Ducks, Meat birds, Teen-chicks and Hatchlings

I know.  I know.  I'm waiting for a quilting post too!  There's never a lot of downtime around here lately.  (and soaping doesn't take much time). ;)   Three weeks into summer vacation, and I've been in the quilting room twice -- maybe three times.  SOON though!  (I hope!)

For the past week -- it's been birds of one sort of variety or another.

Paul has been dutifully working on a quaint lil' movable coop.  Initially, it was being built for our teen-chicks that were hatched out about four weeks ago;  they have outgrown the brooder box!

However, after seeing how big the ducklings have gotten at seven weeks old (!!!), they got first dibs on the new digs!  Even with 'pond' installed :D

Our two older (and only remaining ducks from our seven we had earlier this spring :( have migrated over to the teen-duck area.  They stick fairly close to the teens, but no intermingling will happen for a while yet.  King, the white Pekin, picked on our ducklings and teens last year something awful, so... nope.  No intermingling.  Yet.  Prince, the mutt male, had been one of those teens last year.  He started taking over as dominant 'big meanie' when we still had our female, Angel, this spring.  However, since we lost our last female, both of the boys calmed down and have become good buds.

And Afro-Jack seems happy!!!!  Goofy duck.  If he ends up being female----(?).... I guess Afro-Jackie doesn't sound too bad.

Moving the ducks opened up one of our three ground-brooders.  The other two were housing our cross-breed meat birds.  And it was time to take care of those guys too!

Processing 18 meat birds was a family affair.  I know there are mixed feelings 'out there' regarding posting pictures of the process, but.... really?  I think this is our fourth (fifth?) year now of raising birds for meat;  I wasn't really involved much up until this year.  With a nearly empty chest-freezer (low on chicken, hardly any pork, beef mostly gone, zilcho venison!), I now truly APPRECIATE the fact of having full chest-freezers of meat and other garden goodies!  

These chickens here-- these are NOT EGG-LAYERS!  Good lordy.  I love my chickens that I/we hatch and raise for eggs.  They are more like pets to us than simply birds that provide us eggs.

  

But these guys.  They are like beefers, but only chicken versions.  They are bred to grow quickly.  Quickly!  At 10 weeks, these guys are a hefty size for processing.  They NEVER receive names from us, but we take care of them; feed them, water them -- raise them to grow :D

We waited until week 12 almost to the day.  This is the second (or third?) year Paul has used his DIY chicken-plucker.  Yup!  It's another one of those things that I rolled my eyes at when he purchased all the supplied to make one, but now I see the awesome purpose of this machine!  It makes such quick work of plucking those chickens.

The final outcome after a LONG day of processing?  Chicken!  We didn't weigh the final poundage we processed, but this was one of the larger chicken breasts we raised!  That's just a single breast, folks.  The average breast -- probably 1 1/4 pounds.  We sealed some half-chickens, but mostly breasts, legs/thighs and wings.

And, of COURSE, I made stock and rendered down chicken fat (schmaltz).  But that's for some other time.

Since all three of the ground brooders were now empty, the next day was spent reorganizing all the new and old pens in a new location.    The brooder box was hauled down to the new location for easy removal of the teen chicks...

The new-found freedom for some was too much to resist!  As they grow, they will eventually be free-range chickens, but we keep them safe from predators until they reach a few months old.

Watered and fed.  And it was only an afterthought--- we STILL never took the time to count how many chicks there are!!!!! **forehead slap!!**  In this picture----we're still sticking with 34 as our best guess.  One of these days when we start spreading the flock out, we'll get a good count.

These ground-brooders are roughly 8x8;  after another few weeks, these chicks will need more space, but for now, the new house for the next few weeks will be just perfect.  We attempted to remove Mama from the picture and return her to her coop/flock that evening.  It only took about 5 minutes for her to run back down to the babies.  *shrug*  It's all good.  Eventually, these babies will get mingled in with the new coop flock (Mama's flock) anyway.   

