by Susan | Jun 7, 2012 | Ducks, On the Farm
Check out the little cuties who joined the farm today! We picked these little baby Pekin ducklings up from the local feed store today. We’ve eagerly awaited their arrival so we could give broody Dilly some babies – a reward for sitting on her nonproductive...
by Susan | Jun 4, 2012 | Ducks
Hannah has! Quackers is having a warm Epsom salt foot bath. Her waddle has turned into a limp as a result of an infected sore on her foot. It’s been treated and she’s spending a quite night in the garage. I think Hannah enjoyed the excuse to hang with her...
by Susan | Jun 1, 2012 | On the Farm
We’ve been planning a duck pond for a while now. Earlier in the spring we cleared a spot. After starting excavation on May 20 the rain forced a hiatus. Last weekend, after things dried up a bit, Paul began excavation in earnest. He’s put in about 36...
by Susan | May 28, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
We’ve had the girls for one year. So far they’ve spent their lives in the coop and run. Today, after attempts to make my garden chicken resistant, I let the Colonel and the Girls out of the run to free range. This executive decision was met with dismay...
by Susan | May 24, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
It was dark when Hannah closed the Banties in tonight. She panicked because she couldn’t find the baby chicks – they are usually sitting in the corner tucked under Shadow. Hannah flashed her light inside the coop and saw mama on the roost. Then out popped...
by Susan | May 16, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
The Freedom Rangers just came out of the brooder last Saturday. I get such a kick out of watching Paul feed them – they get so excited to see...
by Susan | May 12, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
Today was moving day for the Freedom Rangers. They’ve been with us for four weeks now and things in the brooder were getting a bit crowded. Now that they have feathers they can move outside to their new digs. Hannah moved the 50 chickens into the dog kennel in...
by Susan | May 11, 2012 | Ducks
This picture was taken during yesterday’s torrential rain. The rain came down so hard that the duck’s mortar box and play yard were under water. They were having a grand time frolicking in their new (albeit temporary) pond!
by Susan | May 7, 2012 | Garden, On the Farm
Instead of tackling my mile-long work “to do”? list I opted for a little garden therapy today. I don’t often play hooky from my desk when there’s work to be done, but sunny and sixty with a forecast of a rainy week ahead lured me outdoors. I...
by Susan | May 5, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
Shadow has turned out to be a good mama. Here she is with her babies on day...
by Susan | May 3, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
The two-day-old peeps ventured into the great outdoors of the Banty B&B today. A bit soon for this type of adventure in my eyes. I suspect that they led their mama on a merry chase. Shadow seems to be a very conscientious mama, but when I arrived home tonight,...
by Susan | May 1, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
I’ve been on Shadow watch the last couple of days. When I poked my head in the banty coop tonight I saw an egg shell lying next to Shadow. Although I didn’t hear any telltale peeps, I all but danced inside to get Paul and Hannah. We gathered up water and...
by Susan | Apr 27, 2012 | Ducks, On the Farm
Dilly’s broodiness continues. She is defending her nest with more gusto lately, refusing to be chased off it when we want to collect the new duck eggs she’s added to her clutch. She’ll leave the nest for a dip and a nibble when she’s good and...
by Susan | Apr 21, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
Yet another one of our girls has gone broody. Brownie is our broody buff orpington. She’s been sitting on eggs for about ten days now. It took us a while to catch on because nesting box five and six almost always have a chicken in them. They’re very...
by Susan | Apr 20, 2012 | Ducks, On the Farm
I looked out the kitchen window this morning and saw this trio in my garden, madly nibbling away at anything green they could find. As soon as I stepped outside with my camera they were off and running. The jig was up. They knew they were in trouble and headed...
by Susan | Apr 13, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
Baby peeps arrived today! FIFTY-ONE of them! Well, that’s what the invoice says – I didn’t count ’em. These are Freedom Ranger chicks that will be raised for freezer camp. Aren’t they sweet? And this little guy looks plumb tuckered out....
by Susan | Apr 11, 2012 | Chickens, Ducks, On the Farm
Another farm girl has succumbed to Spring fever and has gone broody. Shadow, one of our two Ameraucana chickens hasn’t left her nesting box for the past couple of days. Today was the first I’d learned of it, so I paid her a visit. She didn’t budge...
by Susan | Apr 6, 2012 | Ducks, On the Farm
Okay, it’s a really short movie. Take a look at Dilly tending to her nest of chicken eggs. I know it’s silly, but I’m fascinated by my first broody duck! Other Dilly Posts 27 March 2012: Rules to Being a Broody Duck 23 March 2012: Dilly the Broody...
by Susan | Apr 4, 2012 | Ducks, On the Farm
Dilly stopped laying as of yesterday and at the same time became very serious about sitting on her nest. Obsessively so. Over the weekend, I candled the duck eggs she had been sitting on. Sadly, they were not fertile. Since Dilly has stepped up her commitment to...
by Susan | Mar 27, 2012 | Ducks, On the Farm
There are rules to being a successful broody duck. I’m not sure Dilly understands that. She starts out the day doing a really good job. She has a drink, some breakfast, goes for a dip in the mortar box and then heads back in to sit on her nest. By the time...
