4 Khaki Cambell's, 3 Peking's, 2 Muscovy's and 1 Mulard

Equals happy ducks. We now have a brace of ducks at La Singlarie once more.

The young ducklings have now grown into noisy, greedy ducks who are big enough to not be buzzard or crow dinner (Mr Fox is another story but with so many rabbits I'm hoping he is a fat filled fox at the moment) so it was time for their final move to the big field enabling them to shimmy under the gate and go free ranging, (that's when they suss out they can get under the gate).

Wheel barrowed in a large box in the evening with one side of their feathers trimmed, in the hope they will not fly away and put to bed in the large barn with the rest of the ducks and chickens. They were kept in for the day as well in the hope that they will know this is now their home and where they come in of an evening.

Yesterday they were let out with everyone, a little weary of the sheep and pigs they are now finding life is OK, food and water on tap with grass to nibble on and three new duck friends to hang around with. I was amazed when after herding the meat chickens away last night with the thought of a long herding duck session ahead they had all found their own way back to the barn, bingo - keeping ducks and chickens in for a night and day seems to work (apart from the Muscovy's who went into a agoraphobia ' I cant go out' phase).

I think it may only be a matter of days before those Muscovy's will be leading the duck clan on a tour of the farm.

Comments

Demounting a hanger

Farmer J has brought a second hand hanger. It's an extension to be added on to the farms hanger which up to last year housed the cows in 2/3rds and hay in the other 1/3. As we now have more cattle and calves the hay space is being converted to house the cattle giving them full access to it. Only thing is the extension has to be dismantled (and erected when planning permission is granted). He managed to take down the road crash barriers on the side of it but need my gophering skills today to start taking off the roof. Cold, foggy and damp it was a bit chilly standing around however we did have a visitor, a old lady hunt dog. Once fed and watered (doesn't everyone carry dog food in their car or is it just me?) she found a draught free spot between the hay bales to have a sleep before being called back to her hunter once hunting had finished. So a 1/3 of the roof is down with the rest to be completed on Monday ready for the metal structure to follow.

Parisot lake

As it is a holiday today here in France (Bastille Day) we took the afternoon off an popped over to Parisot lake for a walk with Sorrel. It has all changed, since the lake was emptied and cleaned up this year you can now swim in it, as well as inflatable toys to play on, a life guard, bikes to hire, a new fenced in play area for small people and a total spruce up. But there is a price we were charged! 3 euros an adult, which I guess is OK if you are using the facilities but Sorrel didn't fancy a dip. The cafe is still open but that would of been too much for Sorrel to cope with being so close to people and music so we opted for a bench to sit on in the shade before walking around the lake. Sorrel opted for being Billy no mates and laying by herself, if be it for a short period of time before bikes and people went by. We are now waiting for the free firework celebrations over the chateau tonight - if we can stay up that late.😃

2ENJ093 - FRANKLIN

Eight years ago today Franklin came into our family, a rescue dog from the SPA in Rodez we drove to see if they had a dog to re home. He had been there a month after being left tied to a bin in the town centre, chosen because he didn't bark, he came to us to say hello and was completely different from the dog we had lost days before Christmas. 120 Euros he cost, a young boy still a pup, very thin but with a look of take me home please. A collar put round his neck, forms completed, cheque handed over and a kiss from the manager and he was ours. Five minutes down the road in the car he threw up. Five minutes in the house and he had weed up the settee and collected an assortment of treasures including socks, toilet roll inner tubes, tissues and soft toys all placed in a pile under the table and garded. He ate at an amazing speed, fearing he would loose it to our other dogs. Then he started to bark, he has a fine bark on him. He barks for his tea, when a visitor arrives, the ...

The English Paysanne

Search This Blog