So, FINALLY!  Teen ducks and chicks are happy in new housing!

And just in time....

Seventeen new hatchlings (so far) from the incubator have now taken up room-n-board in the brooder house.  We're keeping track of how many chicks we get this time!!!

How many more do we expect??  Another two have hatched since moving these guys this morning, and there were 35 total eggs in the incubator.   There are always a few that don't survive the hatching process;  always such a sad time.  Your guess is as good as mine.  

Jamestown Landing and the property

Summer 2015-16 quilting has finally been kicked off!  With a day of Hans Zimmer movie soundtracks, Jamestown Landing was quilted.  

I can't even remember anymore when I started this or when the top was completed.  Sad, sad, sad that I've become "one of those quilters" who has been around the block long enough to have a pile of UFOs percolating (and dying?) off in the corner.  LOL.

One at a time though.  One at a time.

Jamestown Landing ended up coming to the forefront since it will be a raffle quilt for a friend of the family.  The raffle kickoff will happen during a 4th of July celebration;  therefore, the binding will be completed today and (hopefully) we'll venture up to deliver the quilt to its destination this weekend.

Life around the yard is in full swing...

The ducklings are over a month old now;  only one has been officially named so far.   Meet Afro-Jack!!!! LOL

Only one pig of the six has been named this year;  Smudge.  Candace was out treating them to some Daisy treats;  what a beautiful moment!!!

A new, simple-n-portable, coop is being made for our ever-expanding flocks.  

After all, if you've got 'em, ya hatch 'em, right???  ;)

Our younger tomato plants couldn't wait much longer;  they were itching to be planted!

Although, when this visitor was seen, the planting endeavor was ALMOST halted for the day!

However, hero Paul came to escort this guy (or girl?) to a new location, and we were back to the planting!   

In the end, SEVENTY-THREE tomato plants are happily growing in the upper garden.  SEVENTY-THREE!  LOL.  Way to hold back this year, Amy :D

And TRUUUULY, I'm not one to do much 'gardening' unless vegetables are involved.  Pretty flower/shrub gardens aren't my thing----but.... THIS has become an eye-sore after spending ZERO time on it last year.  Plus... it's in the middle of the front yard!  What must the neighbors think?!?!?  (LOL!)

A few hours and sunburn later, with the assistance of my helpers Caitlyn and Candace, it is all clean and new again.   I had started some perennials (per Paul's request) back in February, so they were moved into this location. 

We have Achillea planted in the southern portion... 

Some Black-Eyed Susans and HolyHocks towards the west...

A plot of McKana Giants Columbine planted from seed on the northern edge.  *shrug* We'll see what they do...

and a section of Lupines towards the east.

Again, I'm not much of a perennial flowery/shrub gardener, so..... *shrug*.  At least the weeds have been tamed :D

On the topic of taming.....

Caitlyn has reached the age (crazy enough!) to learn how to mow with the riding law-mower.  We were in a win-win situation with her the other day.  She had fun learning AND our 'hay-field' was able to be mowed at the slower pace required due to the extra length!

Then sister Cassie took over with the yard-rake.  Right about now, having that mini-baler Paul and I talked about last year would be pretty nice.  I'm sure we'd be able to bale up quite a bit!!!!!  Cass seems to be enjoying her time on the mower, though, singing along with her iPod tunes.

Cassie's track season completed and gardening underway

Cassie's ended up having lots to be happy for at her Conference track meet was this past Thursday.  She's been plagued with a nagging back injury for much of the season, and has unfortunately found herself sitting on the sidelines for many of the meets this year.  However, the downtime paid off and she was at her 100% for the Conference meet.

