What is going on?
The ducks arrived and the chickens were all in a scuttle over it! Squawking, craning their necks, peeking from a safe distance. It was so funny. The ducks were not interested in them, however.
Mini is very excited about her ducks. She pet each one before we put them in their new habitat. They were very docile as we held them, but seem less interested in people than the chickens are.
Husband and I took advantage of the break in clouds and rain today to finish the duck home. They have a lovely run in the mucky wetlands we have surrounding our house lot. Lots of ferns and rocks to walk around in and among, but the best thing is all the mud to stick their bills in and flop around. Ducks are very funny. I don't think they are quite as funny as chickens...ducks seem more dignified somehow.
Chickens really remind me of the "town busy body". Like if they had a phone they would be on it squawking away about all the scuttle butt in town, and scurrying over to tell the really juicy news in person. Ducks don't seem so "busy", rather they are pretty mellow.
We have one male with the females, and he seems to like the fact they follow him around. Male ducks don't quack, only females do. Males make a noise but it's sort of soft and raspy...kind of like the "Godfather" kind of a voice. The girls follow him around and listen to him when he calls. They got free at one point and I remembered Joseph said they herd, so I just got behind them and moved them up to the fence, where husband and our neighbors, who had come down to see our new ducks, helped heard them back under the fence. I secured the fence, so hopefully they will stay inside now. During the herding process the male was yelling out to the the females and they were sticking close to their protector.
Ducks are not as easy as chickens, either. They don't really go in on their own at night. Tonight was a new place, so hopefully we'll get a routine going where they come when we feed them in the evening and then we can herd them in more easily. I'm hoping it gets easier, as tonight was a lot of work to get them in. I knew this was a difference with ducks and chickens, but I really do prefer the chickens desire to be on their roost by dusk.
The breed is Cayuga, and we have what is called a Blue Cayuga. It's a coloring that occurs a certain percentage of the time. The "common" color is black, and when we breed these, we will get a certain percentage in black, some in blue and a rare lavender, which is more pale than the blue. They are very pretty and I fell in love with them when I first went to Yellow House Farm. These ducks are more pale than they will be once they molt. The feathers get sun bleached, so new feathers will be darker, and more blue in tone. The male has the darkest head, and is in the center of the two girls in the pic above.
Mini is very excited about her ducks. She pet each one before we put them in their new habitat. They were very docile as we held them, but seem less interested in people than the chickens are.
Husband and I took advantage of the break in clouds and rain today to finish the duck home. They have a lovely run in the mucky wetlands we have surrounding our house lot. Lots of ferns and rocks to walk around in and among, but the best thing is all the mud to stick their bills in and flop around. Ducks are very funny. I don't think they are quite as funny as chickens...ducks seem more dignified somehow.
Chickens really remind me of the "town busy body". Like if they had a phone they would be on it squawking away about all the scuttle butt in town, and scurrying over to tell the really juicy news in person. Ducks don't seem so "busy", rather they are pretty mellow.
We have one male with the females, and he seems to like the fact they follow him around. Male ducks don't quack, only females do. Males make a noise but it's sort of soft and raspy...kind of like the "Godfather" kind of a voice. The girls follow him around and listen to him when he calls. They got free at one point and I remembered Joseph said they herd, so I just got behind them and moved them up to the fence, where husband and our neighbors, who had come down to see our new ducks, helped heard them back under the fence. I secured the fence, so hopefully they will stay inside now. During the herding process the male was yelling out to the the females and they were sticking close to their protector.
The breed is Cayuga, and we have what is called a Blue Cayuga. It's a coloring that occurs a certain percentage of the time. The "common" color is black, and when we breed these, we will get a certain percentage in black, some in blue and a rare lavender, which is more pale than the blue. They are very pretty and I fell in love with them when I first went to Yellow House Farm. These ducks are more pale than they will be once they molt. The feathers get sun bleached, so new feathers will be darker, and more blue in tone. The male has the darkest head, and is in the center of the two girls in the pic above.
Female Blue Cayuga Duck
I'm concerned about flooding you with news, since I didn't post for 2 days in a row. I thought I posted last night, but evidently didn't hit the right buttons. The night before, I realized I hadn't posted, but my head had already hit the pillow...it was a long day.
Monday the weather was beautiful so Bub and I went to the hardware store to pick up the necessary supplies for fencing in the garden, which we've decided to do instead of fencing in the chickens. Our laying hens are not fun to fence in, and they are much happier having free range of the back yard and woods. Our only concern is them eating our garden...they seem to steer clear of the road, and I hope that continues, but we'll be watching out for that. I started the fencing and will need more chicken wire to finish the job. We also finished the duck coop and did some yard clean up. This is why once the baby gave in to sleep, and my head hit the pillow, I wasn't getting up!
Yesterday the big excitement, other than getting to have dinner with a friend, was candling the chickens. This time it was like giving a chicken an ultrasound. We could see the baby chickens moving around in the eggs. It was very cool. All 12 look like they are growing well. I'm excited! Sunday we should have baby chickens.
It's been a very physically active week, and one that has had spurts of interesting things, but mostly lots of outdoor stuff that while helpful, not very blog worthy. It's supposed to rain for the next couple days, so I'm hoping to get some inside things done, like Mother's day gifts for the grandmothers, made by Mini. I have two summer shirts for myself all cut out and ready for stitching, a knitting project I want to show you and some kids clothes to stitch...we'll see what comes of all that.
Monday the weather was beautiful so Bub and I went to the hardware store to pick up the necessary supplies for fencing in the garden, which we've decided to do instead of fencing in the chickens. Our laying hens are not fun to fence in, and they are much happier having free range of the back yard and woods. Our only concern is them eating our garden...they seem to steer clear of the road, and I hope that continues, but we'll be watching out for that. I started the fencing and will need more chicken wire to finish the job. We also finished the duck coop and did some yard clean up. This is why once the baby gave in to sleep, and my head hit the pillow, I wasn't getting up!
Yesterday the big excitement, other than getting to have dinner with a friend, was candling the chickens. This time it was like giving a chicken an ultrasound. We could see the baby chickens moving around in the eggs. It was very cool. All 12 look like they are growing well. I'm excited! Sunday we should have baby chickens.
It's been a very physically active week, and one that has had spurts of interesting things, but mostly lots of outdoor stuff that while helpful, not very blog worthy. It's supposed to rain for the next couple days, so I'm hoping to get some inside things done, like Mother's day gifts for the grandmothers, made by Mini. I have two summer shirts for myself all cut out and ready for stitching, a knitting project I want to show you and some kids clothes to stitch...we'll see what comes of all that.
Nice to see you this evening! Your ducks look lots of fun.
Posted by: jennifer | May 07, 2009 at 08:56 PM