Even with nearly a dozen eggs being produced daily by our assorted flock (3 ducks and 10 hens) we have been thinking of the future, and aging hens, and slower production....at least that's what we tell ourselves! Last week, on a very typical "spring" day here in Central Oregon (ie. hail, snow, rain and wind trying to sweep us off our feet) the girls and I drove to the large feed store 25 miles away and came back with 4 sweet chicks. We ended up with 2 Wellsummers (a new breed for our flock), an Ameracauna, and a Black sex-linked (also new). However, we were a tad disappointed to come home without the new ducklings the girls had cajoled their parents into allowing... "Come back Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and we'll have a new shipment in," they told us. Well, it just so happened Willow and I had our final lesson on how to use my new sewing machine on Wednesday morning, and we found ourselves once more driving past the feed store....
...To adopt these lovelies, with the softest down you've ever stroked, and the piercingest of peeps as they bond to their new nest mates and "parents". We almost called them Sarah and Percy and Bill, after the 3 baby owls in the Owlbabies book by Martin Waddell. But their new owners needed fancier names, and so we have Triss, Anranria, and Tibby. Mostly literary names, as usual. The chicks are Annie, Velika, Sandra and Ginevra.
Today the new flock had their first "interspecies gathering" on the livingroom floor--it was a splendid success as they all got along and enjoyed a few sunpuddles in the late afternoon. The ducklings were mostly interested in the pan of water, of course, but enjoyed a bit of socialization with the chicks. When they were all huddling together in a pile we knew it was time to get back under the heat lamps and have a rest.
Tomorrow there will be more livingroom socialization while their human companions enjoy several chapters of The Lightning Thief. Life is so sweet!