She started the day by taking 1st place in the high jump.  All of the competitors scratched out at 4'6", so the officials asked if she wanted to keep jumping.  With no pressure on her, coach gave the okay for her to keep jumping.  Neither Cass or myself knew the heights the bar was being set at; she just kept jumping.  Oh that sneaky coach!  In the end, Cassie tied the Junior High high jump record of 4'10" established by, none other than, her track coach 10+ years ago.

While on cloud 9, she moved over to the Discus area and set a new PR of 79', moving into 2nd place on the Leader's board, and then, when she was called for the 400M, she continued her record-breaking evening by running a 1:04.06, breaking the previous record of 1:05.4, and leading by over 4 seconds from the rest of the competition.  Yes, folks.  She's still on cloud 9, and I'm super super proud of her!!

The 8 ducklings we hatched out a couple of weeks ago have moved into a ground-brooding box. 

The plants I began as seeds in February have finally been able to be moved outside to the deck indefinitely.

Cherry tomatoes already being harvested, as well as peppers :)  Who said people in Wisconsin can't have two growing seasons?!?!  ;)

But now, we need lots of finger-crossing for all of our other tomato plants that have been hibernating in the basement for the past couple of months to see if they survive the transplant into the garden.  I've most definitely learned my lesson -- starting plants in February (tomatoes, specifically) is NOT in the best interest of the plants OR myself.  But -- forty plants were transplanted into the upper garden yesterday;  about 12 more wait patiently for more fence posts to be purchased.
(Mind you, we started 56 new plants last weekend from seed -- just in case ;)  I guess we're going to have two growing seasons in Wisconsin this year ???)

The strawberry patch was expanded and tidied a couple of weeks ago...

... and the blossoms are popping up in exponential rates.  In another 3-4 weeks, we should expect berries.  GOOD!  We just opened up our last strawberry jam container!

There's a saying....."there's no rest for the weary."  However, when the weather cooperates, taking a snooze in the hammock given to us by my parents was on Paul's mind before needing to start his night shift.

The yard is purposefully being left un-mowed, waiting for the dandelion season to pass.  Yes, yes... the bees' food takes precedence over a 'pretty-looking' yard.

The only crafting project I've been giving time to is a new afghan man-ghan for Paul.  A couple of months ago, I was sequestered into making a large queen size afghan.  Paul fell in love with the weight and size, so.... I took that as a hint ;)  At a width of 106", I predict the project taking most of summer to complete.

Today:  more gardening and planting.  Perhaps my blogging time will become more consistent again;  two weeks of school left for us in the northwoods!

Nesting boxes & Duck update

You know how humans (MOST humans) would rather have a quiet, secluded place when it comes time to go to the bathroom?  

Hens (MOST hens) are quite similar when it comes time for them to lay eggs.  

Our established coop has four nesting boxes; and for whatever reason, our 4 hens favor the back corner box;  it's the box that typically has all of the eggs.

If you've been following all of the chickens-goings-on at our place for the past couple of weeks, you're already informed a little bit of the slight chaos going on.    Big Mama has been laying out in the wide-open north chicken run (although, the past 2 days, her eggs have shown back up in the nesting box -- a different one though);  and some of the new-comers have been escaping their south chicken run and getting up in the established coop's nesting boxes.  I would really be a happy Chicken-mama if those escapees would incorporate themselves with our established flock.  Every night, I've been making certain that any escapees are back in the south chicken-run to be with their flock;  one of these nights, I may not be able to!  The two black ones (no names given yet) were out-n-about in the yard today, venturing a little further from the safety of the chicken-run fence line.  They even appeared to be 'accepted' by Steve, the rooster. 

The other day when I was reading up on incubating chicken eggs (online), I started following some YouTube detours, and was a bit impressed with the simplicity of some DIY nesting boxes.    Here's the one I saw first:  Simple Tote nesting boxes.

Last night, after Paul left for work, I hemmed and hawed and finally just made one to put in the makeshift/temporary home for the new chickens.  I had a spare tote that had just been sitting unused anyway, and knowing that the new coop is on hold for at least another 3 days (until Paul is done working), I just wanted to give the new 13 hens a place to call their own.  For now anyway.

