Maude and Mabel the agoraphobic ducks and five little cuties join the clan

After the sad loss of our mallard duck the large male Muscovy has been wandering around on his lonesome, he hasn't really become chummy with the chickens so to make him happier I tracked down a couple of females of his kind thinking they could be mates together.

So here is Maude, on the left grey in colour and Mabel on the right, black and white. I collected them last Tuesday afternoon keeping them in the barn to settle in the hope they would come back without any problem the following evening. So far they have not left the barn apart from today when I ushered them out to go in the field. They flew up on the wall by the barn door and looked around, they must of spent at least three minutes (enough time for me to walk to the gate and walk up our drive where I saw them still looking about). As soon as I was out of sight they must of decided the outside wasn't for them as by the time I had walked along the road to the other barn door there they were back inside. I think I have brought ducks suffering with agoraphobia.

So the male stays for a while eating his breakfast then waddles off on his own into the field. At some point these ducks are going to have to go outside, maybe I have made it too easy by giving them a container of water (food is given inside where Gorgon cant get to it, meaning the chickens and ducks can eat in peace) or maybe I need someone who can talk duck. Its funny as they were outside when I picked them up.

At the same time I brought these cuties, three Peking ducks and four khaki Campbell's, I'm only hoping a few of them are female so we can have a few eggs. I have forgotten how messy and noisy ducklings can be but they are very cute although they do take up a bit of time watching them.

Comments

Snap shot

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Another steer went off on Wednesday. After spending 3 years with them it doesn't get any easier when they leave.

Weeding

Potatoes A sad looking patch Hunting for carrots The weather has now gone from one extreme to the other from rain, rain and a bit more rain to hot, sunny and hotter. Time to access the veggie patch after I planted everything in one hit and then it got very damp and soggy. Well the potatoes are growing well, although they are going to be a lot later this year, kind of Earlie's for late ones and late ones maybe ready for Christmas dinner ( if they survive the bugs, rabbits and moles). The weeds have and still are growing really well, this morning was spent finding the carrots and parsnips, which I have with no help from Sorrel, who after a quick sniff lazed under the shade of the apple tree (which by the looks of it hasn't got hardly any apples on it?) The poor herb seeds sowed don't look to good or the french and runner beans, think a hungry mouse have nibbled on them so I will have to resow (once I have weeded -again)

A problematic Ewe

While Master C and Miss F were here over the weekend we took the opportunity for their help in moving the two ewes, Gorgon and Thumberlina to the field where the donkeys had been. What with all the rain we have had lately the grass grow super quick. The only problem was Miss Fatty did not want to move from her safe field (if only she knew she was moving to new lush grass). It took farmer J and Master C to try moving her after pushing from me and Master C had failed and she fell to the floor not moving an inch. There try also failed so they were both lead through the field in another direction. Of course once in the new field there was no looking back. Gorgon on the other hand was a breeze to move, as long as you have food he will follow, you just need to make sure you have enough food!

The English Paysanne

Search This Blog