It's been almost a week since I last wrote, but it feels like only a few days. I have been dealing with one of those colds that last forever since like two weeks ago. I'm into the coughing stage, which is the last, longest, and worst.
The chicks are four weeks old. They are about half to three-quarters feathered. I built them a better roost, which they seemed to enjoy.
Helen has taken to laying her eggs up in the woods under a partially fallen tree surrounded by thorn bushes. So we're back to the "stay in the coop till you've laid the egg" schedule.
The ducks got into the pond yesterday, but they actually came when I called them (yelled "come quack, here quack," etc. for ten minutes). My voice didn't appreciate it but I was glad they were hungry enough to listen to me.
I found a mouse in one of the feeders today! It was cute but... I don't know what I'm going to do. Poison isn't an option with all the animals, and I can't take the feed out of the coop - where else would they eat?
I've been keeping a log of how much feed I've been going through. I've wanted to do this for awhile but never got around to it.
50 lbs. feed ($21)
Opened April 5th
Measurements are in cups
| April | 3Ducks | 2Geese | 2Turkeys | 4Hens | 4Biddies | 3Sentinel | 2Ganders |
| 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 6 | | 2 | | | | | |
| 7 | 5 | 2 | | | | | 1 |
| 8 | | 2 | | | | | |
| 9 | | 1 | | 5 | | | |
| 10 | | | 5 | | | 5 | |
| 11 | 5 | 2 | | | 5 | | |
Total cups after 1 week: 66
Prudence always gives me the stink eye when I take a picture of her in the nesting box.
The pond is finally holding water! I haven't refilled it for a week (this picture was several days ago but it's only gone down about six inches - it's three feet at the deepest part)
Minna the day of the eclipse
Lyd agreed to pose for me
Stan has started escorting his special girls, Lily and Lucy, to the nesting box and then standing guard while they lay.
Matt standing proud (he thinks I'm his girlfriend!)
I would love to post only quality pictures, but Jenny is so hard to snap a photo of, I have to take what I can get.
Winston enjoying an evening with his girls
Viv likes the camera
I took this picture through the mesh of the brooder because they're too skittish any other way. Front to back is Faith, Charity, Hope.
Eva sniffing an old tree stump
Random picture of the week: a beautiful tulip
