Nesting Update

Clover our female turkey has finally "gone broody" (that means she is a sitting on her eggs). It only took her FOREVER to pick a spot! The boys are lonely, wandering around aimlessly, chirping for clover. Every now and then you can hear them outside her nest cooing to her. Once again I'm amazed at how they communicate and care for one another. When they are not cooing or wandering aimlessly, they are following me around. If I stop fast, I have a new butt ornament.

Petunia our female Muscovy duck has been sitting for 24 days. She has only 9 more to go, Muscovy eggs take longer to hatch then regular duck eggs. During this very stressful time for Petunia I have supplemented her diet with special ducky treats. Every morning and evening I whip up a tomato, apple and grain omlet with herbs and greens to help keep her strength up. While a Muscovy hen is "brooding" her eggs, they only leave the nest once a day. During that very short trip off the nest they have to drink, eat and do a few other toiletries. It is very important to make sure the hens have a supply of food and water very close to them.

Petunia has taken this treat thing one step further, she now begs for them. If I'm not fast enough doing chores, she starts squeaking, tapping her beak on her food bowl edge. Then she will only eat her treat out of my fingers, squeaking in between bites as if to tell me how good it is. Muscovy ducks are not the type to be "hand fed", more like take your hand off and eat it.

Yes I do try to give Clover special treats also but I have to say, I don't think she gets the idea. Some birds are a little smarter than others.

Lucy our little tiny red Cochin Bantam has also finally gone broody. She is in a 5 gallon pail on the work bench in our barn. She picked out the spot all by herself, sneaking in the cat door on the backside of the barn. Lucy is a very serious egg sitter. She stares blankly into space not moving a muscle on her eggs but she even understands to eat the special treats.

Gosling update

These little stinkies will be 3 weeks old on 04/12/10.
The water container behind them holds 1 gallon of water. That is how big they are!

Meat N Eggs

Okay, next Tues we are taking 20 Cornish X Barred chickens (cornish game birds) to the Salon. There are still 12 avail for sale. These are the white, plump, yummy birds you had last fall. They go for $6.50 per pound, weighing in at 2.75 to 4.5 pounds (usually) let me know what you want! Yeah!

Eggs, I have eggs, chicken eggs, duck eggs, lots of eggs every week now. If any one would like some let me know before Saturday. On Saturday I go hit my local spots and sell them ALL! Another Yeah!
Also my duck eggs or my girls duck eggs are at Black Horse Farms. Hopefully this summer I can get Chellie to carry my chicken eggs at Black Horse also, pester her for me, LOL (don't tell her I said that).

Next Month towards the end we will have 14 R/R chickens (rhode island red for you non chicken people) that are being raised Label Rouge (okay thats the European way). Slow growing, longer to raise, running wild in the yard, gourmet birds. These will be a lean, very flavorful meat bird. They will go for $7.25 per pound.

The goslings are growing, Clover and Petunia are sitting on their nest full of eggs! Soon we will have more babies... which means FRESH DUCKLING, coming soon. This time it will be Muscovy duckling avail this summer. Mmmmm yummy

Remember my creatures are raised on a SOY FREE, hand mixed diet of only the best grains, nutrients, vitamins and seed.
Take care!