by the breed's originator, Holderread, who claims that they are of ancient English origin. Anyone who has had much experience with Magpie ducks knows that they are extremely difficult to breed with correct markings. Great numbers of offspring are mismarked, but a majority of them still retain a trace of the pattern, with colored feathers concentrated on the head cap and the back. Many, many of these so called Anconas also have the colored feathers concentrated in these areas. There is a close resemblance of Anconas to the many mismarked magpies which occur. As I said, I'd welcome the creation of such a new breed, even if derived from another, as long as it's done honestly. Holderread claims an ancient English origin, but he offers not one reference to the breed before he began offering them. I've done a fair amount of breed history research, and have collected a fairly good library of domestic waterfowl and poultry historical books, and have found not one mention anywhere of these so called Anconas. I've even offered $100 to anyone who could provide me with a written reference to the Ancona duck prior to Holderread. It is my opinion that the Ancona breed was made up, simply as a way to sell mismarked Magpie ducklings which would otherwise be worthless. Holderread has long since graduated from being a breeder with quality stock, to a hatchery business, hatching and selling as many birds as possible. It's a brilliant business move if you're a hatchery to find a way to profit from a formerly unsalable commodity, but where is the proof of these claims which are made? What's worse IMO, is that he's somehow convinced the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy of his claims, and they now pass along the same story. Ironically, neither one pays much attention to breeds such as the Dutch Hookbill, which does have an extensive written historical record, by many early poultry historians, and others, including none other than Charles Darwin himself. My opinion for the reason for that is that the Hookbills are very difficult to hatch, and so will never provide a hatchery owner with much of an income. End of pontification for now. Take it or leave it, but, please, try to prove me wrong. I'll even send you the 100 bucks.

i have a backyard flock of 12 hens (soon to be 16) all of who are either in lay or right at the point of lay, and i dont care what anyone says whether you call it a crow or not, my oldest hen who has been laying for the past 7 months now makes the most god aweful noise you have ever heard and to make it worse she is teaching all the others to do it too. now from what i have been told this is quite common practise for hens to do but the reason not many people are privy to the info is that like myne they do it during the day (keep in mind its not to say they wont or cant do it at night ) and because i am a stay at home mum the kids and i spend alot of time with them and we have heard it. i will admit they can be very shy so murphys law is that youll be with them all day and it wont be till you have turned your back on them that they do it i wonder if too they think you wont know who to blame. to be honest i realy feel for you because we too weeded out our roosters and the only reason the hens get to stay is they lay well. on the note of getting roosters to stop crowing try what you like but the fact is who is smarter them or us and look carefuly at the facts now, we are the ones trying hair brained schemes and ripping our hair out and they are laughing in their chickeny voices. my last bit of advice is do what i did and move the coop far far away as far as you can put them on your property, move your bed to the other side of the room and prey, lots and lots of praying cause if god cant shut them up no one can.

This thread is getting very slow to load, so I'll start a continuation of it. Please let this thread lapse. Hope you don't mind dandyrandlou. Part 2: https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5724528/can-we-start-a-new-chain-reaction-game-part-2