This morning, I set it out on the makeshift roosting bars/perch with a platform underneath.

I checked back 2 hours later....

HA!  It's amazing how quick and easy it was for them to figure it out!!!!  AND, the eggs are safe, and clean!

Knowing the nesting box-to-hen ratio is approximately 1 box-to-3/4 hens.... I wanted to get at LEAST one more box made for them.   I did a little searching downstairs in the basement and actually found another EMPTY tote!  It simply was meant to be.

The set up isn't going to win any awards, BUT it is only temporary.

And this afternoon, three more eggs showed up in the box I first set out!  It's just fun, exciting and simply neato that they figured it out so quickly.

Ruby was hanging out in the other tote-nesting box.  

The new coop, once finished, has 5 nesting boxes built into it, with an access door-lift on the outside for us to easily collect the eggs.  

SO, the new action plan:

I have stopped opening the main established coop door.  One of these nights, I'm going to forget to close it, and I would feel terrible if any of our hens are harmed due to forgetting that the door is open!  Our established flock has figured out to use the east access door to get in/out of the coop.  Life is good.

IF any of the new flock continue escaping the south run.......... I think I'm simply going to let them figure things out!  All of the escapees have made their way into the coop via the east access door and have been using the nesting boxes at various times of the day.  If they can't figure out how to get back into the south chicken-run, I'm hoping they'll be welcomed into our established flock in the coop.  There is PLENTY of space in the coop -- but that darned pecking order. 

On the topic of pecking order...

Our two big Pekin ducks have been banned out of the Quonset shelter.  

Sadly, our makeshift duckling shelter left us with only 1 of the 6 ducklings Paul brought home last week.  :{  We don't know what predator(s) may have gotten to the ducklings, or if some escaped and wandered off, but... we placed the remaining duckling into the Quonset with our two Peking (1 hen, 1 drake), two Mallard hens, Mutter and Baby duckling.   And those big Pekins kept picking on Big Baby (the name of the remaining duckling).  OUT they go.

However, Mutter has adopted Big Baby as part of her tiny lil' army; an army that will not be growing any larger than the one lil' hatchling from Sunday.   Yesterday (Monday), one of the eggs under Mutter was kicked off the nest, partially hatched.... but no sign of life :(  Then, this morning, the other 2 eggs were kicked off the nest;  no cracks, no sounds, and after a candling session, I elected to carefully crack open the eggs to give them a check.  Sadly, they both were developed, but no sign of life.  :{  {{and stinky!!!}}

Mutter is protecting both Big Baby and Baby.  Baby will be a mix-breed:  Mallard and Pekin; just like Mutter.  Actually, Big Baby is too.  Hm......now that we have the Pekin separated, it would be nice to get a Mallard drake into the quonset to 'mingle' with our Mallard hens.  Some purebred mallards would be lovely to have :)!

And look!  Another nest!

LOL!  ALL mallard eggs!  BUT, only having a Pekin drake available, all of the eggs would/will result in mixed breeds.  And those mallard hens are quite skittish!  This nest is close to the door to the quonset.   I've witnessed one of the mallard hens sitting on the nest twice now, but every time I've opened the door to replenish water and food, she's gone a'scootin' across the quonset for safely.  I HOPEFULLY have eliminated this problem by moving the feeder and waterer closer to the door where we can simply fill both by using the upper access-door (the door is split to a lower and upper door).

Tonight, while heading out to pick strawberries, I peeked into the quonset, and GUESS who I saw sitting on the nest!?!?!?!?!?!?

MUTTER!!!!!!

