(morning update below)
Thanks, Kevin565,
Right now I am with the ducks, as the chatter escalated into what might be a shouting match, at least between a few of the ducks. And little Carmella seems to be a spitfire, pushing her head between the 2"x3" gate, to nab at Romy. Nice (not).
I think I will hang a towel over the gate for tonight. I hung a towel over the shared fence section, too. Part of me wants to spend the night here to referee. Probably doesn't need to be done. It is one of those moments where the bliss is slightly overshadowed by the rough spot.
They are ducks, being ducks.
Also, I noticed the other day that five of the runners have green tinges on their bills. I have written before that bill highlights for my runners are like mood rings. When the bills have blue highlights, there is less fussing in the flock. When there are green-tinged bills, the crankiness level is elevated.
.....
Morning update 10/01
Happy new month!
Things are okay, and NOT miraculously lovely.
But the initial phase is proceeding normally.
Highlights:
Romy is being picked on by the runners sometimes, low-grade stuff, nothing nasty, mostly poking. She eats with them, swims with them, then sometimes they chase her around. Sometimes they chase each other around.
Romy is still part of the runner flock.
Carmella is a spitfire. So is Romy.
Romy and Carmella engaged in a little sumo wrestling this morning. The buffs were in one section of garden, runners in the other (by design). Carmella rushed at Romy who stood her ground. Breast to breast wrestling with some feather pulling ensued. I looked over and saw the runners all pressed against the fence, yelling "Romy and Carmella are having a fight! Romy and Carmella are having a fight!" Picture the crowd in a movie about Roman gladiators and you'll get the idea of the noise level.
Moments later, Carmella trotted over to Hazel and Bean, who had been watching quietly. Bean seems to want no part in drama (hurray). Hazel is one of the loveliest ducks physically and personality-wise I have ever met. Think Audrey Hepburn.
Romy took a drink, then went over toward the runner flock. We got her back with her runners, took the new buffs back into the basement pen, the runner flock went for a nice walk and then up to the day pen, and I had some yogurt.
By the way for those who don't know, the basement pen features a nine foot wide window, gets lots of fresh air most of the day most days, has an air purifier and I would happily (and have sometimes done so) sleep there.
