The journey into the abyss of no return

[Weldman]

It is possible they may not come back much.... these are Khaki Campbells right? They are among the more "laying" of the breeds of ducks. But, we usually figure at least 2-3 months from molting to back to laying on most chickens... so they may still come back to laying in another month... the trauma may affect them in delayed laying response also...
I don't know what would be the best advice on them... I think I would give them another month or so.... and hopefully no more traumatic upsets...
I figured you had covered the "no trespassing" sign thing... sometimes the simplest things can get overlooked... so I thought I would mention it...

Yes Khaki Campbell ducks and I appreciate it as we all miss something sometime that is so small. Though as the saying goes, "For want of the nail"
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

They will get an extra month, won't cull right away as I need them for bait "if" the drone is still around for the cameras to catch them or they get a new one since the last one is missing.

 

[Mini Horses]

An MIA drone??? Wonder hmmmm

 

[SageHill]

Oh wait --- put little tracking collars on them!!! (warped sense of humor kicking in)

 

[Weldman]

Oh wait --- put little tracking collars on them!!! (warped sense of humor kicking in)

They don't go far, free ranging they only cover about 250' radius at most. Always within eyesight.

 

[Baymule]

Give them some time. It takes a lot out of a layer to molt and grow in new feathers. That’s a lot of protein in those feathers, and now winter and shorter days are coming on. They laid all through winter last year because they had just started laying. This year they have molted and you may have to wait for longer days or provide light. Hint on the light, turn it on early in the mornings, so as daylight happens, it’s a continuous flow of light. Providing extra light in the evening, then lights out, doesn’t give that evening dusk to get settled for the night.

I don’t know if that applies to ducks, but it sure applies to chickens. Chickens go to roost for the night and sudden lights out leaves them lost and confused.

Molting and resulting in no eggs for 3 months was not fun. Store bought eggs can’t compare with REAL eggs. I used to buy 6 chicks every spring. They started laying in the fall, laid all winter and the next summer, then molted in the fall. That was group one. In the spring I bought 6 more chicks, different color. Group 2. They started laying in the fall, taking up the slack for group 1. Group 1 came back into lay in the spring. In the spring I bought 6 more chicks, group 3. They started laying in the fall. Group 1 and 2 molted and quit laying. Group 1 got butchered and put in the freezer. Old laying hens make delicious soup, among other things. In spring, rinse, repeat.

Each spring I bought 6 chicks, each fall I butchered 6 hens. I used sex links as they lay like crazy for 2 seasons, then slack off to half or less.

I really ought to get chickens again.

 

[Weldman]

Give them some time. It takes a lot out of a layer to molt and grow in new feathers. That’s a lot of protein in those feathers, and now winter and shorter days are coming on. They laid all through winter last year because they had just started laying. This year they have molted and you may have to wait for longer days or provide light. Hint on the light, turn it on early in the mornings, so as daylight happens, it’s a continuous flow of light. Providing extra light in the evening, then lights out, doesn’t give that evening dusk to get settled for the night.

I don’t know if that applies to ducks, but it sure applies to chickens. Chickens go to roost for the night and sudden lights out leaves them lost and confused.

Molting and resulting in no eggs for 3 months was not fun. Store bought eggs can’t compare with REAL eggs. I used to buy 6 chicks every spring. They started laying in the fall, laid all winter and the next summer, then molted in the fall. That was group one. In the spring I bought 6 more chicks, different color. Group 2. They started laying in the fall, taking up the slack for group 1. Group 1 came back into lay in the spring. In the spring I bought 6 more chicks, group 3. They started laying in the fall. Group 1 and 2 molted and quit laying. Group 1 got butchered and put in the freezer. Old laying hens make delicious soup, among other things. In spring, rinse, repeat.

Each spring I bought 6 chicks, each fall I butchered 6 hens. I used sex links as they lay like crazy for 2 seasons, then slack off to half or less.

I really ought to get chickens again.

Last winter I never turned a on light in the morning, but it is on timer to turn on around 1600 to 1700 hrs in the evening and stays on till 2100 hrs.
They haven't molted for the winter yet, they last molted back in June.

 

[Weldman]

 

[Weldman]

You know those walk-in meat freezers, yeah with 3 inch insulation and spray foamed all cracks and crevices I think I built one to live in. Not the prettiest job need to trim some from the front door, but yeah sealed tight, just don't fart inside, the increase in pressure will pop your ear drums.
Now everyone can see by what I mean on the end caps and how this place unlike traditional homes is very efficient. Home within a pole barn, first two pictures is the front door I built. Out the back door if you look up there is my winch I brought everything up with, makes unloading the rig easier or loading and for hanging animals for cleaning 15' from the floor up there to the slab down below

 

[Baymule]

It might not be pretty but I bet it will be warm!

 

[Ridgetop]

Last winter I never turned a on light in the morning, but it is on timer to turn on around 1600 to 1700 hrs in the evening and stays on till 2100 hrs.

Hint on the light, turn it on early in the mornings, so as daylight happens, it’s a continuous flow of light. Providing extra light in the evening, then lights out, doesn’t give that evening dusk to get settled for the night.

Bymule is right - for poultry/birds you need to have the tmer on several hours before dawn then let the natural dusk send the birds to roost. Otherwise they get caught off the perches or out of the night nesting areas making them vulnerable to predators.