I did not let the goats out today because I knew it was going to rain. The billy goat had other ideas. He butted the gate till the latch gave way. My wife woke me from my nap telling me all the animals were lose and she could catch only a few. I go down to the barn to take stock of the situation. Both goats, both white pekings, and two easter eggers were in the barn. That meant I still had 4 mallards and 3 hens and a rooster still loose. They were all under the camper.
I tied the goats in the barn then went and got the scratch feed. I opened the gate and proceeded throwing the scratch in the pen. The hens rooster and one drake came running in. So i still got three ducks loose and its pouring cold rain. Luckily when i was coming out of the pen one more duck came up so I herded her in the run. Just as i suspected the remaining pair of ducks were playing in the pool of water down at the wildlife habitat. I went and grabbed the net and by the skin of my teeth caught the drake. The female took off up the culvert under my driveway. I knocked on the wall of my house hoping to get my wife out to stand on one side of the culvert so i could go in after the duck. No such luck she was jamming to her music and did not hear me.
I blockaded one end of the culvert with tin a tire and some rip rap so i could go through the other side and get the duck. As i got to the other side to go in the duck was coming out. I was not quick enough with the net so she took off down the creek into some very thick brush.
So here I am soaking wet, the wind is blowing very cold and the duck is in the thick brush. I went and put my rubber boots on so i can tromp through the creek. I then went down beyond where I figured the duck would be hiding and started squeezing through the brush and fallen trees to find the duck. I never seen it. So the duck had to be several hundred feet down the creek in even thicker stuff. Chinese privet is almost impenetrable. I had to quit because I was wet cold and my body was barely regulating my temp. I was on the verge of hypothermia. So here I am warming up by the fireplace and an electric heater drinking hot coffee and wondering where that darned duck is and if it will be back.
I am just glad my pullets and cockeral are still in my living room. They are a little wild and would be hard to catch.
I tied the goats in the barn then went and got the scratch feed. I opened the gate and proceeded throwing the scratch in the pen. The hens rooster and one drake came running in. So i still got three ducks loose and its pouring cold rain. Luckily when i was coming out of the pen one more duck came up so I herded her in the run. Just as i suspected the remaining pair of ducks were playing in the pool of water down at the wildlife habitat. I went and grabbed the net and by the skin of my teeth caught the drake. The female took off up the culvert under my driveway. I knocked on the wall of my house hoping to get my wife out to stand on one side of the culvert so i could go in after the duck. No such luck she was jamming to her music and did not hear me.
I blockaded one end of the culvert with tin a tire and some rip rap so i could go through the other side and get the duck. As i got to the other side to go in the duck was coming out. I was not quick enough with the net so she took off down the creek into some very thick brush.
So here I am soaking wet, the wind is blowing very cold and the duck is in the thick brush. I went and put my rubber boots on so i can tromp through the creek. I then went down beyond where I figured the duck would be hiding and started squeezing through the brush and fallen trees to find the duck. I never seen it. So the duck had to be several hundred feet down the creek in even thicker stuff. Chinese privet is almost impenetrable. I had to quit because I was wet cold and my body was barely regulating my temp. I was on the verge of hypothermia. So here I am warming up by the fireplace and an electric heater drinking hot coffee and wondering where that darned duck is and if it will be back.
I am just glad my pullets and cockeral are still in my living room. They are a little wild and would be hard to catch.
