We don't have any absolute answers to why Ducky goes AWOL every day. Our best guess is that she is broody and sitting on a clutch of eggs. We found her first two laying nests and took the eggs. We think she is hiding in the yard trying to hatch her eggs. But they aren't fertilized. And we can't find the eggs. Ducky shows up in the afternoon quacking loudly to announce herself. She eats some and socializes with us and Jimmy, then she disappears.
Hope we find her nest before summer.
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Monday, March 14, 2016
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Ducky and Jimmy, the Autopsy Gremlin
We are NCIS fans. The original, not so much the added cities. I like Gibbs' rules, and for years before we discovered Gibbs' Rules I have three of my own for the baseball teams I coach and have shared them with the players often.* One of the characters, Dr. Mallard or Ducky, has an assistant, Jimmy. This post isn't about NCIS or even about the rules. It's about our duck, Ducky, and her chicken companion, Jimmy.
Over the last few months Ducky has ingratiated herself to us. She quacks and follows us around when we are working in the back yard. One day she walked into the back cabana to see our son. Right after that a chicken flew over the chicken yard fence and the duck and the chicken soon became fast friends. Now Ducky and Jimmy both follow us around and come into the house when the back door is open. Ducky originally had a male duck companion, but that duck flew the yard and the last we saw of him he was paddling around the golf course ponds with the other ducks. I guess Jimmy fills that void.
The last few days Ducky has been absent in the morning. We're not totally sure what is happening. At first we thought she had flown to greener pastures and ponds. But she came back in the afternoon. Then it happened again, and today it's the third day she has left or hidden herself in the morning. What is interesting to see is that Jimmy is looking for her each day. Ducky isn't back yet today. We don't know what will eventually happen, but Ducky sure has been a hoot, er, quack to have around.
*Coach's Rules for baseball
Rule #1: The coach is always right.
Rule #2: Never play catch or pepper in front of the dugout.
Rule #3: Refer to Rule #1.
But I always remember Gibbs' Rule # 51: Sometimes you're wrong.
Over the last few months Ducky has ingratiated herself to us. She quacks and follows us around when we are working in the back yard. One day she walked into the back cabana to see our son. Right after that a chicken flew over the chicken yard fence and the duck and the chicken soon became fast friends. Now Ducky and Jimmy both follow us around and come into the house when the back door is open. Ducky originally had a male duck companion, but that duck flew the yard and the last we saw of him he was paddling around the golf course ponds with the other ducks. I guess Jimmy fills that void.
The last few days Ducky has been absent in the morning. We're not totally sure what is happening. At first we thought she had flown to greener pastures and ponds. But she came back in the afternoon. Then it happened again, and today it's the third day she has left or hidden herself in the morning. What is interesting to see is that Jimmy is looking for her each day. Ducky isn't back yet today. We don't know what will eventually happen, but Ducky sure has been a hoot, er, quack to have around.
*Coach's Rules for baseball
Rule #1: The coach is always right.
Rule #2: Never play catch or pepper in front of the dugout.
Rule #3: Refer to Rule #1.
But I always remember Gibbs' Rule # 51: Sometimes you're wrong.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
A Gift From Above
One of the duties of a baseball coach is cleaning up the field after the players clean up. We usually drag the field as the kids put away the equipment. Lately with the hotter weather I have been turning on the sprinklers to give the grass a drink. I've even started to turn on the hose also to hit brown spots.
Today I looked up from dragging and found two geese wandering around in shallow left field. My thoughts turned to dinner and other assorted ideas, but then as I moved around finishing up I just watched the birds. It was a blessing as they walked about occasionally poling the ground hunting for food.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Standing Up and Talking
Many people think of teachers as being natural speakers, which is a partial truth. Just like most skills, public speaking is a learned skill that gets better with good practice. The first day of school each year is frightful, even if you know most of the students. I have spoken to classes, dinners honoring people, at funerals, in front of school boards, to TV cameras and various committees. One truth I have learned is that once words are out of your mouth, you have no control of them. Words, language and inflection need to be chosen carefully.
Tonight I am speaking again to our city council about the specifics of chickens kept within city limits. Last June the city Planning Commission and City Council rewrote the City Ordinances to close a few loopholes in their minds. I have no doubt that there are problems with the old ordinances, especially since they are 20-30 years old. At that time one of the changes was the outlawing of "barnyard" pets, which include chickens, turkey, cows, goats, etc.
