Java. the end.

[Javamama]

My ducks have trained me to a ridiculous night routine. I go out as it's getting dark and they are all hanging around the door to their house. I tell them to go to bed. They run away. I circle around behind them and they run the other way. Then I walk out of the yard and they run back to the entrance of their house. Repeat. Finally I say go to bed and the bravest one (that changes nightly) pokes it's head in and finally lunges inside the house, followed by the rest. I lock them in and they make all their happy noises

 

[lorihadams]

We have runners and I love them....I would love to let them out in the big field but we have to get something put up for shade down there. My runners don't fly and they are GREAT foragers....mine even went broody this year.

I recommend ducks....they're funny!

 

[Javamama]

any unusual lamp incidents last nite?

No, but now one of the smoke detectors is chirping intermittently and I can't figure out which one it is. It will chirp twice in a minute, I go stand in the hall to narrow it down and then nothing happens. Stand, stand, stand for a few minutes. We have a split level, so it's really hard to figure out. Give up and go sit down and BAM it chirps again I'm going to have to get the ladder out and change all the batteries. After I go to the store to buy batteries.


Lori - don't you love how much more personality the ducks have than the chickens do?

 

[Javamama]

This month is turning out to be one of the best Octobers ever! It's just beautiful outside. I love fall.

Cleaned out the coop and have to move the duck hut today -I want them closer to the house during the winter so I don't have to shovel long paths to get to them.

I think I am starting an autoimmune flare Achey and tired beyond what is normal for me. Nothing I can do but wait it out, sleep, and pray it doesn't last long. It usually only lasts a few days. I have decided against doctoring it - meaning steroids unless it gets really bad.

 

[lorihadams]

I LOVE my ducks! I am keeping the 4 I have for now and ordering some from Holderreads early next year to replace my flock. Mine are wonderful but they aren't as upright as I would like. I got them from Mcmurrays a couple yrs ago. Ended up with 30 babies this year...all that broody madness!

I love the conversations they have with each other....when they all stand around the poolside chattering at each other and bobbing their heads up and down... silly birds!

Hope you feel better!

 

[Javamama]

I love the chattering. Do you ever wonder what they are saying?

Last night we put the light back in the coop since it's getting dark early and I need to see. So there's an extension cord on the ground now. This morning one of the ducks got left behind because she was afraid to cross the line It was so funny. She would waddle up to it all brave and determined, then decide she couldn't do it and run away. She did this a few times before she changed tactics and decided to back up and run toward the cord while flapping her wings. That got her off the ground approximately 3 inches, but it was enough to "fly" over that red cord

 

[lorihadams]

That is hilarious.....only duck people would get that!

Mine are in a rabbit hutch so they have to go up a step to get in. Hubby built them a ramp but they refuse to use it. I put a block of wood in front of the second door and they hop up on it every night. They are so funny!

You should have seen it when I had 34 of them here....

 

[Javamama]

First- read today's funny duck story above...now, this duck is still refusing to cross the extension cord But she's also acting odd in other ways - she's wandering around by herself and acting like she'd like to go into the chicken coop. Ready to lay, perhaps? I put a nest box out for her since she won't cross the scary extension cord to go to the duck hut. It's just as well since we are going to move the hut soon anyway.
The boys are being quite randy today, but they still haven't got the um...proper position down. They are stepping over the girls crossways - kind like jumping a broom But the 2 drakes are teaming up and if they keep being so aggressive one may have to go.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

LOL Love your duck story. Ducks have to be some of the most amusing farmyard animals to watch.

 

[~gd]

I went to the mill today. It was a bit more pricey than TSC. I could not believe it. Their scratch was over 12 bucks and I'm not all that thrilled with it - it had distillers grain as the first ingredient. I'm not real sure what that even is. It should be grain that was used to produce a mash that had the alcohol distilled out of it. the sugars should be gone but the protein remains. If that is what it is, it should be high in protein and not very fatening for your birds. At a lot of the mills the stratch consists of floor and machine sweepings! ~gd I'm sure their bulk mixes were cheaper, but I don't need 500 pounds of grain.

Karen - I am about 20 minutes from the state fairgrounds. I have never been to the show because we are usually out of town, but this year I may be able to go.