Silly girl!  I guess having only one hatchling may not have been enough for her.  I'm not sure she has it in her to sit for another 28 days.  **shrug**  We'll keep y'all posted on that story! ;)

Nope.  No toad-rearing going on here, but this little guy enjoyed a swim for most of the day.  He was in there in the morning when I checked on Mutter's nest.  He was in there in the afternoon when I checked in on Big Baby.  And he was still in there tonight when I wanted to change out the water.

On the crafting front...!

I DID do quite a bit of crochet today!  A few hours worth was done, actually.  More progress has been made on the Lazy Ripple "Fall/Asics" afghan, but no pictures of that progress.

Is it okay to say that I'm a bit excited to see how the chickens behave tomorrow?  The new chickens have two nesting boxes now;  will that be enough to keep some from escaping?  If they escape, will they figure out to roost in the coop tomorrow night (if I truly truly don't gather them back up into their run?)  How many eggs will be get tomorrow?  Today, we had 11.  

Happy July 1st everyone!

A break from chickens -- how about ducks?

Mutter duck has been sitting and sitting and sitting on eggs.  Throughout the past week, every now and then, an egg would be found next to the nest; sometimes cracked open, other times not.  Being the analyzers that we are, we tried to hypothesize what was going on.

At first, once the 28-day incubation period passed, we were worried that she sat on the nest of eggs too late and many of them were "dead"  :(   However, the three eggs we've found cracked open, off the nest (one as recent as three days ago), all showed signs of a developing duckling.  Did Mutter sense it had died and kicked it out of the nest?  Maybe.  I'm wondering though....... she would often leave the nest very early in the morning for a short water break.  I'm wondering if the Drake was raiding her nest during that time, cracking open eggs and kicking them out... ????  Would a Drake do that?  Would another female duck do that???  I really am a bit confused.  AND worried (at the time).

But not so worried any more!

FINALLLLY, the day has arrived that we've been pacing back-n-forth for!

One of the lil' ducklings has been hatched!!!  Mutter was being super motherly and extremely protective!  I was trying my darndest to get a picture of the duckling when I checked her during feeding time.  My goodness!  I couldn't get a picture!  She had the duckling tucked well under her (the top picture was the best I could get at that time.)  BUT, when I went out about 15 minutes later to show to girls..... the lil' guy was sitting, as cute as can BE, right next to Mutter!  She has three more eggs left under her;  naturally we're hoping all of them hatch out :)

In the afternoon, I did take about an hour to sit and relax with some new yarn I wanted to try.  We are in need of some new dishcloths, and ladies talk up about using cotton yarn for that purpose.  I've never used cotton.  It's definitely a different feel in the hands;  stiffer.  

The cloth ended up getting about 1/3 of the way done before my eyelids simply wanted a rest!  Paul and I were both up at 5AM and were starting our activities by 7AM.  A lil' rest at 2PM was an okay thing.

It was finished later on as I was sitting around our campfire.  It's stiff and the jury is still out about how good the yarn works for dishcloths.  Dare I say that I actually need to do dishes now in order to try it out???

There simply is no such thing as too many pictures of campfires!  And there is NEVER any such thing as eating too many marshmallows and/or s'mores!  ;D

Okay...10 more minutes, and then Paul and I are heading out to start our Monday!  Today's task:  butchering chickens!   The MEAT birds -- not any of our layer 'pets.'  The meat birds are bred and raised for the sole purpose of ending up in the chest freezer.  They are NEVER named in this household.  They have been at the stage of "barely able to walk" for the past week.  Truly; that's how they're bred!  They are fast growers (10-14 weeks) and BIG!  We'll be sure to weigh on of the breasts again.  Last year (if I remember correctly), we had one that weighed just over 2 pounds!  That's ONE side; ONE breast!   Thankfully, I'm merely Paul's helper assistant;  I don't get very hands-on with the butchering task. 

So, the chicken coop is being put on hold so that Paul can check the butchering task off of his list.  And then Paul heads back off to his shift work tonight, so the coop will, in fact, be set aside for a few more days :\  

Patience, dear grasshopper.  Right?