Chucky1 Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 I seem to have got myself into a bit of a mess. A little while ago we had a duck on anti-biotics and needed to discard her eggs and a broody chicken who was making life difficult for others. We kept the broody happy by seperating her and putting one of the discard duck eggs under her. For a time everything in the garden was lovely Some weeks later TOPA hatched (there is already a thread on this) and everyone was delighted TOPA and chicken mummy have lived happily for the past 4 weeks in their own house and run. I've always been aware that the singleton introduction is not going to be easy but felt that if we could get TOPA big enough we should get away with it However Chicken Mummy is becoming increasingly "fed up" and last night slept with her old sisters in one of the cubes. So poor Tope's spent the night on its own, although chicken mummy has rejoined TOPA this morning. I'm pretty sure Chicken Mummy wants TOPA to join her in the cube - that's unlikely to happen. So what to do? The choices as I see them are: 1. Soldier on until Tope's is big enough encouraging Chicken Mummy to return when we can. Though that might mean TOPA being on their own more and more. 2. Get 3 or 4 more ducklings (if we can) and then just merge the flocks as and when, though I think this will mean excluding Chicken Mummy. 3. Don't get in this mess in the first place. Any advice gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Hi Chucky Sorry not able to give any advice but just remember what happens with every other dilemma that these duckies throw at us - they sort it out in the end . Fingers crossed for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted August 11, 2010 Author Share Posted August 11, 2010 Thanks JJ I also think that TOPA might well be a boy - he's now bigger than Chicken Mummy - and he just looks like a boy - plus when he tried to make friends with the Scouse girls, they just ran away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 All fun and games at your place then Is it easier to integrate a boy? Supposing they can just bully their way in to the group My pair are still limpit like as they are wingless - not moved from the doorstep for about 3 weeks Nice to have them there not so nice removing their 'leftovers' Can't believe TOPA is that big already from that wee fluffball. Keep me posted on progress!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted August 12, 2010 Author Share Posted August 12, 2010 We went with option 2 as I didn't really like the other choices and 3 baby KC's were introduced to TOPA this afternoon. Chicken Mummy was quickly excluded as we could see that just would not work. She was initially quite agitated about this but soon got over it. To begin with TOPA was inclined to throw his weight around a little but things have settled nicely now. Things seem better when Chicken Mummy goes out of sight and joins her sisters. So far - best of a bad job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 More ducks - well done TOPA is a very lucky lad now with his own herd of ladies! Not sure getting more ducks can be considered a bad job! You know what I want now don't you? PHOTOS Waiting patiently.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted August 13, 2010 Author Share Posted August 13, 2010 You know what I want now don't you? PHOTOS Waiting patiently.... Of course This would all have been so much easier if we weren't in the middle of taking out the fireplace and cutting the brickwork back to the original I'll do my utmost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 House renovation - pah who needs it! Still waiting ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted August 17, 2010 Author Share Posted August 17, 2010 TOPA and his gals - despite early anxieties of TOPA not playing nicely and lookinng like he had found a new source of food. Thankfully this phase only lasted a few minutes and they have now settled into a nice little unit. These pix were taken this morning when we let them out of the run before the chucks were allowed out. TOPA - not quite 6 weeks TOPA's gals just over 2 weeks old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 What a fab wee group Chucky thanks for the photos!! Topa is massive compared to his laydeeez. But my isn't he a handsome chap he has an heir of "Ooops, word censored!"ility about him - probably just his attitude! The girlies look really sweet, glad they have settled down together. Blowing a gale up here - typical scottish weather, 25 degrees at 6 o'clock and gale force winds by 7. Back to work this week but B and D surviving without me during the day. Typical - that's gratitude isn't it. They are still doorstep bound but new feathers growing in nicely. Hopefully I won't have to hose the patio for much longer Hope fireplace is looking good JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted August 24, 2010 Author Share Posted August 24, 2010 Thanks JJ Yes a bit of a howler here last couple of days - everything is still standing anyway The fireplace certainly has potential I better not post an off topic pic or the mods will be after me http://s626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/spagboll_bucket/?action=view¤t=P1010079.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Great pics Chucky .... is that the finished fireplace??? It's lovely!!! Loving the pictures of the chooks and Topa too - he's a real sweetie and growing so fast. Got any interesting names for his gals? JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 Well the plan is to put a wood burner/boiler in the firplace, line the hearth with granite, line the back and sides with light coloured bricks - and fill up the hole in the chimney. We tend to rely on visiting nieces for any names - we just have to remember them The names in my sig came from that source. The remaining chooks are collectively called "The new gals" and the 3 new KCs are "Topa's gals" - original or what Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Ah - a naming conundrum - I like it. Will put my feeble mind to coming up with something ingenious. Don't hold your breath topas little beauties deserve naming. 3 females, irish, .... [thinks]................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted August 26, 2010 Author Share Posted August 26, 2010 Maybe Andrea, Caroline and Sharon after the Corrs? Not really "Ducky type" names though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 There are lots of lovely Irish names - I just can;t spell them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted August 27, 2010 Author Share Posted August 27, 2010 There are lots of lovely Irish names - I just can;t spell them! Me 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
