Ducks In Winter

 The ducks coming up from the pond where they enjoyed  a cold swim & splash. No matter the weather, our ducks love the pond even when it is mostly covered in ice.

Ella & Fella ~ My Sebastopol Geese Growing Up

 Ella & Fella, my Sebastopol geese are 4 months old now. I haven't yet introduced them to the big pond, choosing to keep them and my 2 young ducklings, also 4 months old, in the back poultry yard.

 I pen the geese with the ducklings every night to protect them from predators. In the morning I release them and oh what fluttering feathery, splashy joy ! The ducks come out quacking and the geese honking ...

 ...reminding me of frilly ballerinas. After their splashing around and swimming sessions the geese eat grass and sun them selves alongside the ducks. Below are 2 short videos showing the typical morning routine for them. I am loving these geese  ! They still follow me around when I am outside with them and if I sit down they come lay down beside my feet.

 

The Three Amigos~ Bantam Black Cochins

 The 3 amigos, bantam Cochin roosters who live together in our vegetable garden. When released from their pen in the morning...

 ...they spend the day scratching around the garden for bugs , worms, anything tasty.

 They sometimes jump the garden fence to follow

 the ducks. The ducks know even better places to find food. Under the bird feeders, in the sheep pens.

It is fun to watch the chickens watching the ducks who watch me to see if I am handing out food. In the evening the roosters watch the ducks pen themselves up and receive their nightly grain or bread, then the roosters run to their pen to receive the same. Routine rewarded by treats keeps them safe for the next days' happy wandering around Cedar Pond.( And for my viewing pleasure)

Slug Patrol!

Our Pekin ducks get a little muddy while on slug patrol

The very cool and rainy weather is just perfect for slugs and they are thriving on my lilies,hostas, and even in the trees.Good thing we have a slug patrol. The ducks, too, are thriving in the rain, mud, and abundance of slugs.

The ducks waddle on down to the pond for a swim and hopefully will be able to rid their bills of some of the slug slime. Even thinking about eating slugs grosses me out, but I am sure glad the slug patrol finds slugs very tasty, they should feast royally this spring !

Ducks Lay Their First Egg !

My ducks laid their first egg of the year yesterday, spring is on the way in spite of the snow, hail, icy, slushy weather we have been experiencing. When the ducks & turkeys begin laying, spring is just around the corner....sunshine, well, that is another thing entirely.