Padreug
cd6fbc88e8
Corrects the postal address (456 Grand Rue de Bellissen, 09000 Bénac), adds the 11-hectare land note and the Château de Bénac / Faun's Castle name, fills in spring water as the on-site source (with a phytopurification system planned in Phase I eco-building), and specifies the duck breed as runner ducks.
2.8 KiB
2.8 KiB
| title | description | tags | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens & Ducks | Daily care for the flock |
|
Chickens & Ducks
Our flock includes chickens and 4 runner ducks: Tango, and 3 others (names TBD — candidates: Polka, Pinto, Skippi, Rio, Silo, Pippi).
Daily Routine
- Open coop in the morning, close at dusk (predator protection).
- Fresh water every day — ducks need water deep enough to dunk their heads.
- Feed — appropriate grain/pellets, plus kitchen scraps (no avocado, chocolate, raw beans, citrus peels, onions).
- Egg collection — daily.
- Quick health scan — count birds, check for any acting "off."
Watching for Issues
✅ Good signs
- Active, foraging, scratching/pecking
- Bright eyes, alert
- Normal comb/wattle color (chickens) — bright red/pink
- Smooth, glossy feathers
- Eating, drinking, laying
⚠️ Watch closely
- Eating or drinking less than normal
- Ruffled feathers + lethargy
- Runny diarrhea
- Discharge from eyes/nose
- Fewer eggs, soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
🚨 Emergency — see emergency
Chickens:
- Open-mouth breathing, gasping, tail bobbing → severe respiratory distress
- Comb/wattle blue, purple, or very pale → oxygen / circulation crisis
- Standing isolated, head down, feathers ruffled, eyes partly/fully closed → critically ill
- Stops eating completely 24+ hrs → serious problem (digestive, infection, pain)
Ducks:
- Limp, weak, eyes closed, cold feet/bill, shallow breathing → shock
- Predator attack — even no visible wound, shock can kill. Call vet.
Predator Protection
- Coop closed every dusk, opened in the morning.
- Watch for tracks, dug holes, missing birds.
- Big bee/wasp activity around stables/coop → check for nests.
- Our guardian-dogs patrol the area and deter most predators.
Natural Daily Health Boosters
The "Holistic Trinity" — see natural-care#poultry-holistic-trinity for details.
| Supplement | Dose | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) | 1 tbsp / gallon water | pH balance, electrolytes, immune support |
| Garlic | Crushed clove or powder in feed | Worm prevention, anti-mite/tick (in blood) |
| Diatomaceous Earth (food grade) | Light dusting in feed and dust-bath area | Internal & external parasite control |
Plus useful herbs in feed/water: oregano, thyme, turmeric.
Predator-Attack First Aid
Even if no visible injury, call vet — shock kills.
- Move to quiet, warm, dim space.
- Wrap in towel if cold/shocked.
- Dropper of warm sugar water or electrolytes if conscious.
- Don't force food.