Wednesday

Cotcha spent the night out of the pen last night. Just after I left yesterday afternoon she raced off to go and sit on her nest. I had a suspicion where it was, so this morning after I let the ducks out I just watched Tommy and he led me there. I found her and everything was ok. I think she was pretty lucky as I heard our neighbour lost all of his chickens last night to a fox . Needless to say I went and got Cotcha off her nest tonight and put her in the pen. She wasn't too happy about it. We lost another duck to a fox late last year, his name was George. George was quite the character, he came to live with our chickens after him and Old Boy became quite chummy. Once our ducklings got a little older George started to hang out with them rather than the chickens and one night a fox got the better of him.

We have nearly finished snake-proofing the chicken pen. I think its got another couple hours work in it yet, mainly its just tying the wire together. We purchased some tin snips on Tuesday so that really quickend up the process as we were cutting all the wire with some pliers. I'll take some photos once its completed.

Tuesday

So it appears the brown hen was the winner in yesterday's fight. The black one is still looking a little worse for ware but she is on the mend as when I looked at her this morning she could barely open her left eye. I honestly think this hen is crazy, she has been tormented by so many snakes in Snake Fest 06 and then after what happened the other night. At the moment she is sitting on the next waiting for some imaginary eggs to hatch. Poor dear, but I think she'll be fine.

The ducks are out playing in water that's run off from cleaning out their pond. They are just so cute playing in the water. I wrote down the correct spelling for Cotcha yesterday - its Katcsa which is Hungarian for duck. I won't go into the Hungarian language too much because I don't really know it, but I just pronounce it Cotcha.

I brought home scraps from the cafe yesterday. The babies were so excited when I got it out of the boot. I think their favourite is watermelon.

Crazy chickens

It's just non-stop here at the moment. I went to feed the chickens this morning and I couldn't find two of the hens. I looked a little harder and found two of the hens (the black one that is next to Grey Bitch in the photo below and one of Bad Mothers kids) fighting in the pen. It looked like they had been going for quite awhile as when I seperated them they were both quite bloody around their faces, and couldn't really stand up. I'm not quite sure what they were fighting about, perhaps a new pecking order! I left them penned so it should be interesting to see if they are still alive when I get home. I think they will be, chickens are so crazy, I bet by the time I separated them this morning they didn't even know what they were fighting about. I didn't manage to get any photos of the fighting chickens. But here is a cute one of the ducks.



Cotcha (one of the female ducks) has started a new nest in the pen. She was sitting on three eggs when I left her this morning. I think we'll probably take the eggs as we aren't ready for more ducklings.. Just yet. It would be babies having babies.

Sunday

I was a little flat yesterday after the deaths of Grey Bitch and Bad Mother so it was relatively quiet. We started snake proofing the chicken pen yesterday and again today. It's a massive task, but we're getting there. I've deceided to name the snake proofing The Grey Bitch Memorial Fence in her honor. I don't think I'll go as far as putting up a plaque or anything, but it was definitely erected in her honor. Little slut.

Here is the work in progres.

We didn't pen the chickens last night as we thought they needed a time out from the pen. But Young Boy woke we up at 3.30am so they are definitely penned tonight.

All six ducks went for a swim in the pond all by themselves today, which is great news. It's good to see them all white again as they were getting pretty brown from playing and fighting in the mud. I caught them twice today in the vege patch, the little explorers that they are. They have eaten all but two of our cucumbers so I need to replant that on Tuesday and teach them some how to stay out of them patch. I will have to work hard on this as I keep being reminded by everyone how tasty duck is. People say that if they eat one that will teach them a lesson. I'm not really into this idea so I think I'll just build a fence.

Here are two of the boys after eating some bananas.

Snake Fest 07 casualities

We've had two casualites overnight from Snake Fest 07. It must have been an anaconda size carpet snake as it managed to take Grey Bitch and kill Bad Mother. Above is a photo I took of a black hen and Grey Bitch. The black hen survived. Although Grey Bitch didn't have the nicest name we really did like her. She was Old Boys very loyal companion. This could turn into a little bit of a eulogy so I'll stop. Needless to say that Old Boy is a little upset.

