A first for us
For the first time at our place, a hen of an egg-laying breed has gone broody, wanting to sit on eggs. American laying breeds have been bred very strictly not to go broody, so I’d never heard of or seen it. But our black Australorp, Luna, had been holed up in the nest box lately, and when I looked, she was bald. She’s four and a half, almost five! Did you hit fifty and suddenly want kids? No, no, chicks would be a problem. But I’ve heard hens like her will raise chicks that aren’t their own, so if I ever pick up a stray chick, maybe I’ll give it to her.
The duck meeting
A mysterious meeting has begun: a duck meeting. The one who complained has already left. Chive, you called everyone together, didn’t you? Apparently she had a complaint, then forgot it after going to the bathroom.
The other day Chive somehow got stuck in a strange gap in the netting, outside the black mesh but inside the silver mesh. While she was flapping around, Howl grabbed her and tugged at her, as if asking “Are you all right?” Not a nice experience. Better stay away from the fence, Chive. (She doesn’t care.)
Surprise number two
Who’s this? Echiseana? Echiseana is broody too?! No way. She’s four as well, or maybe a bit younger, three.
Around the farm
I grew this cactus from seed, and it took ten years to reach this size. When it sprouted it looked like the “scissors” hand in rock-paper-scissors, so we call it Choki. Natsu came to watch at the playground under construction. The papaya that flowered in February has started to bear fruit, a year after planting. We may harvest this summer!
Mint, what have you got there? She’s sitting on a pile of eggs, and they’re chicken eggs! Ducks have a higher body temperature, so chicken eggs under a duck rot. Chickens take 21 days to hatch and ducks about 28 to 30, so even if chicks hatched, the mother would keep waiting for ducklings and they would die. And a duck mom takes her babies into the water, which chicks can’t survive. So let’s not.
The playground is popular for its bugs. Now that it’s warmer, everyone is melting in their dust baths, and Heart is fast asleep. Still way too crowded! The secret of their good health? I think it’s keeping them in an environment close to nature.
Thanks for watching! See you in the next episode.