Hey everyone! I just keep on disappearing from this thread, haha! Here's an update on what's been going on:
Ever since I came home from Austin, I've been on a roll. First, we started with the broodies and gave them Muscovy eggs, mystery duck eggs, and any hidden nests we came across. I also was given a Dutch Bantam duo (I was prepared for pay for them, but the lady was actually just wanting them to go to a good home because her hometown was just barely enforcing the laws banning backyard chickens) that have been taking care of a 3 feed store chicks.
We hatched out about 11 chicks but we've lost several. Several of the eggs were from pullets, so I'm pretty sure that they just weren't strong enough. The other chicks came from some of my older hens and they have been flourishing. Of course, the one time I actively try and avoid Naked Neck eggs is the time we end up with more than half of the chicks being NN, haha!
Out of the dozen duck eggs we had, only seven hatched. Unfortunately, we lost two of the mystery breeds to weakness (they weren't very strong from the get-go), one to the neighbor's young puppy, and another one disappeared out of it's pen. I don't know how (that thing is everything-proof. A mouse couldn't even find a way in there, so I don't know how that baby got out!), but we ended up with only 3 ducklings. One is a mystery duckling (I have no idea what it is) and the other two are muscovy ducklings with tuxedo coloring.
When I came back from Austin, Dad took me to my favorite chick guy and he sold me a "muscovy" duckling. I'm pretty sure he was mistaken because this male muscovy duckling is starting to look a heck of a lot like a female mallard.
The last time Nivia and I went duckling hunting, we bought three ducklings, thinking we'd be getting at least one male because that is how it always goes when we buy chickens. Well, we ended up with 3 females (one Blue Swedish and two mallards). I swear, this is either a miracle or a curse. I kinda need a male mallard-breed duck, haha! All I have is Che and he's a gimpy Indian Runner who can barely walk straight. He can only breed properly in a pool.
Earlier this week, Mom and I went to one of our favorite farm and feed stores in Donna. There, for the first time ever, I saw that they had two muscovy males! For $15, we picked up the bigger male and he has been sweet on my female muscovy ever since.
Mom just bought me an incubator this week, too, so we have been collecting Australorp eggs for the past couple days. Hopefully they'll be only Australorp chicks and not a weird mix, haha! We also made an investment and bought seven eggs from a local rancher and friend of mine: 3 Silkie eggs and 4 Class A Silkie Serama eggs. These Silkie Serama eggs were $5 apiece and though it was pricey, the breeding stock was beautiful and I know that they are one of those breeds that you should invest in if you hope to have them in the future. The Silkie eggs were significantly cheaper ($1 apiece) and I'm hoping to be able to hatch them out successfully. We'll see what happens after that.
Mom also expressed to me the desire to start a business. We have no experience, but she wants to sell plus size clothing because of how hard it is to find clothing that fits me and girls my size. Oh, and plus size prom dresses! Loads of girls here can't go to prom because they can't afford an appropriate dress for prom that will fit them. So now I'm gonna plaster myself up and make a dress form to work with. We just bought an old wedding dress today that we are going to try and revamp. Surprising, for such a beautiful dress, it only cost us $5 at the Salvation Army. I don't think it'll take much to make it prettier, though, haha! Between sharpening up my sewing skills and learning how to reupholster chairs and raising chicks/ducklings/goslings and trying to get some yard work done and planning for my little brother's late graduation party and trying to make grass grow faster in the dirt-spots all over the yard, there is a lot going on here.
So yeah, that's the story! As you can see, I've been lazing around.
