Our new chick brood arrived on July 27... one week later than anticipated. Apparently, so they claim, they messed up their count on our order and wanted to send us chicks other than what I ordered. I really wasn't keen on the breeds that they wanted to send. Figured it would be better to wait a week than to try to sell a couple of breeds that we didn't anticipate.
So, we received 20 chicks that have all survived. We have five Black Copper Maran, five Gold Comet/Red Star, three Rhode Island, and seven Barred Rock. In the mean time, we sold three more of our hen/pullets. Sold the Lavender Orpington pullet, the Barred Rock pullet, and the only laying hen we had left, the Rhode Island Red. Leaves us with Rhode Island Pullet, Black Copper Maran pullet (now laying), and two Silver Laced Wyandottes. Hoping we can sell most of the new chicks before we need to merge the flocks.
 |
 |
 |
 |
The ducks are about six weeks from starting to lay their eggs. So it is not like we will be low on the egg department.
We had a long extended heat wave in the middle of July, so the pullets (and one layer) got lots of melon treats and shaved ice for cooling off. Have yet to figure out what treats the ducks like. They do enjoy apple bits, but nothing else that I have tried have been any form of enticement or for cooling off purposes. Of course, they love their cold water pool. Even when it is not hot, they spend a lot of time in it. This is as close as they will allow anyone to get. Sorry the quality is not better. One of the ducks sounds like she is laughing when she is having fun. I can never seem to catch the whole "laugh" on video... but I'll keep trying.