Bad Mother I named because I thought she was a bad mother, but as it turned out she was an ok mother, with having three chickens survive to become mothers themselves (which is a record). For the past week or so the three hens have been battling it out for this one tiny box to sit on eggs. As it turns out there weren't any eggs there, they were just percussion eggs. The snake didn't take Bad Mother like it did Grey Bitch, but she was definitely dead in the box when I found her this morning.

Fri

Same snake, same place, just later in the day. I just don't think the snake got the hint yesterday. Hopefully we won't see him tonight.

The boy ducks have been fighting lately. Its always Mandy vs the two other boys. Mandy is a boy, I didn't realise he was a boy when I named it, he just used to really like eating mandarians.

Mandy and Beaker had a bit of a rumble today. This photo was taken yesterday of the two of them. I had to put the camera down so I could seperate them so I don't actually have any photos of them fighting, this is them just talking about fighting.

Two of the girls went in the pond today. Although they didn't go in on their accord (I picked them up and walked them over to the pond), they sure did like it once they were in. Hopefully they'll keep going back for more.

Snake Fest 07

Snake Fest 07 is well underway. I just spotted this snake near our shoes at the back door. Although it was fast asleep and looking pretty harmless, I have a feeling it was waiting for Speedy to come and go to bed. This is the forth snake I've seen since Saturday, but I've seen this one twice (I think).

Mud

Its been raining here a little and five of the six ducks are all playing in the mud. This is a photo of one of the girls all muddy. I find it quite hard taking photos of the ducks as they are forever moving, so I am quite happy with this shot.

I went over and attempted to cooerce a duck into the "pond" this morning and I'm a little concerned about it. It seems there are lots of tadpoles. I hope they are not cane toads, I don't mind frog tadpoles but I don't want to have a breeding place for cane toads. Its starting to look like a cespit and the ducks aren't really into it.

Speedy is off sitting in the chicken pen as I think he finally knows he's a chicken. Mind you, I think he would be hanging with the ducks but mud just doesn't appeal to him. I still think Speedy is a rooster, but I guess I'll just have to wait until he lays an egg.

Water world

This is Beaker and another duckling when they were young-ish having a swim in paddling pool. I used to go out every lunch and watch them swimming. All six used to fit in the pool, but now they don't. Last week we built them a pond, while a few took a dip, they are really just getting used to it. I told them they have a few weeks to get used to it otherwise I'm filling it in.

Here is Tommy taking a dip. It was so exciting watching them swim around and not touch the bottom. I was out there taking photos like it was their first day of school. I had to put the paddling pool out near the "pond" so that they would recognise it and go for a swim.

We have 4 wood ducks (I'm not sure of their breed, but they are brown) who have started hanging around under the mango tree where I feed the babies. I was told the other day there was a bit of a face off between the two breeds with Speedy inbetween. So its turned into gangland.

The Players

Before I get into the world of blogging I thought I'd introduce the players on the farm. This is 4 of the duckies taken just a few days after I got them. Beaker is the one with the black on his beak. They were so cute and fluffy then. The don't look like this anymore but they are still my babies.

This is how they look now. Thats Beaker up on the rock and two of the girls sitting beside him. I've finally named these two girls, they are called 'The twins', mainly because I can't tell them apart. I really just call them baby girls.

This photo is of old boy (centre) with some black hen on the left and grey bitch on the right. Grey bitch is old boys long time girl friend. We don't really name our chickens except for old boy, who I think in his old age is little narcoleptic. Then there is Young Boy, which is any young rooster, currently we're up to Young Boy the third (I think). I don't have any photos of him, as I only have eyes for old boy. Here he is falling asleep.

Next there is Speedy, Speedy is a little chicken that I rescued from near death when he was just a two weeks old. His mum was killed by a snake as was his 12 other siblings. Speedy is now what we call a chuck - part chicken, part duck. He/she hangs out with the ducks and copys them (I'm yet to see him take a dip in the pond). I think its great Speedy hangs out with the ducks as he was getting a little needy. We also call him Speedy McNugget.

The last animal is a magpie that goes by the name of Ralphie. I'd never liked magpies until I'd met Ralphie. He has a partner called Ralphetta, and they have two kids. Ralphie can say "g'day mate" as well as bark like a dog. Here he is on our verandah on a rainy day.