Odds and Ends

These, my friends, are starlings battering themselves against a window in the henspa. 

Yes.... I found a dozen in there when I went to do chores this afternoon. 

I almost cried.  

Only ONE time before has a small bird gotten in through the pophole, but alas, we have not kept the 

net pulled up to the building this year. 

I opened the front door widely... and waited for them all to find their way out.  

UGH. 

 Several finally stopped in exhaustion. 

I might have been yelling "Starlings, get out!"  

The total output of two henhouses today.  Seven eggs. 

Only four from the henspa, where there are about 28 layers. 

Pretty disappointing, but I have been donating 8 to 9 dozen a week, so I can't complain about a short day here and there. 

We got a dusting of snow last night, but they are saying real snow for 

Sunday.  Not sure how much. 

I can tell you that when I brought the warm water out and loosed the ducks, they 

ran straight to the fortex, and Spice jumped in imeediately while everyone else got a drink. 

You notice Donald is drinking too, he usually stands back and lets the girls go first... but in the morning, they are all desperate to get that first (warm) drink. 

Ducks need water to keep their bills clean and clear. 

Look!  The maple tree is really budding out!  

Winona, the Putting Up book is yours... please 
send me your address to ksredhead1950@gmail.com, 
and I'll get it in the mail. 

Ramona at The JR, we have never "met" and 
I don't have an address for you, but the 
Creamery book is yours if you will just 
send me your address at the above 
email.  I could not find a way to contact you. 

The Dairy Goat Book is still up for grabs, and if no 
one wants it, I'll pass it on to the Dairy Goat Project 
for the local 4H kids. 

At mid-day, I usually go out and refresh water for all the animals. 

You see, by then the starlings have slurped up every bit of water for the ducks and chickens on the old henhouse side... and all of the feed.  I re-feed and re-water. 

The above short video shows the ducks who were so glad so to see some feed in front of them.  Donald is standing off to the right, quacking softly as his girls ate ravenously.  They HAD been out in the pasture all morning, and had already had some leaf lettuce as a treat.  

I have just heard on the five pm news that we are expecting 
lows as low as 3 degrees next week, so we are not finished with 
frigid temperatures around here. 
I am undecided as to whether or not to bring the ducks back in... but I will NOT be 
letting the chickens out in those temps. 
The warming light is back on in the goat barn. 

I'm praying for Winter to loosen her hold on all of us!