Two Chucks

Yes, the two chucks (ducks that think they are chickens) are a pair of male ducks added to our farm for the crime of having relations with chickens. They were raised with chicks and when mature tried to mate with them. This pair thought they were chickens.

The owner was done with ducks and wanted the gone. So we picked them up and locked them in a cage in the coop with our chickens and ducks. After a week they were set free at night in the coop. Instantly they went for a hen. However my three roosters had none of that. The chucks were jumped and spurred and sent into the corner to think about things. They were not used to roosters as the previous owner did not have any, just hens. The next day, freedom and the chucks tried to figure out what they can and cannot mate with. My older female ducks attacked them as the chucks were low on the pecking order.

After three weeks the chucks have learned to go into the coop at night and be with the rest of the ducks. They have learned to be ducks and had no diseases. No more beat downs from the roosters and our male ducks are fine with new competition.

 It is not easy to re-home a farm animal/pet. Too many times it ends badly for both the new and established animals via fights, diseases or wandering off. These chucks did get bloodied and that scent sets off my guard dogs as well as other predators. It takes a lot of planning and participation on my part to keep them all happy and alive. The cold weather also helped keep predators at bay. If the chucks had not joined I would have no choice but to sell them at auction. Many new to homesteading are not prepared for what happens after animals mature and are no longer cute babies.

Down and Rebound

Osa the oldest shepherd taking advantage of the wood stove.

Last week our youngest shepherd cut her leg. It was a very deep and fresh cut. I triaged it and realized she needed stitches. Wrapped and blanketed we drove her to the vet. It was a cut tendon and very deep. He weighed her at 112lbs ( she was the runt of the litter). The vet gave her a sedative and we hoisted her onto the table for a quick tendon reattachment and 3 stitches over her paw. She was in the house with Osa for a week in my office. After the cold snow and ice both are now outside and loving working again. No poultry was lost during the guardian vacation.

Teadium Beadium

A friends vintage Indian beaded necklace was pulling apart. I offered to get it tight again.

Here is a handmade butterfly made in the 1980's that was falling apart. Regular thread was used and it was shredding. 

Some old glue was used in a repair in the past. 

Pulling string and keeping count.

Keeping the beads in check.

I used beading wire to replace the old thread.

My kit.

Day two.

Used a stronger wire for the join.

Back to fixing this one.

I left all the original threads and just bypassed the break with a finer stronger Nymo.

Had to re-string after dropping a wire loaded with  beads. Practicing patience and counting.

Day three. This is the finished with the new magnet clasp and mood beads to hide the crimps. Wire nylon coated replace the old threads. This is stronger and will last longer.