Hello, In lingo I guess I'm just hatched. This be my first post. My name is Jonathan and I'm from Mystic, CT. I am amazed how many Chickenites are in CT on this forum,,,something like 250 from the state and about 90 from Eastern CT.
Four ducks (1 female, 3 males) wandered onto my property late last spring. My wife took them under her wing and cares for them. I asked around and no one had a clue where they came from. They didn't have any common sense. They would wander into busy roads without a care in the world. I'm sure they would of meet a bad end if no one interveened. I'm still seeking the original owners. The female started laying. We incubated (badly) some of the eggs and eventually the female started to incubate the rest. None hatched all though one was developed that was removed from the nest by the female we persume.
I built a raccoon proof abode for them. Man can they make a mess of it overnight. Them dirty ducks. My wife deals with it though. It it must be love cuz they will never be dinner except over her dead body. The female was neat as a pin when she was incubating...now I think she is a little piggy! (Sorry to insult any pigs out there.) Life goes on.
Well having ducks wasn't enough! I talked up how much more practical chicken where, and I was right! I bought 7 Black Australorps. Mmmmm tasty....just kidding. One of them had an swollen crop that got cut open by the inner toe. About $700 later in vet bills she is doing fine. When I tell people how much we spent to save on chicken they look at me like I have lost my mind. I concure. It is a fact.
Life has changed. Besides having more duck and chicken eggs than we can use, we can't go anywhere. Must be home before twilight to put our feathered friends to bed. Trying to get the chickens in early aint easy. Come twilight they go in on there own. (The chickens are on the second floor of the "duck house".) They are all good birds, when they are sleeping and not hopping the fences.
Still worry about hawks. They fly over. The ducks are Very alert. The chickens and to a degree the ducks love cover and there is plenty for them. Even if I clear some trees for the garden I will always have something for them to get under. They do a good job of keeping what grass I have under control. I never used my lawn mower once this summer. They did a good job on the poison ivy and other undergrowth in the areas I don't mow. Thank you chickkoes. I hate poison ivy. My wife is hypersensive to it and usually get it bad every year. She just had a very mild case this year, even after carrying chickens that go right into it! I don't get it. I guess Murphy's Law has it's exceptions. Well enough boring drivle.
Last one to post is a rotten egg, oh wait, that's me!