After talking to various city officials and informing them of the growing backyard chicken movement, a small group of people have been attending meetings of the Planning Commission and Council through the summer and fall and giving input on the chicken and fowl ordinance. There seems to be two distinct groups of chicken people. One, like my family, raise laying hens for their eggs. The other is a 4H group that shows the chickens, including roosters.
There are distinct differences between these groups, but yet we are similar--we are doing something we have been doing for years and only within the last year has it become illegal. We don't keep roosters and talk with our neighbors to not be a burden. Our 7 chickens allow us most times to give away eggs. The 4Hers keep roosters, but have talked to their neighbors and worked out an arrangement to keep the roosters silent during agreed upon hours. Both of our sets neighbors have compromised and get along with neighbors.
At the last meeting I attended the Planning Commission proposed and passed an proposal of 10 birds maximum be kept in backyards. The city council lowered it to 6 birds. 6 won't be enough to keep my family in eggs, let alone give any away. My task tonight is to try and inform a group of people about a subject they care little about and have not tried to inform themselves about. I need to try to get them to think outside their experiences and be fair.
Kind of like telling someone to go to hell, and get them to enjoy the trip.
Tonight I am speaking again to our city council about the specifics of chickens kept within city limits. Last June the city Planning Commission and City Council rewrote the City Ordinances to close a few loopholes in their minds. I have no doubt that there are problems with the old ordinances, especially since they are 20-30 years old. At that time one of the changes was the outlawing of "barnyard" pets, which include chickens, turkey, cows, goats, etc.
After talking to various city officials and informing them of the growing backyard chicken movement, a small group of people have been attending meetings of the Planning Commission and Council through the summer and fall and giving input on the chicken and fowl ordinance. There seems to be two distinct groups of chicken people. One, like my family, raise laying hens for their eggs. The other is a 4H group that shows the chickens, including roosters.
There are distinct differences between these groups, but yet we are similar--we are doing something we have been doing for years and only within the last year has it become illegal. We don't keep roosters and talk with our neighbors to not be a burden. Our 7 chickens allow us most times to give away eggs. The 4Hers keep roosters, but have talked to their neighbors and worked out an arrangement to keep the roosters silent during agreed upon hours. Both of our sets neighbors have compromised and get along with neighbors.
At the last meeting I attended the Planning Commission proposed and passed an proposal of 10 birds maximum be kept in backyards. The city council lowered it to 6 birds. 6 won't be enough to keep my family in eggs, let alone give any away. My task tonight is to try and inform a group of people about a subject they care little about and have not tried to inform themselves about. I need to try to get them to think outside their experiences and be fair.
Kind of like telling someone to go to hell, and get them to enjoy the trip.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Something Old, Something New
In the last week there have been a few encounters that made me pause. Baseball is pausing for the Christmas season. High school baseball is nearly year round, and I'm not so sure it is totally beneficial for the players. I know they are better baseball players, but are they better people? We'll pick back up in January and see where we end up in May.
Our local women's club has an annual home tour like many groups. It's a chance to see other people's houses, and usually most that are on the upper end of the price scale. I ended up working at a house that was built in 1906 and owned continually by a local farming/ranching family since 1912. It's on a prominent corner of a busy country road that will be expanded to a highway in the next 20 years or so. My duty station for the evening was the kitchen,though I did get to see the rest of the house.
The"modern" kitchen was a 1930 addition and has been kept pretty much the same since that time. Original tile and electric stove, and a replica of the original wood burning cook stove that was functional. The sink was newer after the addition of a dishwasher. (We've pulled our dishwasher out to make more storage room.) An interesting part of the kitchen was a butler's pantry or bar. This was a hall-like area with a sink and counter space that was used to stage the serving of meals in the formal dining room. It was a nice feature that could be used many different ways.
The house was a lived-in museum in many ways. Many rooms were filled with the original furniture and the baths had the original sinks, commodes, tubs and tile; in their original colors. It was definitely a different way to live. And that is not a criticism. But there was one thing that struck me that was abundant that is missing in many newer homes. Most people aren't aware of it unless you are familiar with an older home. Our house is nearly 90 years old and has some of what this older house has. The striking thing is this is something all older houses in this area have and will be beneficial if the electricity goes out.
High ceilings and plenty of windows. In a house built before air conditioning the high ceilings allowed the hot air to rise and the windows cross ventilated the house. The downstairs interior doorways had doors and transom windows. This allowed the owners to close the doors in the winter and the fireplace heated downstairs could retain the heat. In the summer the doors would be opened, as well as the upstairs windows and the hot air could rise up through the house to cool it. Pretty neat passive cooling system. And something I wish we had more of in our house.
