Larkwell Valley (2023)

[Canadian Wind]

My issue is I'm so slow that they get stuff before I'm done plucking usually, let alone getting everything out and I can hardly maneuver them.

What do you mean "they get stuff"?

What I do is a bit more hands on. I actually lay the duck on the ground and sit on them (lightly but firmly, to keep them from flapping). I stretch out their neck by holding on to the head, hand over the eyes to calm them, and speak gently to them. It's a very personal experience, but I feel better being this close and giving them some sort of comfort.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

What do you mean "they get stuff"?

What I do is a bit more hands on. I actually lay the duck on the ground and sit on them (lightly but firmly, to keep them from flapping). I stretch out their neck by holding on to the head, hand over the eyes to calm them, and speak gently to them. It's a very personal experience, but I feel better being this close and giving them some sort of comfort.

*stiff. Rigor mortus kicks in

 

[Canadian Wind]

*stiff. Rigor mortus kicks in

AH! Yeah, mine usually are.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

AH! Yeah, mine usually are.

Okay. Just discussed it with the parents, thinking we'll use bullets and just have to make a day out of it. Dad said we're just going to skin them, which I know removes the fat, but I'll see if we can still save some off the skins afterwards.

Honestly right now I just want to get this done, I would have done them a month ago if I'd known they wouldn't do ducks I stead of keeping these three boys

 

[JacinLarkwell]

In somewhat sad news, A$$hole and Luna are down to 2 chocolate Littles. They lost about 11 either during hatch or after, but given the cold and them being first timers in a less than ideal setting, I'm not blaming either of them. They both are very attune to their babies, especially Luna.

 

[Canadian Wind]

If I had access to a gun I'd probably do it different. I dislike using a knife. But for me, it makes it more personal and keeps it 'real', if you know what I mean.

Sorry about you losing all those babies. Hopefully they do better in warm weather!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If I had access to a gun I'd probably do it different. I dislike using a knife. But for me, it makes it more personal and keeps it 'real', if you know what I mean.

Sorry about you losing all those babies. Hopefully they do better in warm weather!

Yeah, I make sure to hold them during the end, just to try and maybe give them some security.

I'm sure they will, especially once I finally get those darn pens finished and have them separated. Right now there was just too many feet to step down on them I think

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Lost the last of the ducklings. One literally just disappeared.

Whatever got Romero is still around, I lost my naked neck hen when I was out late one night and didn't get back in time to move her to the mini barn. It's only going in the shed, thank goodness though.

Lost a Moonshiner hen too, she had an awful molt and just couldn't keep going, I guess.

Also had something utterly tear apart a fawn less than 100 feet from the barn, really hoping it was a pack of coyotes and not another big cat.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Dang. Sorry to hear that Jacin...

We thankfully don't have cougars in the area (four legged kind anyhow!) but do have coyotes. Apart from three years ago when I first moved here they haven't come near the house.

Coons and foxes and rodents and small snakes is about the extent of it.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Dang. Sorry to hear that Jacin...

We thankfully don't have cougars in the area (four legged kind anyhow!) but do have coyotes. Apart from three years ago when I first moved here they haven't come near the house.

Coons and foxes and rodents and small snakes is about the extent of it.

I'm thinking the shed bandit is a fox. We have one or two very rarely, but I can't think of anything else that can be as silent as it is without leaving any signs. The coyotes leave feather trails, and I just find it hard to belive that an owl is capable of maneuvering the way that this thing is without making any noise or leaving any signs.

We had a big cat years ago that wiped out my turkey flock over a week. Thing was nit very afraid of people at all. But whatever got the fawn actually sat down and took its time eating. So really hopeful it was just coyotes since they aren't as dangerous for me as a big car could potentially be