Ladies in the Garden

As the title says, it has been rather busy not so much for the Ladies but more so for their owner.

The hens have come back into lay, hatched a few babies and returning to laying and of course broodiness. Some of them are very keen to raise as many babies as possible.
Those from the original group of hennies are turning three years old. I wonder what one year is in chicken years. Perhaps ten or fifteen? Perhaps it also depends on the breed? A three year ISA brown hybrid hen is much different to an Old English Game hen.

Doing a henny tag team Dottie, Bev and Dandy have hatched out some more ducklings. Bev was used as an incubator only as babies tend to freak her out. Those ducklings are rather large now. They grow so fast.

A surprise this year was Hattie who managed to hatch out a Japanese quail. It took her a while to even recognise the tiny speckled egg as something she would like to sit on. Unfortunately she did not accept it so it was handraised (I hate to think of the electricity bill this month!) Quail are very delicate when they hatch. This little one resembled belly button lint! He or she feathered up quickly and is being transitioned to the main coop.

The show ducks are doing a transition moult. I'm very keen for them to do their full moult to get some lovely new fresh feathers for the upcoming show season. I hope to be able to show some ducks bred by myself this time.

Yes Quail. This variety is know as Coturnix Japonica, Jumbo, Japanese, Pharaoh and....Delicious (just their eggs for time being)

I found some unproductive pen space which is never a good thing. Four little japanese quail hens have been added. A Tibetan, two Italians and another colour yet to be identified. There is also a male not yet in with the hens. It appears he has a sniffle so is in quarrantine having treatment. He is an A&M Texas (as far as I know). The Tibetan is a nice little girl as is one of the Italians and the 'other' colour. The 'other' Italian is a bit flighty but still able to be caught.

Do you talk to you pets? Maybe your dog or cat? What about your poultry?

Without realizing I've find myself chatting to the ducks and hens. Hens turn their heads, look at your face and seem to 'speak' at the appropriate time.

A typical conversation goes as follows:

Me: hello Mackles, you are looking much better after your moult.
Mackles: Bwarrrk bok bok. (so much better than Dottie)
Me: When are you going to lay me another egg?
Mackles: Bok (not yet)
Me: That's very large crop you have tonight
Mackles: Bok Bok b-gark bwark Bok Bok (I found a huge earwig today and I got it before Annie)
Me: Lovely I'll pop you on your favorite perch then.


Ok yes she speaks chicken and I don't but I do understand her tone and when I'm being told off. Cadbury is different, he is a drake and carries an air of dignity about him. He wants that head rub, that is all. 

Me: hello Cadbury you are looking handsome 
Cadbury: Warrrrp (yes, of course I am as always)
Me: Would you like your head rubbed
Cadbury: Warrrrp (do it already)
Cadbury goes limp: warrrrrrrp (that's the spot)

The neighbors must think I'm nuts. Yes I am but that's ok :)

Things have been very busy for me of late. The Ladies have been doing what chooks do plus a little bit more ;-)

Dottie incubated and hatched 10 out of 12 Khaki Campbell Ducklings eggsin December. Ted Carter kindly allowed me to purchase them from him. All from his white line and are stunning creatures. I am hopeful for some awards in the upcoming poultry show.
Perhaps you are thinking 'she's crossed to the duck side of the force'  Ducks are my more serious step into showing. Chickens are very difficult to breed in suburbia. Even if the immediate neighbors can handle a bit 'cockle-doodle-doo' once the Rooster is released from the night box, others one or two doors down may not. I will always love the chooks but they will be pets rather than show birds.  The quack of a duck or the low smooth tones of a mature drake (not unlike Kamahl) gives variety to the warbling and running commentary of the ladies as they go about their business.

Cadbury and Quackers are still here, they are moulting and look a little ragged as is Bev, Mackles and Dandy. They loathe being picked up or touched, poor loves,  it must be uncomfortable.

On another subject, I've been able to get a hold of some rice hulls. A large bale has made the floor of the winter coop better able to cope with a bit of moisture blowing in from storms. The Ladies love turning it over and it is springy and soft underfoot. I can see why the rice hulls are raved about on many forums. It will be interesting to see how it performs during winter.

Enough for now.

Its been a busy month. Mackles the Minorca is on the lay again -Yay
Bev the Barnevelder went broody. I offhandedly popped two duck eggs under her. One fresh, the other from the fridge! Both were fertile. Duckling one hatched this morning, the other has internally pipped.
Unfortunately Bev is repeating her chick attacking behavior. Last time she actually ate a chick! Fortunately Dottie has been nest sharing the last few days and has taken over the mothering duties. Bev had been relieved of her duties.

The ladies have been laying happily for almost a month now. Everyone is on board except Mackles the Minorca. She is doing her little squats at my feet but none of her large white eggs have appeared. Quackers the Khaki Campbell duck hasn't taken a day off laying yet- amazing! The Rhode Island Red Chicks have gone to their new home. Dandy is enjoying being without the responsibility of chicks and is sporting a fuller hairdo.

A surprise in the nesting box yesterday. Penny the bantam Plymouth Rock has gone broody for the first time. It will be interesting whether she will be a good sitter and mother. She is a different broody to the silky or Wyandotte. Very fluffed up and screeches just like a seagull when you take away the eggs. No pecking at my hand but she must appear scary to the other ladies. I found them bunched up at the farthest end of the roosting post tonight.

Quackers the Khaki Campbell Duck laid her first egg. I can't wait to try out the flavour tonight when I eat it for tea!
Yes of course a photo was taken. I've put them up against some of the ladies eggs for comparison.

Post tea review: Taste is much the same as hens eggs -very nice. The albumen levels were distinct. A fertile spot (bulls eye)was present so Cadbury is being successful in his matings! Middle child was upset that I was eating a duckie.