Muscovy Business with a 13 Year Old
I just had one of the most pleasant business exchanges. So much so, that I had to ask the person I was doing business with just how old she was. The answer surprised me. She is 13 years old, raises ducks, chickens, and other critters. Of course I asked, do you milk goats? Why would I ask such a thing? Well, there’s more on our farm that needs tending to than just our two children. Finding a baby sitting isn’t the easiest thing in the world.
Read more…
I have candled eggs before, but never have managed to have the right timing or angle to see what I did today. Maybe its because previously I had mainly candled brown chicken eggs and today it was a batch of bluish white Indian Runner ducks. Whatever the reason, I saw a living, beating heart no larger than the head of a pen. Although it did not promote the emotions of seeing my child’s 3D ultrasound, it promoted a sense of amazement much greater than I had before experienced. Within the womb, a human child seems so very much a part of the mother that witnessing movement is not nearly as amazing. But an egg without the mother wrapped around it is something kin to what one might expect to see in a science fiction movie. The other difference being that a 3D ultrasound is something you watch on a screen. A heart beating within an egg is right there before your eyes.
Read more…
Video – We put a camera on the ground between the pond and the pen. Each night before sun set or when a storm darkens the clouds, our flock of ducks heads to their night time home. The pond is maybe 100 yards away from the garage. The flock seems to know that predators come out more at night. That or they’ve figured out we put the vegetable and fruit scraps in there after a long day of canning. So, usually without any prompting, they come waddling home… quack quack waddle waddle quack quack
Read more…
In our links / other places section, you’ll see a link to Rose Creek Creations and Rose Creek Cattle Company. One of the owners (Angela) and I met on Craigs List. She was asking for help with a ceramic kiln. I gave what advice I could. Now a days, she gives me a lot more advice than I have to offer in exchange. Yesterday’s advice saves money and buys the Styrofoam incubator at Tractor Supply. She also suggested purchasing the automatic egg turner. I was skeptical at first, but her flocks seem to be health, happy, and growing; so I figured like her other advice it was sound. I just unpacked the Little Giant Air Incubator ($41.99) and the optional automatic egg turner (another $41.99). Read more…
We had our first loss to predators today. The flock numbered 22 when it went out this morning and 21 when it came back quacking early. Several feathers were rattled and tattered, so I knew something was wrong and went immediately to the pond shotgun in hand. There was nothing to be found but feathers and tracks. Either the coyotes or the neighbor’s dog has crossed the fence line. Oddly, we were more worried about hawks.
Read more…
Recent Comments