Fugly Farm

[igorsMistress]

Attila was the broody that hatched Phoenix and Aetna, but Red was helping with the babies from the time they left the nest and she hung out with Attila/slept with her at night. Attila is doing her thing and leaving the babies with Red more and more as time passes. Attila seems to do her job after hatch for only a couple of weeks and then she’s sick of kids I’m happy that Red has stepped in to fill the void though, she is such a sweet girl. Tomorrow Elvis and Toast go to my sons and we’ll have three female ducks. I’m putting a small pool under the shade structure in the small yard for them later today and getting some stuff out of the coop in preparation for the change. The ducks just sleep wherever at my sons so I’m not going to force them into a coop, but I am going to move Attila, Red and the babies into the coop at night once Elvis and Toast are gone. I think they’ll be good with that since Elvis is the reason they won’t roost in there. Hopefully this little nugget I think is a boy will be a gentleman since he’s growing up within the flock

 

[N F C]

Attila was the broody that hatched Phoenix and Aetna, but Red was helping with the babies from the time they left the nest and she hung out with Attila/slept with her at night. Attila is doing her thing and leaving the babies with Red more and more as time passes. Attila seems to do her job after hatch for only a couple of weeks and then she’s sick of kids I’m happy that Red has stepped in to fill the void though, she is such a sweet girl. Tomorrow Elvis and Toast go to my sons and we’ll have three female ducks. I’m putting a small pool under the shade structure in the small yard for them later today and getting some stuff out of the coop in preparation for the change. The ducks just sleep wherever at my sons so I’m not going to force them into a coop, but I am going to move Attila, Red and the babies into the coop at night once Elvis and Toast are gone. I think they’ll be good with that since Elvis is the reason they won’t roost in there. Hopefully this little nugget I think is a boy will be a gentleman since he’s growing up within the flock

Looking forward to reading some duck stories IM, hope it all goes well!

 

[cavemanrich]

Looking forward to reading some duck stories IM, hope it all goes well!

Tales

 

[igorsMistress]

Zoom!

Takin the shot

 

[igorsMistress]

My kid got busy last weekend so making our trade didn't work out. I talked to him today and we're shooting for tomorrow morning. He's excited because he actually has four days off, I get that! Our temps are in the low to mid 90's at night and our forecast has 115-116 as our highs for the next seven days I think I'm going to get a couple more buckets to make more ice blocks. I could start giving the ice earlier in the day and also put one in the ducks pool to cool down the water.

I have a watermelon plant and a cantaloupe plant and so far they're hanging on. I have some shade set up for them during the hottest part of the day, but the watermelon has grown so much that it's draped down over the side of the planter. It sure loves that sun.

The babies are doing ok so far. I keep changing my mind about the sex of the reddish chick. Sometimes I think pullet, but then sometimes I think cockerel. The black one I'm almost positive is a boy. They're both in that pretty much feathered out phase with long legs. It's fun to watch them bump chests and run around like little crazies in the morning.

I've seen lots of other birdie babies around the yard. The tiniest little hummingbird came to visit while I watered, even sat on the fence around the garden and watched me as I went. Several small sparrows left their nest in the palm tree next door recently; still flying short distances to strengthen their wings, flitting from branch to branch and going on short trips between shrubs and trees. So cute!

That's all for now. Will update with duck and chick pics when I can.

 

[N F C]

My kid got busy last weekend so making our trade didn't work out. I talked to him today and we're shooting for tomorrow morning. He's excited because he actually has four days off, I get that! Our temps are in the low to mid 90's at night and our forecast has 115-116 as our highs for the next seven days I think I'm going to get a couple more buckets to make more ice blocks. I could start giving the ice earlier in the day and also put one in the ducks pool to cool down the water.

I have a watermelon plant and a cantaloupe plant and so far they're hanging on. I have some shade set up for them during the hottest part of the day, but the watermelon has grown so much that it's draped down over the side of the planter. It sure loves that sun.

The babies are doing ok so far. I keep changing my mind about the sex of the reddish chick. Sometimes I think pullet, but then sometimes I think cockerel. The black one I'm almost positive is a boy. They're both in that pretty much feathered out phase with long legs. It's fun to watch them bump chests and run around like little crazies in the morning.

I've seen lots of other birdie babies around the yard. The tiniest little hummingbird came to visit while I watered, even sat on the fence around the garden and watched me as I went. Several small sparrows left their nest in the palm tree next door recently; still flying short distances to strengthen their wings, flitting from branch to branch and going on short trips between shrubs and trees. So cute!

That's all for now. Will update with duck and chick pics when I can.

Looking forward to seeing pictures of the ducks IM!

You must have some hardy plants in AZ to grow in spite of the heat. Did you start your melons from seed?

Fun to see a hummer, do you have a feeder for them?

 

[igorsMistress]

Looking forward to seeing pictures of the ducks IM!

You must have some hardy plants in AZ to grow in spite of the heat. Did you start your melons from seed?

Fun to see a hummer, do you have a feeder for them?

I'm excited to have ducks again, they're so much fun.

I didn't start the melons from seed, I got a late start so I bought the plants instead this year. They have shade over the center of the plant during the hours our sun is the most intense which I think really helps. I asked a master gardener what will grow here in summer and she said melons are about it, I think she's right.

I don't have a feeder for the hummers, but I have lots of plants that they like; yellow bells and bells of fire bloom a few times each year, and they visit the aloe too. A few neighbors that I know have feeders, so I provide natural alternatives for multiple options. They also like to nest in our willow acacia.

 

[igorsMistress]

First round of ice for the chickens is out. I poured the cold water into a waterer for them; Red and the chicks were drinking that and the rest were standing in the pools. I'm going to see if Ace has any of the giant pools, the one I have has cracks in it and I think a thin layer of water that is cool would be more helpful than just letting the ice melt. Going to experiment with that.

 

[cavemanrich]

iM​

Duck tape will work in short order to repair cracks until new can be sourced.

 

[igorsMistress]

iM​

Duck tape will work in short order to repair cracks until new can be sourced.

Thanks Cavey. I’m afraid pretty much the whole bottoms of two pools would be covered in tape It’s time for a couple of new pools. Or just one big one.