I missed this post last Spring! Busy w/Iditarod in March

Nome is home and next weekend is our first butcher date for the Cornishx's...they are the friendliest birds ever...good thing the backyard neighbors are now partners w/me and going to help! So far, one pullet has had her legs go permanently on her so she's been in the house eating and drinking well. Another cockerel has one hip sticking way out but he uses his over all body strength and wings so he's done great. They're all out in a chain link yard and w/the Bantam flock (two coops). The banties were very wild when I got them from an elderly couple so the Cornishx's are helping tame them. In August that Bantie flock will most likely go to another neighbor if she gets her new coop done this year (they started it last year).
I really love my RIR and BO flocks, the Ameraucana's, too. And my young Bantam flock is also very friendly

The Gold Lace Wyandotte pullets are not so friendly so far but maybe that'll change this winter when I can visit in the coop, otherwise, I'm thinking I may eat the most expensive flock
The geese are beautiful and Burke's farm has 7 embdens for sale right now...but someone brought a baby duck (wild) newly hatched to me Friday that some boys found and I jumped the gun, ordered 10 ducklings so it wouldn't grow up alone thinking it was a chicken, then it died Saturday so Monday I'll have 10 escape artist duckings
I wanted to get some Freedom Rangers from Terissa but its been construction (and fishing) season so am only now getting the large coops moved on site this week but they still need insulating and inside construction. I'll be housing two flocks in each coop, separated to keep purebreeds.
I'm not planning on keeping the ducks over winter but may keep two if the geese will tolerate them. So far the geese are territorial and not allowing chickens to the fence line. I'm assuming I'd have to put up chicken wire to separate the ducks and geese in their barn.
I'd love to winter over all six geese but that is going to be very expensive. Having raised five human "beans" of my own, I am hesitant to take any of the goslings from the "parents" for the freezer and the Am Buff goslings are so beautiful! That's why I'm thinking seriously of the Embdens but then I'd fall in love w/the Embdens, too! Again, its great my neighbors are in this w/me! Otherwise, I'd be way over my head!!!
Got to get some more salmon in the freezer and can up some. SIL just got home w/more as I've been stuck home w/shingles on my face

Smoking some once the rain quits
One more thing, when winter hits and the weather's bad, its great to get inside the coop and visit w/the birds! Everyone calls me on the cell to ask where I am

Its nice and toasty, clean and great company!