While thinking of grabbing from the past I had the chance to have a meal and try something new to me. I've wanted to start hunting and foraging for some of our food, along with growing and raising food also. Last night I ate a pig's heart. It was grilled with onions and served sliced as a pre-entre. I liked it. It had a tougher texture than some meats, but didn't have the stringiness fibers either. I honestly didn't have any preconceived notions of what expect, and it was a bit strange when I figured out the hollow cavities throughout the meat were the heart chambers. After last year's turkey harvest, I resolved to try and utilize all of the animal parts. To make good on that, I also have to eat it, not let it stay frozen.
To go with the pig's heart I had roasted quail. To be fair there was brussels sprout salad and broccoli soup also. Quail is another game bird I'd like to start hunting. It's been a while since my last dove hunt, but these two birds are native to this region. This quail was really good. To say it tasted like chicken wouldn't be quite true. The meat was all dark, but not the dark of chicken or turkey. There was a reddish pinkness to the flesh and it had a taste that seemed a cross of turkey and chicken. That is something I will be looking for again, and someday I would like to eat one I harvested.
Another week of learning from the past.
Our local women's club has an annual home tour like many groups. It's a chance to see other people's houses, and usually most that are on the upper end of the price scale. I ended up working at a house that was built in 1906 and owned continually by a local farming/ranching family since 1912. It's on a prominent corner of a busy country road that will be expanded to a highway in the next 20 years or so. My duty station for the evening was the kitchen,though I did get to see the rest of the house.
The"modern" kitchen was a 1930 addition and has been kept pretty much the same since that time. Original tile and electric stove, and a replica of the original wood burning cook stove that was functional. The sink was newer after the addition of a dishwasher. (We've pulled our dishwasher out to make more storage room.) An interesting part of the kitchen was a butler's pantry or bar. This was a hall-like area with a sink and counter space that was used to stage the serving of meals in the formal dining room. It was a nice feature that could be used many different ways.
The house was a lived-in museum in many ways. Many rooms were filled with the original furniture and the baths had the original sinks, commodes, tubs and tile; in their original colors. It was definitely a different way to live. And that is not a criticism. But there was one thing that struck me that was abundant that is missing in many newer homes. Most people aren't aware of it unless you are familiar with an older home. Our house is nearly 90 years old and has some of what this older house has. The striking thing is this is something all older houses in this area have and will be beneficial if the electricity goes out.
High ceilings and plenty of windows. In a house built before air conditioning the high ceilings allowed the hot air to rise and the windows cross ventilated the house. The downstairs interior doorways had doors and transom windows. This allowed the owners to close the doors in the winter and the fireplace heated downstairs could retain the heat. In the summer the doors would be opened, as well as the upstairs windows and the hot air could rise up through the house to cool it. Pretty neat passive cooling system. And something I wish we had more of in our house.
While thinking of grabbing from the past I had the chance to have a meal and try something new to me. I've wanted to start hunting and foraging for some of our food, along with growing and raising food also. Last night I ate a pig's heart. It was grilled with onions and served sliced as a pre-entre. I liked it. It had a tougher texture than some meats, but didn't have the stringiness fibers either. I honestly didn't have any preconceived notions of what expect, and it was a bit strange when I figured out the hollow cavities throughout the meat were the heart chambers. After last year's turkey harvest, I resolved to try and utilize all of the animal parts. To make good on that, I also have to eat it, not let it stay frozen.
To go with the pig's heart I had roasted quail. To be fair there was brussels sprout salad and broccoli soup also. Quail is another game bird I'd like to start hunting. It's been a while since my last dove hunt, but these two birds are native to this region. This quail was really good. To say it tasted like chicken wouldn't be quite true. The meat was all dark, but not the dark of chicken or turkey. There was a reddish pinkness to the flesh and it had a taste that seemed a cross of turkey and chicken. That is something I will be looking for again, and someday I would like to eat one I harvested.
Another week of learning from the past.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Public Speaking
It may seem strange for a teacher to say this, but speaking in a public venue makes me nervous. And tonight was no exception. Maybe because the issue was dear to us.
