It’s still frosty here, and the chickens refuse to leave the coop. In warmer weather, they would queue up at the pop door, waiting impatiently for it to open…and then they would burst out, pushing each other down the ramp. We spread scratch around outside the coop, and they’d scratch and peck contentedly. The ducks would soon join them, bobbing their heads in greeting. Continue reading “The Chickens And Ducks Aren’t Fans Of Snow”
Tag: Ducks
What Is Up With This Weather??
It was a cold and blustery morning…as in a biting wind that froze water (and exposed skin) without pity. The bitter wind blew the powdery snow around. We had already planned to move the rabbits indoors for the worst of winter, but the Minnesota-like wind chill sped that timeline up. And as far as the Minnesota reference, we do know of what we speak!
The unexpected depth of the cold merited immediate action. Armed with a really crappy staple gun and the only plastic we had on hand, we set about – before breakfast – closing off part of the rabbit tractors to block the wind. The wind made the job challenging, and it rapidly became painfully cold. We limped along with the substandard staple gun, half frozen, closing off one end of the tractors. That helped a bit, but the water bottles were solidly frozen (the metal “spouts” are really the bottles’ Achilles heel) and even though we brought out heavy porcelain chili bowls and filled them with warm water, the water still froze quickly. We filled up the bins (shelters) in the tractors with straw for warmth, gave them some cabbage and kale for treats, and made a shopping list. It was time to weatherize the tractors.
If You Like Mud, These Are Good Times
Temps were in the mid-50s today – too warm for this time of year. On the one hand, it means the rabbits’ water bottles aren’t frozen and they’re not eating “grassicles”. On the other, it means lots and lots of mud. The ground is solid when it’s frozen; once it thaws, it turns into a sloppy, slippery mess. Continue reading “If You Like Mud, These Are Good Times”
A Clever Duck Named Coraline
It was another cold one out there this morning. The ducks’ pond had about an inch of ice on top, and the rabbits’ bottles were frozen solid. The chilly temperatures bring out a special kind of beauty, though: as we walked, in the darkness, to retrieve the rabbits’ bottles, the flashlight shone on the frosted grass, which sparkled like it was bejeweled, crunching underfoot.
Ice we broke out of the pool yesterday morning still lay by the pool, frozen, like large shards of glass.
The crescent moon glowed softly, with a bright planetary body to its lower left. Plumes of breath floated before us. We relished the peaceful pre-dawn calm. Continue reading “A Clever Duck Named Coraline”
Is That What I Think It Is? (Finding A Duck Egg)
It was a welcome surprise to spy a duck egg in the coop this morning – research online and in books indicated that Muscovies can take as long as 7 to 9 months to lay their first egg, and that if it’s winter when they would normally start laying, they may skip laying entirely until spring. We have four ducks and a drake, about 6 months old now. Continue reading “Is That What I Think It Is? (Finding A Duck Egg)”