The guineas on the farm have a job to do. They eat ticks and bugs and sound off an alarm when a big raptor flies overhead so our chickens can go hide. Though not the prettiest looking birds from the neck up, they are rather amusing and will always be a permanent resident on our farm. In their more mischievous moments, they will circle around one of the sleeping dogs in the grass and sound off the alarm that there is an intruder in the yard.
**This is as close as I could get for the picture as they are generally quite skittish.
**This is as close as I could get for the picture as they are generally quite skittish.
Well, we didn't plan on having ducks until one winter day. While out taking care of the cows, our oldest son noticed a duck in our barn. We had no idea where it had come from. It just flew in one day and stuck around for about a week. David worked hard to gain the duck's trust and in a few days I heard a knock on the door and found David standing there with the biggest grin on his face cradling the duck. After a week, it disappeared, just as mysteriously as it arrived. David was heartbroken and as a result 2 years ago we got our first ducklings. We currently have about twelve and have found that having a broody chicken sit on the eggs is the easiest way for us to get ducklings! They are a funny bunch and their quacking "quacks me up" every time.
**Here the ducks are basking in the sun next to the "child-made" pond and our two bulls. Further note...this was going to be my new asparagus bed before Dave forgot he planted asparagus there the year before and chose that spot for the boys to dig their pond. I will be ordering more asparagus plants soon! If it does come up this year, the ducks will have a nice snack after their swim.
**Here the ducks are basking in the sun next to the "child-made" pond and our two bulls. Further note...this was going to be my new asparagus bed before Dave forgot he planted asparagus there the year before and chose that spot for the boys to dig their pond. I will be ordering more asparagus plants soon! If it does come up this year, the ducks will have a nice snack after their swim.