I spoke out in favor of changing our city zoning laws to allow chickens to be raised in town. The city recently rewrote their zoning laws, which needed to be done. Under the ordinance for household pets, chickens were counted as agricultural animals. Dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents are allowed. There are many chickens being raised within city limits, and a few of us spoke to the planner and city manager about changing this for chickens. Four different adults spoke and one brave young lady.
To their credit the planning commission sees that a change is warranted and over the next few months I have no doubt the ordinance will change and chickens will cluck with no fear.
Now, we need a change for turkeys.
P.S. Did you know that turkey guano has a preventative chemical that is good for chickens? I'm going to have to look this up.
I spoke out in favor of changing our city zoning laws to allow chickens to be raised in town. The city recently rewrote their zoning laws, which needed to be done. Under the ordinance for household pets, chickens were counted as agricultural animals. Dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents are allowed. There are many chickens being raised within city limits, and a few of us spoke to the planner and city manager about changing this for chickens. Four different adults spoke and one brave young lady.
To their credit the planning commission sees that a change is warranted and over the next few months I have no doubt the ordinance will change and chickens will cluck with no fear.
Now, we need a change for turkeys.
P.S. Did you know that turkey guano has a preventative chemical that is good for chickens? I'm going to have to look this up.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Strange Event at the 'Zoo
Look what Maureen found in the nesting boxes.
This is actually a web copy until I can download our own pictures.
We were both surprised, though we shouldn't be, at the egg found in the nesting boxes. Soup, our turkey hen, is now laying eggs with her chicken pen mates. From what I read chickens start laying around 19 weeks of age. turkeys wait until about 32 weeks.
Guess this means I shouldn't have waited so long to process her. She greets me each morning with a waddle-run cross the pen and a few chirps. She the expects a back rub as I feed and water the "Girls."
This is actually a web copy until I can download our own pictures.
We were both surprised, though we shouldn't be, at the egg found in the nesting boxes. Soup, our turkey hen, is now laying eggs with her chicken pen mates. From what I read chickens start laying around 19 weeks of age. turkeys wait until about 32 weeks.
Guess this means I shouldn't have waited so long to process her. She greets me each morning with a waddle-run cross the pen and a few chirps. She the expects a back rub as I feed and water the "Girls."
Friday, April 13, 2012
The Rain has Settled In
We're having a bit of water from the sky here in Central CA. It's a bit unseasonal; we usually get it earlier. Rain to our desert is always welcome, but we get spoiled with the dry weather. Our baseball games start backing up when rainouts occur. There are only so many umpires, so they become the determining factor of when games are made up. It just makes you learn to adapt and move on.
Last night I received a call from a nephew about his baseball game. I have been blessed to coach all three of my sons. Currently there is a local nephew on our baseball team. I feel that most of the athletes I coach are like sons or daughters. But I get an additional quiet inside pleasure when a blood relative performs well. The 8 year old nephew that called last night was excited about receiving the game ball after his game. He pitched one inning, 3 strike outs and a walk, and caught 2 innings. Great job, E!
I think I posted that parts of the yard have been changed. I'm hoping to tidy things up and finish this weekend. I need to do something with "Soup" our turkey. She is getting as big as Dinner was, and has become as friendly also. She is the guardian of the chicken coop, having taken over the role from Dinner. Hank at the Hunter, Angler, Gardener, Cook has a recipe for barbecued turkey that I'd like to try. Or should I say Have Maureen try.
I had a conversation with a colleague about change recently and he suggested a book, and then supplied it. The Ordeal of Change by Eric Hoffer. I researched Hoffer and found another of those people that I should know about, but never took the time. Good book it looks like.
Along with the Ordeal, this friend gave me an article that is intriguing. The premise is why do the Jedi lie so much and the Sith tell the truth? That will make for some helpful diversions to doing taxes this weekend.
Last night I received a call from a nephew about his baseball game. I have been blessed to coach all three of my sons. Currently there is a local nephew on our baseball team. I feel that most of the athletes I coach are like sons or daughters. But I get an additional quiet inside pleasure when a blood relative performs well. The 8 year old nephew that called last night was excited about receiving the game ball after his game. He pitched one inning, 3 strike outs and a walk, and caught 2 innings. Great job, E!
I think I posted that parts of the yard have been changed. I'm hoping to tidy things up and finish this weekend. I need to do something with "Soup" our turkey. She is getting as big as Dinner was, and has become as friendly also. She is the guardian of the chicken coop, having taken over the role from Dinner. Hank at the Hunter, Angler, Gardener, Cook has a recipe for barbecued turkey that I'd like to try. Or should I say Have Maureen try.
