February is a dichotomy. It’s often cold, wet and windy, we don’t like it and the animals don’t like it. Yet the grass is getting greener, the buds in the hedgerows are beginning to lengthen. It’s as if nature is attempting to keep us hibernating while she prepares to feed us.
Mating rituals are being performed on the branches and in the banks. Snowdrops are braving the weather to brighten dark corners. Cocks are crowing and hens are laying. Yet the wet weather does not let up!
Ducks of course love it. The wetter the better. It’s like a harvest for them. I’ve observed them dash to the feeding station when someone appears with a bucket but quickly shake their heads in displeasure only to return to the mud hole they’ve created to dabble about for breakfast.
On the right is a patch of ground after rain where the water collected in a hollow. Left to itself and just the hens it would flow away or soak into the ground, but add a few ducks to this equation and you get mud in 24 hours as the ducks party.
Thankfully they have plenty of space and there are parts of the field that are dryer than others.
These photos were taken within 24 hours of each other and it shows what can occur when ducks are present. The photo with the duck was taken at the same time as the shot of the mud on the left – it’s just higher ground.
I learn something new every day!
We found a replacement for our Golden Phoenix today and while discussing breed standards and the merits of the birds characteristics, we established the definitive difference by referring to the bible for poultry breeds ‘British Poultry Standards’. 
Yokohama is the breed and the only one listed in the book’s index. The Phoenix (Silver & Golden) are the same breed but with a different name. The Yokohama has a rose comb and can be White and Red Shouldered, while the the single combed variety is known as the Phoenix – Golden or Silver.
Our new arrival, instantly christened ‘Himself’, set the standard and tone for the day, as can be seen from the photo when he was popped into the field. Only our Rhode Island Reds, Barnevelders and Silver Sussex are in segregation pens as yet. The remainder are free to range at will, this is where ‘Himself’ encountered his new flock this afternoon. Undaunted by a change of environment, he instantly set to investigate his spacious new surroundings, found water, food and females.
The life of a cockerel!
A trip to the Comeraghs on St Stephen’s Day, to aerate the lungs and the brain, resulted in the loss of quite a few of our cocks/cockerels to intruders. This is a huge loss as it can take several years to acquire or develop birds suitable for breeding stock.
Why cocks/cockerels you might ask! Well, for blooding and practice for fighting cocks of course – a very cruel and highly illegal ‘sport’ that is practiced in secret throughout Ireland.
I hate to think of the fate of our beautiful cocks and cockerels, who were trusting and hand tame, as they are set against tall, strong, long legged, long spurred, highly aggressive fighting cocks in the ring.
We are appealing to breeders around the country to stop breeding these highly aggressive birds for indiscriminate sale at premium prices and instead to report incidents of fighting or better still planned cock fights if you are aware of them.
Unfortunately, our only solution to prevent this type of loss in the future is to position CCTV cameras in and around our pens. Hopefully the most we will observe will be wild birds, rabbits and the odd fox, but next time, should they attempt it again, we WILL have evidence.
Some of the birds we need to replace can be found on our Wanted page
“Why have my hens stopped laying?” is becoming a regular question these days. There are several reasons for this which can be as a result of health problems or just the natural egg-laying cycle of the hens.
To help you decide which, don’t forget to read the questions and answers on our FAQ page and follow the links for in depth information to such questions and many, many more.
What a sight to enjoy from the kitchen window on a bright morning at the end of August.
Our lavender muscovy ducks perched on the pergola overnight and have not yet come down to feed.
Would you on a morning as beautiful as this?
Posted in Ducks
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Tagged August, Muscovy, Pergola
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