5 years

beaks

good rain

we had a very dry fall and so far winter hasn't been very wintry but we got some good rain overnight and into this afternoon.

duckling accommodations

in mid-october, 2017, a couple of weeks before the new ducklings arrived, i began work on an addition to the duck shed that would serve as transitional housing for the ducklings once they were out of the brooder and getting used to outdoor life before being integrated with the existing flock.

the addition is built on to the north wall of the main shed.

10/23/2017 framing completed

10/25/2017 with metal roof and 1/2'' hardware cloth covering walls

10/31/2017  corrugated metal walls and trim affixed

front of main shed and west wall of addition (unpainted section on the left)

being situated on the north side of the main shed limited the light inside the addition so i cut some windows in the shared wall to let the light coming through the main shed into the addition.

upper window allows light in from main shed, lower window allows the two flocks to see eachother

11/01/2017

not much roof overhang so i tacked up an old polycarbonate greenhouse door to help keep it warm and dry inside (i've put burlap up under the polycarbonate panels since the below picture was taken).

seems around this time i took a bit of a break on the construction, the ducklings had arrived on the 1st of november and i was pretty busy settling into a new schedule to accommodate their care.  i got the door built by mid-november (the ducklings would have been 2 weeks old then).

11/14/2017  door framed and covered with 1/2'' hardware cloth

also 11/14/2017  door hung and corrugated metal on door front

slide bolt to keep door securely closed at night

once the shed addition was finished i started working to make the run around the shed more secure.  it was already fenced but it was open to the sky so it didn't offer protection from predators that climb or fly.  i got an idea for running steel cables across it in a wide grid to support a sort of a roof of chicken wire.

outer gate of duckling run

inside duckling run looking up at steel wire support grid

inside duckling run looking up at chicken wire attached to steel support cables

the ducklings were still spending nights in the house but i had them out with me during the day so they could supervise my work.

looking into duckling run from above with chicken wire mostly attached

with the first bunch of ducklings back in 2015 outdoor heat wasn't necessary when they left the brooder because it was summer.  with this bunch going from 60 degree nights in an unheated brooder in the house to 30 degree nights outdoors i felt it would be good to set them up with a little supplemental heating until they finished growing feathers and got a chance to get acclimated.  i started out building a hover but ended up building a box with a hole in its roof that allows a ceramic heat bulb with reflector to be lowered or raised through it.

12/11/2017  underside of hover

12/11/2017  upper side of hover

boxed hover in duckling shed

non-light emitting ceramic heat bulb with reflector powered by an extension cord running from the outside of the greenhouse

with the top of the run secured and supplemental heating in place i felt it would be safe and comfortable enough for the ducklings to move outdoors. 

outdoor duckies safe from the hawk they've spotted high above, first night outside 12/23/2017

at this point i felt one more safety measure needed to be addressed.  staal helped me dig-proof the perimeter of the run.  we dug a trench around the outer perimeter, laid some chain link fencing into it, buried it and secured it to the bottom of the fence.

older ducks inspecting the trench and gleaning upturned earthworms

chainlink fencing in trench and partially buried

staal wove the chainlink and the bottom of the fence together with some steel cable (the same cable i used to support the chicken wire over the top of the run).

staal securing the chainlink to the bottom of the fence with steel cable

once the run was buttoned up i put up a support in the center of the run to take care of a little sag in the chicken wire covering.

central support for overhead chicken wire

...and i put together a simple bench for easy communing.

me, trying out the bench and giving the little ones a handful of rice

that brings things up to date...it was very enjoyable work but i think i'll have a nap now.

alms for an old dog

after the christmas eve meal
leftovers gathered on a paper plate
alms for an old dog
who's been hanging about the neighborhood
the oldest boy has come with me
he's enchanted with the ancient husky's mismatched eyes
“like marbles”
one so pale blue it's nearly white
the other amber brown
later
as we say goodbyes to family in the front yard
the old dog slowly wanders over from across the street
a huge woolly mass on stiff legs
i interpret his effort as a gesture of thanks
i stroke his head
thank him for the gift he has given me
and wish him well

winter solstice

winter is officially here and with it came our first frost.  up 'til now the weather has been very mild and mostly dry although we did have a mix of rain and wet snow come down for a little while yesterday morning.

frozen solid kale leaf sporting some neat ice crystals

the ducks' drink pans and pools were frozen over.

after i removed the ice i topped the pans off with a little warm water that i brought out in a bucket from the kitchen.  the ducks don't mind dipping their bills into frigid water first thing in the morning but it makes me feel better to warm things up a bit.

business as usual

i thought this would be it for the tomato plants but some of them seem to still be hanging on just fine.

meanwhile the little ones are still enjoying a cushy lifestyle.  little do they know i'm almost finished bobcat proofing their outdoor enclosure and in another day or two they'll be moving to their new digs.

may the lengthening days bring with them peace and happiness to all.

wreath

snipped a few sprigs of toyon and manzanita and decorated the wreath today...