Duck Olympics !!

" Water Duck Race "

At the starting line:  "Lucky" our 1.5 pound call duck, and "Tony" our 10 pound Pekin/Mallard duck

ON YOUR MARK.... GET SET.... GO !!!!

Uh oh !! Lucky just stumbled !!

By the look on his face, it seems like he is fearing for his life rather than winning the race !!

Hey wait.... !! Look at Lucky go....he is back in the race !! .... It looks like he is running across the water....

Can he catch up ?

It's a race to the finish line and Lucky wins by a feather !!!!

Your race officials for the day !!!! (Three sweet chicks)

Happy Easter ~

 

Easter fills us with hope, joy and warmth.

May your heart and home be filled

with the blessings of Easter!

 

 

Antique Disc Harrow

This rusty, retired disc is a beautiful piece of old equipment ....I took advantage of this photographic moment in combination with this morning's sunrise....

This horse-drawn disc harrow was used for breaking up and smoothing out the surface of the soil before planting.  Harrows were commonly used before modern tractors were invented.  If you know where we can get a seat to fit this now garden ornament, you can contact us here!!

My name is "Squirt"

Meet "Squirt".... 3 days old here !!

Here's how it all started:

We have here on our little farm our own breeding pekin ducks and we cannot forget "Lucky" our 2 year old call duck.  We hatched successfully 13 babies !!!!  Twelve were born starting at 5 a.m. on July 26th and Squirt was born on July 27th at 5:30 a.m., so it was a busy couple of days and a busy month!!

Here they all are in the brooder 3 days old!! Squirt is in the far bottom right hand corner and the tiniest of the brood!!

We decided to incubate some pekin duck eggs for the first time and so glad that we did.  We learned a lot about the whole process and it was such a rewarding experience.  The eggs were candled the first week of incubation and you could see the first signs of life....When we saw the hearts beating, the excitement began.  Everyday, I turned the eggs a few times and kept the temperature and humidity at the proper levels and soon, the babies were being introduced one by one !!  Pipping started at day 26 and for the next 2 days the little ducklings worked very very hard to break through their shells... At exactly 28 days, they were born....

Here is a short video: (click on bottom right hand corner of video for full screen)

Squirt looks quite content snuggled up to Skye.... (2 days old)

Squirt finds a great place to hide.... (3 days old)

Looks like a comfy spot to rest my head.... !!

Squirt loves to sleep....

Playtime.............

Squirt's first ''piggyback'' ride

Squirt in the red bandana....

All 13 ducklings sporting their new bandanas at 5 days old....
**UPDATE** This photo was published in Canadian Geographic
PETS 2015 Special Collectors Edition
You can see it here 

And then there was one.............

Squirt's first night alone....

We decided to keep Squirt and add her to our existing duck family and we have found two loving homes for the other 12....(six to each farm)  A couple of little stuffed teddies in Squirt's house took away some of the lonesomeness.... We go outside for lots of exercise and playtime and the other ducks and chickens are curious about the ''new family member'', but we have to wait a little bit longer until she is feathered and big enough to tag along with our other waddling angels in the pond.  It will be fun to watch her playing, exploring, chasing after bugs and being mischievous like the others.  It is also going to be interesting to see if Squirt has Lucky's looks or mama pekin's when she is fully grown.... We will keep you posted!!

UPDATE:

Squirt just wrote a children's picture book!!!! ;-))))
Well, ok....I helped out just a little bit (wink, wink)

Squirt narrates her story of a warm summer day. She explores her enchanted world while enjoying her friends and meeting new ones. She always has time for fun, especially with Skye, who is her best friend. Have you ever seen a baby duck riding piggyback on a Border Collie, hiding in a sneaker, or sleeping with her teddy bear? Now you can! This picture book is a great addition to any child's collection, and will provide your family with many cherished memories for years to come. Come join us in the magical world of Squirt, Skye, and their delightful friends.

**Features full color double page illustrations**

Now Available on AMAZON - Paperback and eBook!!

For your convenience, you can order here on AMAZON.CA 

 Or if you prefer AMAZON.COM in one easy step!

