New Babies

Well atlast after what seems like the whole summer (this is her second attempt) Denis (now denise) finally manage to hatch some babies, 5 so far.

3 all yellow, 1 Yellow with grey back and 1 mainly black with yellow wings and bib (nicknamed Zoro).

Incubator

Well it looks like our first incubator may have given up the ghost, as it no longer seems to be getting hot enough.

So I'm on the look out for a new incubator.

Dead Duckling

Sadly when Rosie went out to feed the animals this morning, she found one of the ducklings laying on the ground unable to lift its head and with blood around its head. I took it oof her and it was obvious that it had a broken neck, it died almost instantly in my hands, upon closer examination it was obvious thatit also head a head injury.

It would appear that it had fallen doen the step and then been trodden on by a goat, poor little thing.

Bantam Eggs.

Sadly the 9 eggs in the incubator did not develop, this is for a couple of reasons I think, mainly that the incubator buld died at about 10 days and the eggs got cold, that said at that point only 3 had developed anyway.

Think its time for a new incubator.

Dennis and her nest

Dennis or should that be Denise is sat on her nest still, despite Katherine the Muscovy and her babies constantly pestering her.

She has been sat on for about 2 weeks so hopefully we will soon have the patter of my little webbed feet.

Katherines Babies

Katherines babies are now just over 2 weeks old and have discoverd our very large compost heap, they all spend hours fighting over worms, flys and bugs. Can be very funny to see 4 of them all trying to eat the same worm. They end up all covered in mud.

Luckily they have also discovered that water isn't just for drinking, but it is also great for swimming in. The goats are not to pleased as it tends to be their drinking bowl that they chose for a swim.

Katherine and Babies

Here hopefully is some film of one of the Muscovy ducklings hunting his own lunch of flies..

Need some more Bantams

Well now we are down to two silkies I want more bantams even more than before looks like the eggs in the incubator at the moment are all dudes, so no chicks there. Can't seem to find any female bantams round here for love nor money.

New Incubator

Well after almost a years faithful service, I'm begining to think it is time to get a bigger and better incubator, I was warned it was addictive.

Test

Seem to be having problems, so doing a test post, please ignore.

Peckers Chick

PomPom as she/he is noe is now 11 weeks, having hatched the day before we moved, and she/he is almost as big as mum.

Katherines babies

More pictures, just because I can

Katherines ducklings

Well here is the first glimps of her babies on Sunday.

Role Call

Just as it has been some time since I last posted, I think its time for a bird role call.

So here goes.

2 Silkies, (we lost Swimmer early in the year, George went off to a new home, Cutie Pie, Purdie, Lucy got killed by a nasty fox.)

1 Goose, well Gander he is still going strong, just as grumpy, but convinced he is the "ducklings" dad, little confussed there.

2 Muscovies Henry VIII and Katherine VI (I didn't name them) well they now have 9 mini muscovies (4 days old).

Then there is Lady the crested duck, believed to be about 9 now, again she is looking great, still holding her own with the young whipasnappers.

Snowball the aylesbury, supposed to be ladies mate, but is a bit of a ladies man.

the 6 Runners (two stayed at the old house for our buyers) Splode, Dennis (female), waddles, coco, rolo, blondie, sadly the fox also got Brandy.

Three Quail, completely mad, seem to drink water likes its going out of fashion.

Oh any 9 eggs in the incubator, one week left.

Thats all the birds.

Hatching.

Well my Christmas hatched worked well, 7 babies, sadly first time mum peacker wasn't sure what to do, and left the babies in the cold to die.

Since then Peacker surprised us all with a new chick, the day befofre we moved house, 5 weeks after George our cock had gone to market.

Dennis (she is a girl) spent 3 weeks on 18 eggs, only to abandon them due to the very heavy rain in June, mangaed to hatch one, in the incubator but sadly it was a poorly chick and didn't make it.

An apology,

I've I have neglected this blog and my other one for far to long.

Updates coming soon.

Cutie Pies Baby

Cutie Pies Chick is getting bigger and stronger, and Cutie Pie has started taking her/him out for walks.

Ducklings 1 Week old

The ducklings were 1 week old on Sunday, and to mark the occasion they had their first trip out to the garden

Update on Quails Sexs

Seems to be the general concenus, that the quail are seved as follows

Quail 1 (Red Band) Female
Quail 2 (Purple Band) Female ??
Quail 3 (Green Band) Male
Quail 4 (Yellow Band) Female
Quail 5 (Blue Band) Female

Quail 6 (Red Band) Male
Quail 7 (Purple Band) Male
Quail 8 (Green Band) Female
Quail 9 (Blue Band) Male

If you know otherwise please get in touch.

Quail Sexing

Just been told now that they are as follows

1 female
2 male
3 female
4 female
5 female

6 male (def)
7 male (def)
8 female (def)
9 male (def)