Wednesday, December 30, 2009

December 2009

I added six Muscovy ducks this month—one drake and five ducks. They're hanging out with the chickens until I figure out their shelter needs. Three of the ducks put themselves to bed each evening in the chicken house, but the drake and remaining two ducks head for the pond at sundown. They show up for breakfast each morning in the chicken yard. Watching them swim in the big pond is a treat, joyously splashing and playing like children.

King of Hearts went back to his farm at the beginning of December. He lost his "goaty" smell after several weeks here. Male goats have some interesting habits, such as encrusting their head in urine, curling the lower lip and sticking out the tongue. Apparently, this is VERY attractive to female goats. I don't get it.

Strawberry plants are blooming in the hoophouse, in spite of recent temps in the low 20s. Collards, Swiss chard, spinach, turnips, radish, beets and several lettuce varieties continue to do well.