Something That Made Me Smile

It's the little things in life that mean the most to me. Up until a couple of days ago my yard was covered with a beautiful blanket of white snow. Deep snow. Heavy snow. Then the February heatwave came through and melted all of that pristine snow making way for mud. Both snow and mud mean the chickens and ducks prefer to stay in the barn tossing hay and straw all over in their quest for something to do.

As the winds came through, all of that was blown away. When I returned home from delivering soap to a few special customers I let the dogs out for some relief. This is what met us.
It began to feel like Spring. During the warmer months most of my flock is allowed to free-range and tend the yard. They keep an eagle eye on the back door knowing that when it opens there's bound to be a treat thrown their way. They know when dinner time for humans is and knock at the door for kitchen scraps if we don't serve them quickly enough. I can't help but smile.

Here is the ever-vigilant Mojo Jojo. He's an Americauna cockerel that was supposed to be a pullet. His head comes to about mid-thigh to me, so I would imagine he's the size of a small hen turkey. We have a deal that he can stay as long as he respects the humans. So far it's working out.
In the very foreground (bottom of the photo) is Zhu Zhu, the roo rescued from Animal Control last July. In the far back (behind Mojo) is Roady Roo, a little cockerel raised by me beloved Road Runner hen. Yes we have too many roos. Not pictured is Uno, the head roo, a Silkie Bantam and daddy to Roady Roo.

When the treats were gone, they still hung out hopeful for more.


Though the weather man forecast snow and freezing rain for Sunday I suspect Spring is right around the corner.

Like Ducks and Watermelon

Did you know that ducks and chickens go nuts for watermelon? Me neither! Linnie, Tuck and Ming Ming dove into the watermelon like they had been starved for such deliciousness their entire short lives.

I ended up tossing the entire melon to them. Imagine my surprise later that night when I found Ming Ming covered in dark red. It looked like duck carnage. After a quick dip into the pool the watermelon guts washed off leaving my pretty girl all yellow/white again. Can I tell you how much I've grown to love these little ducks. They turn their little duck heads to listen to my every word. Think they're just waiting for watermelon?

Here a duck, there a duck, everywhere a chicken...?

Hi y'all. It seems we have a few more links in the food chain we call home. During a volunteer event this past weekend I managed to take on 2 ducklings and a chick. My intentions were, and still are pure. I have a friend we like to call the Chicken Lady. She's about the sweetest person in the world that I actually know. She has a duck and chicken paradise. So... after stalking her down she accepted the guilty " PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR ON TOP" and agreed to try to work these little guys into her flock.

As I understand it you can't just thrown the new birds into the flock without a lot of carnage. Who knew. So... once she gets back from vacation next week she'll be the proud new parent. In the meantime I get to watch these little comedians with delight every day. Ducklings are sooooo awkward. The chicken is the leader of the pack. It's kind of cool that they know me already. The chicken, Linnie as we named her, roosts on our arm and lets us carry her around a little. Tuck and Ming Ming the ducks are a little more shy. Once we catch them though they're pretty fun. Their yellow pinfeathers are still a little soft. I wish I could keep them, but the dogs and cats stalk them constantly. It's only a matter of time before one of them goes the way of the two missing turtles. (I still have not completely forgiven Gracie the Wonderlab for that...)

I'll try to get a little video posted of them tonight. Until then, just imagine little waddling poop factories cheeping all over the place.