Ebook orders can be placed here 

Gray Jay

 This little fella, along with his better half are sure to be perched everyday on our deck rail at mealtimes!!  They are very patient too because they know a great meal is on the way!! One morning they got lucky with some homemade blueberry pancakes!! (yes, with syrup....haha)

Patiently waiting for a bedtime snack!!

Patience paid off!! Going to bed with a full belly!!

Gray Jays are highly curious and always on the lookout for food....They nest during late winter, incubating the eggs in temperatures that may drop below minus 30°C.  I also learned that gray jays do not attempt a second brood in the May–June breeding period, even though the warmer conditions would appear to be more favorable for them.  They weigh 2.5-ounces and have to consume about 50 calories per day!!  (They certainly get that here!!)  Their fluffy plumage puffs up in winter and even their nostrils are covered in feathers!!

Here is a very interesting fact:

The oldest Gray Jay on record was at least 17 years old. Banded in 1985, it was recaptured and re-released by a bird bander in Colorado in 2002. (WOW!!)

Happy Purr Day to you !!

 (Here is the happy birthday song in cat!)

  Meow meow meow meow meooooow
Meow meow meow meow meooooow
Meow Meeeeooooow meow meow meoo-ooow
Meow meow meow meow meooooow!

Happy Birthday Misty Moon.... It seems like yesterday we brought you home and you were so tiny and could fit in the palm of our hand....You are adorable and full of life at 11 years old!!  We wish you another 11 purrrrr-fect healthy & fun-loving years with us!!

Love Skye, Philly, Lucky, the Fishies, Skittles, all the chickens & ducks and of course the loving hands that feed & pamper you ~~ Mommie and Daddie xoxo

Peek - A - Boo

Pekin ducks 11 months old

It wasn't until I put the photos on the computer, that I noticed this particular image looked a little funny !!...... Our Pekin ducks were playing Peek-a-boo with me... !! (click on photo to enlarge image)

A great way to get the duck's attention and perhaps some fun photos along the way, is to feed them some of their favorite treats!!  Soon, you will be enjoying them all around you!! Another good idea, is to let your pets get used to the camera at an early age....(some may run away from the sight of the flash or clicking noises on the camera)

Ducks can be a lot of fun to have around.... They quack, waddle, swim and eat.  They have great personalities and are a lot of fun to watch....Taking care of a duck as a farm animal or pet can be a rewarding experience and is relatively easy....

Some treats you can feed to your ducks are: Romaine Lettuce (other dark lettuces, not iceberg), tomatoes, worms, night crawlers, cucumber, cracked corn, eggplant, peas, bell peppers, carrots, eggs (scrambled or hardboiled chopped with shells on), beans, feeder goldfish/minows/guppies, plain yogurt, mealworms, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, beets, asparagus 

Special Treats:  floating koi food (they love this stuff in their bath or pond, good protein), cottage cheese, apples (applesauce), bananas (no peel), marigolds, pansies, clover (from a florist or homegrown, no pesticides!), pears, peaches, cherries, grapes, melons (cantaloupe, watermelon), squash, pumpkin, pomegranate, turnips (cooked), raisins, zucchini, oatmeal (cooked), strawberries, rice (cooked, small amount) 

These Treats are No-Nos!!!!
Bread, crackers, spinach, onions, potatoes, avocados, seeds of any kind, chocolate, sugar, junk food of any kind, nuts, citrus (lemons, grapefruit, oranges, limes), popcorn

Happy Purr-Day to you!

(Here is the happy birthday song in cat!)
 

Meow meow meow meow meooooow
Meow meow meow meow meooooow
Meow Meeeeooooow meow meow meoo-ooow
Meow meow meow meow meooooow!

Happy 10th Birthday Philly aka Philly Velcro !! You are our ''Mr Magnificent Boy" and life would just not be the same without your sense of humour and wonderful personality.... we wish you another 10 purrrrr-fect healthy & fun-loving years with us!!

Love Skye, Misty, Lucky, the Fishies, Skittles, all the chickens & ducks and of course the loving hands that feed & pamper you ~~ Mommie and Daddie xoxo

Our Muscovy Ducks

 Muscovy hatchling 1 day old....

and if you think this is cute....

......

......

