In other male news, we got a new rooster. I named him Frank. Just because. Okay, truth be told I'm running out of great name ideas.
The male estrogen levels are high here at the farm. They must be because everytime I turn around our tom turkey, Skeeter is in a huge combat with our muscovy drake, Sir Quacksalot. And I'll be honest, the battle has me watching in awe at these two big magnificent birds going at it that I completely forget to grab the camera. When I do remember and rush outside to catch this remarkable image on film (sort of speak) they immediately break up the fight. But the evidence is left behind. Can you see the ring of blood around Skeeter's neck and chest? I tried to take a photo of Sir Quacksalot's battle scars, but for some reason they were in no mood for a photo op. That's blood on Sir Quacksalots face and Skeeter's feathers in his mouth. Not sure who's blood it is but it's always a flying when they go at it, and thus far we don't have a winner or a loser or I'd assume the battle would have come to a conclusion by now. But whenever Skeeter gets a bit too close to Sir Quacksalot (and I'm thinking on purpose) away they go! In other male news, we got a new rooster. I named him Frank. Just because. Okay, truth be told I'm running out of great name ideas. He's a barred rock, a HUGE barred rock. And this spring's hatch. He's going to reproduce me some huge babies. That's the plan at least.
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When we got our turkey's I didn't think much about them other than how wonderful it would be to have a home raised turkey gracing my thanksgiving table. Nothing said country more. Not even the chickens. So when we bought them I didn't pay them much attention. Indeed, I ignored them pretty much their first month home. Then one day I got feeling kind of bad because every one of our little farm critters was outside enjoying the summer weather accept the turkeys. So figuring they were too little to free range like the chickens, I let them free range in the barn. They seemed to enjoy it so I moved them outside to the rabbit run. The rabbit run became a temporary home for all the baby critters on our farm. The ducklings were first to keep the rabbits company then soon after the kittens joined them and finally the turkeys. It didn't take long for the rabbit run to be nicknamed the kiddie run. It was a busy little pen. So you'd think there was lots of company and everyone would be happy and content. Everyone was, accept the turkeys. I could hear them chirping non-stop from my kitchen patio door which faced the backyard and the runs. And they have a very monotonous chirp. I couldn't imagine running a turkey farm. The sound would drive me insane. Anyway, I began to notice they would quiet up whenever I appeared. And then began "following" me along the wall of the run in whichever direction I went. I thought maybe the rabbits, ducks and kittens weren't really good company for the turkey's who might need some of their own kind so tried to introduce our two friendliest chickens to the kiddie pen. However, the turkeys went beserk and tried to kill them so we immediately removed them and that was that. But those turkey's kept on crying day after day and I just couldn't stand to hear it. So I let them free range with the chickens and let them all figure it out. Which they did. It took a few pecking and basic bullying, but the chickens learned quick that those little white critters weren't to be dominated. But it didn't take long for me to realize that it wasn't the chickens that the turkey's were so desperate for the company of. It was me. I would step outside and the turkey's would abruptly leave the chickens and start following me around. Everywhere I went, they followed. The night of our fireworks I went down to the pasture to set up and get ready and lo and behold I turn around and there they are. They are my two little sidekicks. I can't go anywhere on the farm now without them right on my heel. They even hang around whichever door they can hear my voice. At first I thought it was a little weird but now it's just kinda comical. They are two of the oddest, funniest, affectionate, fearless, skittish, vocal and stupidest critters on the farm. They will repeatedly try to walk through the chicken wire in a run to get out even though the gate is wide open next to them, peck one of the dogs coats clean, flee in terror if you so much as look at them, yet dance around my feet waiting for me to pet them, take over the duck feed bowl, perch themselves on a sleeping cat, challenge and win a confrontation with our biggest and meanest chicken, and chirp nonstop all day long. And they are only six weeks old. If nothing else, it will be entertaining to watch these two grow.
Yesterday was a day for babies on the farm. First up, May was not done having hers. She ended up having 4 more babies. And since there was no more room left at the Ritz, she had to find another secluded spot not too far from her other kittens. She chose this spot at the bottom of a wood pile. It didn't take long however for her to realize her mistake, when one too many visitors came to see her and babies. She took off, abandoning her babies. Since it wasn't the safest place and was easily accessible to other critters, we set up a bed in a corner of the shed surrounded by plywood sheets with food and water for May, and moved the kittens there while May watched from the beam above. And it was a good thing we did. For some unexplained reason, the pile of wood directly above where she had been, collapsed later that day. We popped in periodically after that to check on them and though there was no sign of May, the kittens appear healthy and content. I just hope she comes for them during the night and doesn't leave them to freeze. Yesterday, as it turns out, was a day of baby arrivals on the farm. Though the kittens were the only ones actually born here, we went over to our favourite breeder to pick up our remaining chanteclers and while we were there we visited with all her other animals and new mothers. And ended up going home with 2 turkeys, 2 rabbits, 3 ducks, and the 3 chanteclers. The chanteclers checking out their new home and new family below. The turkey's....which daughter discovered their reputation of not being the smartest chicks on the block rang true, says we should name dumb and dumber, haha! But which my son has wanted since our last visit to the breeder's where he met their pet turkey, Walmart (named for his love of greeting visitors to the farm). I had wanted ducks in the hopes of helping to eliminate the fly population on our farm. When I did my research, I chose Call Ducks because they are the friendliest and with my boy always wanting to play with the farm animals, I thought they would suit us best. However, on talking with my breeder in further discussion about ducks, she recommended we get Muscovy as a) they are the best fly catchers and b) have the best edible meat. So we've ordered some babies from her who should be born any day now. The call ducks above will only be for pet value as she said they won't catch a whole lot of flies. I couldn't resist taking them home though when she showed me their mother. A beautiful black and white duck. I've never seen one that colour. Two of the ducklings above should turn out with the same colouring. We took the third one because he was the last of the litter and came with his sisters. Of course, when we brought them home we had no idea what to do with them. We aren't set up for baby ducks so have put them in the upstairs shower stall until I can figure something out. Then finally, before we went over to the breeders she told us that her rabbits had another litter of bunnies and that one of the litters were safe to breed with Odette. You know, just in case we were interested, haha! We had wanted a male rabbit ever since Odette came home in February with the hopes of breeding her. He was even named at that time. Meet Phoenix. Now the problem is, he shares the same parents as Odette, so no breeding. (Apparently it is not safe to breed siblings, but you can breed parent to child.) So after much debate and finally unable to make a decision, we picked up another male from a different set of parents for breeding purposes. He remains nameless at the moment but he quickly found his way into our hearts. So much so that we are thinking of buying a female from the same litter so that we can cross breed the two litters. I foresee a lot of building of shelters and runs this summer!
Talking of babies, and as an update, the tadpoles in our pond have completely disappeared. We haven't seen our Koi as well in the past week or so. We stopped feeding them in the hopes they would help themselves to the tadpoles. I think the plan worked. There won't be any toad invasion on the farm afterall! |