Silver Linings Chronicles!

[thatsbirdietoyou]

Significant progress today! Just a few things left to do. But I'm guessing I'll have everyone in by Tuesday evening. Fingers crossed! Picked up the sand and straw today to try our hand at deep litter.

 

[Canadian Wind]

That's looking great!

Okay, not the prettiest, but it's reusing mats and is sturdy. I wish I could get away with something like this, but my weather is nowhere near warm enough in the winter to grow a giant euphorbia outside! Which looks amazing, btw.

Hmmm, I really should get started on mine...

 

[thatsbirdietoyou]

That's looking great!

Okay, not the prettiest, but it's reusing mats and is sturdy. I wish I could get away with something like this, but my weather is nowhere near warm enough in the winter to grow a giant euphorbia outside! Which looks amazing, btw.

Hmmm, I really should get started on mine...

It's definitely a bit of an eyesore, but it's solid. The coldest it gets here in winter is around mid 30's (1.5 ish for celsius folks), and the warmest it gets in summer is around 104 (40 ish for celsius folks). It will be a struggle with the warm weather, but I'm hoping that by putting a fan in their house it will help. I also made sure it's got plenty of ventilation. You should totally get started on yours!

 

[Canadian Wind]

It's definitely a bit of an eyesore, but it's solid. The coldest it gets here in winter is around mid 30's (1.5 ish for celsius folks), and the warmest it gets in summer is around 104 (40 ish for celsius folks). It will be a struggle with the warm weather, but I'm hoping that by putting a fan in their house it will help. I also made sure it's got plenty of ventilation. You should totally get started on yours!

If the darn rain would stop!

 

[thatsbirdietoyou]

Low quality pictures, high quality moment! I'll be adding a top to the corner "little house" this week, but so far everyone is sleeping very soundly and I'm very proud of the shabby finished product.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Looks fantastic! I'd sleep in there (before the ducks mess it up)!

This is giving me some really good ideas, too.

 

[thatsbirdietoyou]

My daughter and I went to Goodwill today and found this awesome duck art that we hung in the coop.

And, I found a new mug for my wine.

 

[thatsbirdietoyou]

Looks fantastic! I'd sleep in there (before the ducks mess it up)!

This is giving me some really good ideas, too.

How's the brainstorm going for your new and improved duck house? We've successfully had everyone in for almost one week and it's going really well. Ocho, our blue heeler, helps to herd the ducks to and from their kid pool a couple of times a day. We can't free range because of the red tail hawks in the area, but they do get supervised foraging time!

George, right, has started to get beautiful iridescent green feathers on his head and blue and green highlights throughout the black on his wings. Makes me wonder if the black Swedish is mixed with something or if that's what males look like?

 

[Canadian Wind]

How's the brainstorm going for your new and improved duck house?

It's going to be amazing! In my head!

With all the rain lately, I've barely gotten anything done. Finally got some chores done yesterday that I'd been procrastinating on, before the rain started up again in the afternoon.

We've successfully had everyone in for almost one week and it's going really well. Ocho, our blue heeler, helps to herd the ducks to and from their kid pool a couple of times a day. We can't free range because of the red tail hawks in the area, but they do get supervised foraging time!

Good! They must love the new roomier digs!

Wish I could trust my dog with stuff like this! He's an American Foxhound, so if I let him off-leash, he bolts. It's just his nature. Last time he got loose, he came back three hours later. He's getting better with the ducks though. A few times I heard loud quacking outside my door and was concerned because I knew the dog was tied out, only to find Taiyo standing there bewildered as all the ducks just walked around him.

George, right, has started to get beautiful iridescent green feathers on his head and blue and green highlights throughout the black on his wings. Makes me wonder if the black Swedish is mixed with something or if that's what males look like?

View attachment 3271981

My black ducks all have the iridescence on their feathers, to some degree. The Cayuga more so, both males and females. Isn't it gorgeous? It may be breed specific, or maybe gender specific in other ducks. My blacks are both pure and mixed Cayuga.

Thanks for the update! And keep bugging me about mine!

 

[thatsbirdietoyou]

@Canadian Wind we added 2 more last week! Meet Tofu (another Welshie like Pickles), and Tater Tot (Golden 300). Hope you've been well, friend!