I had a conversation with a colleague about change recently and he suggested a book, and then supplied it. The Ordeal of Change by Eric Hoffer. I researched Hoffer and found another of those people that I should know about, but never took the time. Good book it looks like.
Along with the Ordeal, this friend gave me an article that is intriguing. The premise is why do the Jedi lie so much and the Sith tell the truth? That will make for some helpful diversions to doing taxes this weekend.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Back to Work
I've always found it a bit of a misnomer to say, "I'm going back to work," after a break or vacation. I don't have much of what your would call hobbies at this point in my life. I don't hunt, though I would like to start, or fish, though I would like to restart. I used to cycle some; now I enjoy riding back and forth to school. I used to ski and still like to feel a breeze in my face. Cross county skiing replaced the crowds of a ski hill, but even that hasn't happened in over a decade.
My hobby I guess is the 'Zoo we have at home. We each have to spend time on this rotating ball, so it's important to enjoy that time. I enjoy "working" around our 'Zoo. We rearranged the chicken fence so the Girls have more room to roam. That wasn't without some gnashing of teeth and changes. It still has just a bit to finish and will very soon. The garden fencing is slowly progressing, which is important with the addition of a new German Shepard puppy in an adult body. Winter crops are being harvested and Maureen is planting the tomatoes and such for the summer.
Generally these past two weeks of "break" were spent working at things I like without getting paid. So "going back to work" means I'll get paid for what I'll be doing? I've been paid by being with family and enjoying the passing of time.
My hobby I guess is the 'Zoo we have at home. We each have to spend time on this rotating ball, so it's important to enjoy that time. I enjoy "working" around our 'Zoo. We rearranged the chicken fence so the Girls have more room to roam. That wasn't without some gnashing of teeth and changes. It still has just a bit to finish and will very soon. The garden fencing is slowly progressing, which is important with the addition of a new German Shepard puppy in an adult body. Winter crops are being harvested and Maureen is planting the tomatoes and such for the summer.
Generally these past two weeks of "break" were spent working at things I like without getting paid. So "going back to work" means I'll get paid for what I'll be doing? I've been paid by being with family and enjoying the passing of time.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
A Pause in the Season
One of the wonderful experiences of a win streak is the feeling that the world stops. It's hard to describe, but while winning or playing through a championship season everything fades into the background. Homework and grades become less important. The broken sink is tolerated, or fixed with little effort. Life gives you a pass so to speak. For me the reality is Maureen covers up most of the difficulties and I am thankful for her doing that.
When you're losing it's just the opposite. The principal wants papers graded and grades posted yesterday. That dripping sink sounds like a bucket of water dropped from two stories. Even the dog looks at you funny.
But a win erases that at least for a while. And a win in the last game of the Easter tournament is even better. We now have a five day break over the Good Friday and Easter weekend. The separation that refreshes is made all that much better by going away a winner. Players can rest and coaches can sleep just a bit sounder knowing that, "Hey, we can still play real baseball."
For me this five days is a time to relax by working around the house. Instead of starting a project and having to stop for practice or a game, I can finish, or at least work on, something as long as I want. Now I am engaged in redoing the chicken fence so the hens have more room to wander about and not get into the plants they love so much. We recently took out the last of our grass and are revamping the backyard to create more vegetable space. I am looking forward to the fence building on these projects. There will be something concrete to show at the end of the day. The real touch of wood and metal and tools.
All of this while spending time with loved ones.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Another Dinner Story
This is another installment in our adventures in turkey raising. Dinner, our wonderful tom, like to "Rule the Roost" in many ways. Yesterday we let all of the chickens and the two turkeys out to roam the backyard. It's the end of the summer growing season and what plants the birds do eat is okay. In a few weeks when the fall/winter garden goes in, they will no longer be welcome to range around the yard. As you can see, the dogs and birds mostly ignore each other.
Previously we've mentioned that Dinner likes to get on the roof of the outside room. His problem is that once he is up he is afraid to "fly" down. We moved the rabbitless hutch so he can't hop up onto the roof and for a few days that solution has worked. I had to make a new perch for the chickens though, as they used the hutch roof to sleep on at night.
Today Dinner added a new place to the list of places he gets stuck.
This is the fence, which I am in the process of raising, between the two chicken pens. Not only is Dinner ruling over his hens, he is now trying to rule over all the hens. Maybe this will turn into a "Marly and Me" type story.
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