Waterfowl Pics and Chat!

[CelticOaksFarm]

new breeding pens for the chickens. Final fencing around some of the goose breeding yards. Prepping a ton of duck eggs to set for the hatch along, set a bunch of goose eggs yesterday for the hatch along

 

[Miss Lydia]

What is everyone working on this weekend?

I'm working on getting ready for Church right now Marty.

 

[psue]

went to an Irish folk concert last night. Did a good cleaning on all the coops/pens the last 2 days, not sure whats up for today

 

[Iain Utah]

Lydia, if my muscovies go broody in the spring, I'll hatch my dewlaps that way too.

'
Sue, I know she will be hooked. Isn't it great? lol

Marty, wish Lucky would turn the corner for you guys!! Is she any better today??

Not too much going on over here this weekend, other than deep cleaning house for the holidays, putting up decorations, and working with my new mare. It's been a nice quiet weekend.

 

[JulieNKC]

I've been busy supervising introductions between my older ducklings and chicks and the flock. My goose has taken the babies under her wing and everything is going good. The ducks are keeping their distance, and the geese are staying within sight of the babies. My chickens are an easygoing bunch actually and seem to accept new flock members without any problems.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

great picture! look at the cat in the mix too

 

[JulieNKC]

I've lost a few young/smaller birds to what I think has been cats this year. There are a few people in the neighborhood who feed them, and lots of woods/spread out suburb so lots of places for kitties to live. I've counted over a dozen in my backyard in a single 24 hours. So I got Lion and Tiger in Oct, hoping they'll help keep the strays from hanging out. After a week or so o the ducks and geese following them around the yard they've became pretty comfortable around each other.

 

[Marty1876]

My geese chase everything that will listen to them out of the yard. Especially cats. Mine go around the outside of the pen now. LOL It apparently doesn't take more than one or two surprise tail nabs (esp. from African male) before they just don't go there.

Baby and Lucky really enjoyed their days outside this weekend. Both have eaten better than ever, and the water therapy agrees with Lucky. Nobody is walking, but both are quite mobile in their own fashions at this time. No messy eyes, very loud and clear wonk power! Maybe 100% vocalizations from the Baby Girl Buff dept. Baby grazed here and there today, and dined well at dinnertime in the barn too. Lucky nibbled at will today, and also made a dent in the dinner bowl. They are both coming along, slowly but surely.

We've gotten the entire new "recycled" Java Condo done, and birds installed. Some trouble on their part working out to walk the gangplank up into the above ground hen house (leaving room under it, and in front, for a nice completely enclosed run) after they leave, but I'm hoping another couple of days will get them past it. Food and water inside, air and excercise outside.....you'd think theyd get it quicker.

Also got a 10 x 10 room in my concrete floor garage completely clear, and the milk goat stand about 1/2 made. Still need steps up, and the neck lock. Have supplies for the barn stalls, and I pick up some skids tomarrow for the goat sector. I'm still worried about leaving the 2 goats out in a pen during the day, so they will have run of the goose and goat areas from dark until just after noon daily, then out to the goat tractor. I'm thinking a 6' wood fence will both keep out would be preditors like dogs, but also people. I don't even want folks to see the goats.

 

[Iain Utah]

Julie, love the pics!! By the way, remember that little calico mommy cat we trapped on our property this summer? Iain did a fantastic job taming her and one of her kittens (he found homes for the rest). She is so cute with her long fuzzy hair, weighing in at only 8lbs. She follows me everywhere now. I'll have to take pics.

Marty, glad to hear both are making slow and steady progress. Those dogs must have done significant damage to them and it is frankly remarkable they survived. Can't wait to see pics of them running around with their buddies again.

 

[JulieNKC]

I guess some days are just not good. I walked out to my car late this morning to find a hawk in the yard going after my birds. He killed one of the EE cockerals, and my pied call drake. I felt so awful, I shouldn't have let them out with the flock yet. And then, I was checking everyone over and I found a japanese hen with bubbly eyes and a swollen head. I don't know if they had whatever it is when I got them, or if I carried something home from the show. It's my fault, they should have still been in quarantine anyway. So now I need to cull her, and figure out what I have to do to get her sent off for necropsy. Then possibly cull my whole chicken flock. Praying at this point that what I've read is right and that waterfowl don't catch it. Otherwise, guessing no more poultry for me.

All my poor babies, I've failed all of them.