A Gorgeous Day on the Island

The Island County Fair was wonderful today, it's fun to see it in full throttle instead of on a prep day. Gorgeous day, high sixties/low seventies, sunny and not a cloud in the sky.

We came home this afternoon to find Penny & Madame's shared clutch hatching - so far we have two little Khaki Campbell ducklings, nicknamed Klick & Klack! There's another two peeping, then another 8 or so eggs (some of which aren't duck though!) We've re-located them to the West Wing Brooder Pen, so the two ladies can get their babies to fresh water and starter feed.

We've also relocated Ruby and her clutch to the Shed Coop Pen, so she can hatch in safety there. A 5 gallon waterer and feeder has been placed in the pen for her and her babies, of course. She, too, has a variety of different hens' eggs. Should be a colorful mix, if they all hatch. The sire is either Big Blue (Cochin) or Rojas (Rhodie). Won't know until they get here.

At this point, we've still to move Lucy with her eggs. No peeps yet, so we're letting her stay in the bushes for now. I'm not 100% sure where they will end up, just yet. Likely the duck pen brooder where Babs was.

Picy goodness to come! (May just update this post, if I have time)

Duckling Pics! Cuteness that burns, yet satisfies.

We finally managed to catch the other nesting duck - the little shit refused to go in the brooder pen earlier. So presenting now, our co-parenting ducks, Madame and Penny (aka Zombie duck, remember that adventure?), with their two new ducklings:



Mamma Penny watching Frick & Frack waddle around (possibly considering biting me again, that duck has really amazing aim, btw):



The Khaki Campbell ducklings checking out the new digs:



Our next little hatching, peeping already but not quite free, head in upper right hand aspect of egg roughly 2 o'clock, bill pointing approximately to 8 o'clock position. The flipped is at about 3 o'clock, probably took it for a bill, didn't you? Should you be wondering if you should be grossed out - the two dark greenish eggs on the right are actually the brown feathers showing through the thinned shell. The one in the center row, top, is just a bit behind those two:



Ducks and chickens lay approximately every 26 hours, so in a clutch, you'll have sequential hatching. Many of the folks I spoke with today seemed to think hens lay a dozen eggs in a day because of some sort of fertilization magic. I hadn't realized folks thought that! Learn something new every day.

Ruby, the Rhode Island Red, in her new nesting box. Less than thrilled obviously, and giving me the chicken glare known famously as Stink Eye. This is, btw, right before a broody hen decides to give you a really good peck for disturbing them, should you be wondering:



Any questions? :D