 Two Muscovy Hatchlings <3

"And let's just say that perhaps this may have not been the most appropriate shirt to wear on day one of this little duck's life"

A few facts:

• The adult males can weigh up to 10-15 lbs (4.5 6.8 kg). The male measures, on average, 31 inches or 79 cm

• Most of the females are 5-7 pounds (2.3 - 3.1 kg) but can, in rare instances, reach up to 10 lbs (4.5 kg). The female measures about 23.6 inches or 60 cm

• Muscovies also eat mosquito larva in the water....They make a huge difference when it comes to insect control.....They are excellent fly catchers!! (click on the photo below to see Donald in action)

Donald, our 3 yr old Male Muscovy catching flies!!

• They have webbed feet and strong sharp claws for grabbing tree branches and roosting.  Their tail is fairly short, flat and wide

• Male Muscovies have a dry hissing call - often ''wagging'' their tail and fluffing up the feathers on their crown at the same time and the females make quiet trilling ''pip'' sounds

• They do not swim much because their oil glands are under developed compared to most ducks.  Muscovy hens can set three times a year, and the egg clutches can vary from 8-21 eggs.  The eggs are incubated for 35 days.

Happy Birthday Skye !!

Three birthday cheers for our loyal sidekick and soulful companion.  How can anyone live without woofs, purrs, quacks or tweets in their life.  Our Border Collie turned 3 today!!  Thank you for gracing our life with so many wonderful memories of love. Happy Birthday Skye!!

All Grown Up

Tony is 6 months old now!! 

 

And here is Tony being born May 2012...It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful mother nature is!!

Our Rooster "Skittles"

 

This is our 26 week old barred rock rooster named ''Skittles''.  He just found his crowing voice a couple of weeks ago and it is hilarious when I say "Do it again Skittles" and he crows for me.. Skittles and his 10 hens free range during the day :-) In the background down in the pond are the Pekin ducks simply enjoying life.. Click here  http://shamik4.blogspot.ca/2012_07_01_archive.html to find out how they got here!!

Skye

Skye is our devoted border collie who deserves to be shared with the world.  Skye is 2 years old and a very smart dog. And I'm not just saying that because she is ours, she really is!!  (The Border Collie was on the cover of the National Geographic in March 2008.. Studies have shown that some border collies know and associate up to 340 words and counting) Sometimes we have to spell words when she is in our presence, otherwise, she is patiently waiting to do that job from the words she hears.. She will, on command, ''pick up'' items and bring them to us, or if we say "recycle", she knows to look for a water bottle to take to the recycling area!! One of my favorites is saying "slippers".... She is off on a mission, looking, looking, looking, and within a minute, she is back with my slipper and then, off she goes to get the other one! One time, she brought the two of them together.. (that was just luck).. Since a puppy, she loves playing with "sticks" and the bigger, the better!  "Ball" and "frisbee" are on top of the list as other favorite games.  She loves the camera and poses for me on any occasion.  Here, she is out on the farm keeping a watchful eye on her large family of ducks and chickens who are free-ranged during the day... Come dusk, and she hears the words "chicken bedtime", she is up and ready with her tail wagging! When everyone is accounted for and tucked in for the night, she is a happy dog and knows her job is done for another day!  See you tomorrow.  Love Skye <3

Summer Fun '12 Doggy Style

 Sabbath teaching Bella how to 'dog dive'

"Ok, I got the hang of it... I think I will give it a try!!"

Definitely not a graceful swimmer!!

Bella taking a moment to catch her breath!!

  

"I need to learn more from Sabbath"

 Bella and Skye watch from the sidelines as

Sabbath makes another remarkable dog dive!

At the end of the day, Bella still has a smile on her face!! Guaranteed a good night's sleep!

New Additions!! Baby Pekins

This is one of the five baby Pekin ducks

that we just adopted!! She is 5 weeks old!

Baby "Pekin ducks" just born

I love my life!

 

 

These Pekin ducks were incubated in a grade 4/5 classroom and born on May 26/12 and then raised for a month by the children, who got to watch and learn all about this intelligent breed.  It came to our attention that they quickly needed homes, so after a few emails and phone calls, the school teacher made the four hour drive and delivered all 5 of them right to our pond!! They quickly adjusted and absolutely love their new home!! They are a joy to have and a great addition to our farm!!
Videos and 'baby Pekin ducks just born' photo courtesy of the elementary teacher!