Here they are – checking out the newest digs. The goslings have been sharing space with the ducks these past two weeks. I’ve been eying that shelter to figure out how to give each group growing space… It finally hit me that I could transform my ‘tack room’ into the Waddle Inn at the floor level – and keep storage on shelves high above. The ducks gleefully quacked goodbye – quite happy to reclaim their whole shelter.
First came the marathon ‘fix up’. I knew it wasn’t going to be a short morning job. And due to the on-again off-again rain I now had a day at home. (Shirley – the afternoon certainly did not go to waste!) Out came everything stored on the floor. I raided the basement and the hay barn for any extra wood laying about and took the screen door out of the Chicken Palace to use here instead. Truth be told – the chickens like the Palace to be quiet and secluded. Makes for better egg laying that way. The screen door was something I built when the goats had their season in the Palace. I needed to work out some creative solutions to the door being slightly shorter than this shelter needed … and slightly narrower. I sure have come a long way in the past decade when it comes to puttering away building things. To fill in the gap on the side I used hinges to secure a wide piece of planking on a slight angle. I made the door open IN as I’ve learned is much easier in the winter and easier to manoeuvre with your arms full (of water jugs, food buckets, extra straw…). At the top I filled the gap with wire fencing on the inside and sheet metal on the outside. That forms a ‘sandwich’ of sorts to discourage a predator from climbing up the door and trying to come in over the top.
My proudest moment was when I finished the pop door. FINALLY I figured out how to build a guillotine door. It is opened by pulling a piece of wood up (with rope in my case) and securing it with a knot on a hook and eye. Most of the figuring had to do with how to create a ‘track’ that the piece of wood slides up and down in. I also built an ‘L’ turn as soon as you enter. Dottie has slimmed down and figured out how to squeeze through the duck pop door. These three won’t be using their pop door for a while yet. When they’re ready we will see how it works.
In the meantime they have their heating panel with its half-tub cover to scoot the heat forward. Last night we went down to 9’C. I turned on their heat lamp to keep them warm while they are trying to grow feathers. I could see that they’d slept close to both overnight.
It’s quite a change from yesterday’s weather – sunshine! I walk the trio out to field a few times each day. They are slowly mastering how to pick the fresh leaves from the taller grasses. They sure love clover when the recognize it.
Their favourite treat is definitely dandelion leaves! Good thing I have a dandelion patch that I nurture every summer. It makes the entry to the hay barn look pretty ragtag. But the ducks and the geese sure love a dandelion ‘tea’.
It is still too cold and is raining regularly … so the goslings are having a day to bond with their new space. My job is to bring fresh dandelion leaves throughout the day. I cut them up into one of their water dishes so they’ll stay fresh. So far I’d say they pretty much eat them all up right away.
Most of the flerd are under cover this afternoon. I caught a sweet moment when Isabelle brought her little chick to meet the Brahma hens. They are her flock mates. She brought her right up to the only side of the broody cage that is open to the coop. Twigg and Lady Bird were intrigued. Iris is soooooo tiny! I’m amazed at Isabelle’s forbearance. She was broody for at least a month – and now is totally fine with her continued existence in the broody cage. Surely she is going to want to break free any time now …
The rain was so heavy this morning the donkeys did not even hint that they wanted out on the field. Instead they’ve been having a low key day – munching on hay in the shelter – and sleeping on the fresh wood ships in their barn.
That’s my idea of a great rainy day too. Eat – and sleep – and write blog posts.
Stay dry everyone!
The Meadow View 