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The Quack Shack
Today our little weird Welshie boy was found dead in the middle of the large duck house. There was no blood and no indication yesterday that this could happen. He was 5 months old and very strange - he remained small, was never fully feathered (areas with down remained) and those feathers that... -
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The Quack Shack
It's hot here as well! For three more days or so we'll be at 30 c... And then the real autumn rolls in. -
What did you do in the garden today?
Very nice, what is it called? Our similar looking one (meaty, really large) was Homestead but looking at the online descriptions I'd say it was mislabeled. -
What did you do in the garden today?
What on earth is a bindii... Oh okay. Ew! "Bindii dermatitis is a form of irritant contact dermatitis resulting from injury by the seed of the bindii weed." Does this happen a lot? Is it nasty for ground-foraging birds as well? -
What did you do in the garden today?
It's pawpaw time for us (46 N latitude), we like Sibley the best. Rheinischer Winterrambour apples to the right, they come in all sizes and shapes. One is even pretending to be summer squash. -
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The Quack Shack
The July Khakis turned out to be 3+3. Sold 2+2 today, 1+1 ready for Sunday and they will all be in new homes. April Welshies and Appleyards starting to lay. Still trying to sell 2 Appleyard boys, they're very beautiful but nobody wants just boys... I'm thinking we'll overwinter them and then... -
What did you do in the garden today?
For sure. Just make sure you've got a seedless grape variety. Himrod has been great for us in a not particularly grape-friendly location (flat land given to early spring frosts) at latitude 46 N. The raisins that I prepare are dark and quite hard because I dry them super thoroughly to avoid... -
What did you do in the garden today?
Himrod seedless grapes, before and after -
The Quack Shack
Those are the latest generation Khakis, 5 weeks old now. We think we can hear 2 girls, maybe 1 boy and the rest are a mystery at the moment, should be another week or two for them to develop their voices. -
The Quack Shack
A young Silver Appleyard boy has the gangster markings on his head like he should; but no green coloring. The other two have the green sheen. Does this mean that he's maybe a mix or is it considered a normal degree of variantion for this breed? -
What did you do in the garden today?
Hot summers do help with varroa - a little unexpected since it came from India originally. On the other hand temps of 40 C and more can be tricky for the wax structures the bees build. -
The Quack Shack
We also lost 4 ladies these last days :( the fox dug a hole under the fence and nobody spotted it in time. Being extra watchful now.