Something Green

Who couldn't use a bit of green this time of year? I know I enjoy it even with my deep love for winter.  Winter is my sprouting time of year.  They are so tasty and nutritious!  A little fresh chlorophyll never hurts!  I sprout alfalfa & mung beans for us and oats for the ducks!

A little GREEN interlude ~~~ Then the story!

New Ducks this year so they are unaccustomed to sprouts.  Ducks are naturally cautious creatures.  Anything new makes them skittish, even a delicious platter of oat sprouts!

First I put them by the door...the ducks all ran inside their house...

Then a bit closer...they all skirted around the intruder and went outside...

I put them in the food dish and left for a bit.

When I came back they hadn't touched them!

Finally! after putting them in the water bucket and leaving again did they eat them up!

I am on my 3rd batch of sprouts and they only eat them if I put them in the water.

I won't complain though... 8 ducks & 9 eggs this morning!

Someone is doing double duty!

Speaking of GREEN...here are a couple of Eco-Friendly Items from one of my Etsy Shops!

Green Garland!

Upcycled Wool Pillow

LOVE to all my readers!  

I have been sporadic lately... I hope to get back in the groove soon!  

In the meantime, know I Love You & appreciate your loyalty!

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun

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Hand Made Eco and Upcycled Cutie Buntings, Clothes, & Toys

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Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE! 

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Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

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"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry

Duck Update or Ducpdate

My Duckies are half grown now so thought it was time to introduce them to the big wide world.  Runner Ducks are very cautious and skittish creatures.  They do not require any sort of cuddling.  Some folks do not like these sort of ducks because they are so wackadoodle.   I think their cautious nature helps them to survive when they are out free ranging eating all the slugs and snails they can find.  Plus, I think they are very entertaining to watch.  But their edgy nature makes introducing them to new things a bit of a challenge.  First thing was to set up what I call a training fence. 

I use plastic snow fence cut in half, electric fence stakes, and mini bungee cords.

A handy place to keep the bungees while setting up the fence...on my hat cord!

While setting up the fence I turned over a rock in the duck pond and got to see a 4 inch crayfish!  We introduced them into our big pond about 4 years ago...nice to see they are surviving and thriving! (great for bottom feeding and keeping a pond clean +fun!)

Here is the finished fence...now to get the Ducks to come out!

They didn't want to at first...so I set up their greenie dish just outside the door...

Finally, a dozen Ducks outside!

Runa, the Icelandic Sheepdog, is a great pairing with Runner Ducks.  She will help me herd them when they are ready for free ranging and have to be put in each night.  Predators are always a concern.  I saw a Harrier Hawk flying over my neighbor's field (I lost a duck, before to one of these hawks).  There is a dead adult turkey in the back field which makes me think coyote! Icelandic Sheepdogs bark a fair amount which is good for keeping predators away.  Plus, it is their instinct to chase away all birds.  The only natural predator in Iceland are birds of prey!

Somewhat comfortable out and about but they would come within 6 feet of me and seemed to be checking in to see if everything was alright.  I did give them words of encouragement!

Welcome to Ducktopia!

☼ Forest & Field Happenings ☼ DUCK Update

It was getting pretty dirty in Duckingham Palace so time to clean it up!  But I needed to get the these teenage ducks out into the yard.  Runner Ducks are a bit skittish.  They are not your cuddle duck at all!  They are very wary of anything new.  So it was time to let the fun begin!  First I got the yard all set up very nice.

Then I opened the door...

Quite a lot of squeaking and clustering....they were not going to go out on their own accord!  So I gave them a bit of help.  2 at a time I grabbed them and put them gently out the door.  Until I got 6 out to stay they kept coming back in...wish I could have filmed it for you...it was a bit of a duck rodeo!

Finally outside for the first time in their lives!  Just think about it, they were born in a hatchery, put in a box that flew on an airplane, came to my house and lived in a cardboard brooder for the first 2 weeks.  The big wide world must be quite a shock!

The Duckies are doing what I call The Cluster Duck...they move in a mass as if they are one duck!

Finally, they settle down a bit, but, they don't seem to know what to do with the water.

But they are Ducks and instincts soon take hold.  First One Duck...then....

2

3

jumps to 5

now 7

9 seemed to be the limit

Until!

Capacity 10!

I got these photos by standing still for about 15 minutes.

I made a move and...

Duckingham Palace is back to its Royal "Sparkling" Clean Splendor.

The Duckie Doodles are going in and out on their own.

and

I am looking for a bigger tub!