State of the flock, July 2021

 

The inmates, July 2021

We currently have eight hens and six ducks (three females, two males, one undecided) spread around the property.  

First up are seven hens in their old yard and coop, mostly stuck behind bars.  They have had short free range sessions, but not very regularly.  My bad, really.  I haven't wanted to go out and supervise because of my hayfever;  the husband and son have their own excuses for neglecting them too.  My hayfever is thankfully abating (and was not quite as severe this year) so I really should get them out once a day.

Next are Cookie and the duckling whom we call Peep.  They get to free range on the lawn, to the chagrin of all the other birds.  We are still not sure if Peep is a boy or girl, but are tending towards boy;  the son says girl, but that may be wishful thinking, as he doesn't want us to kill Peep.  But if Peep really is a boy, he's going to be dinner as we just cannot have another drake;  even two is too many and three would be way too hard on the females.  I have promised to do the actual kill though to be honest, I'm hoping Peep is a girl myself.  July 31st is Judgment Day--less than two weeks away.

In better accommodation, July 2021

Our last flock are the above mentioned ducks.  Up until about two weeks ago, the new Cherry Valley ducks were still being mercilessly harassed and even attacked by our two drakes, but since the drakes have begun molting, they seem to have calmed down, and the white ducks have even been allowed to approach and even enter the pond, and come within a few meters of the other three.  Our older female, the Campbell, has been much less aggressive towards them and would no doubt accept them into the flock if the boys weren't around.  All of the adult ducks are in a large yard encompassing the Perennials section, pond, and Robot Club (the small section next to our garage).

Eggs?  Around 3 or 4 daily from the hens, and maybe one a week from the ducks--who don't lay in a dedicated nest, so could be laying more.

If Peep survives Judgment Day, she'll go in with the other ducks;  and either way, Cookie will be rejoining the chickens at that time, and all chickens will be returning to the allotment in the autumn, once the main harvest in their old yard there is finished (the growth is simply amazing!).