Stormy Ducks

Last weekend I was very busy prepping my gardens with my seedlings. We had a late, cold spring in April and could not put in our seedlings. May was very hot and stormy in the Ozarks.

In the morning dark came and dropped little rain and then the sun came out and so did I.

But late afternoon the clouds rolled in again. My shepherds hid, the winds picked up, my chickens ran to the coop and thunder clapped.

Then this rolled right over us. I watched this spin, the winds were wild but silent. No thunder just this huge swirl of twisting clouds.

It moved to the east of us and touch down. It took out some trees in our town but no one was hurt. There was no warning, no alerts, nothing. Just me snapping shots of this cloud as it passed over us. then the winds and rains came with a vengeance.

My Rouen ducks all stood like this as the sky poured cold rain and hail.

My Indian Runners loved this.

Feasting in the rain.

Indian Runners to the left and Cayuga, Rouen and Campbell to the right.

Running of Ducklings

Baby Indian Runner Ducklings in one of the bathtubs. Cotton supervising this swim.

Eight 1 week old runners.

About 4 years ago we bought four assorted ducklings at a fair in the summer. It was hot, they were dehydrated and very quiet. We have raised ducks and know how to deal. They lived and are still on our farm laying eggs and thriving, except for the Indian Runner duckling.

This one was weak as a yearling, had an upper respiratory problem. We brought him into the house to clear up his breathing issues. But he never got better and then died in our recoup nest box inside our house. He was a lot of fun to have around the house. I used the duck diapers to keep my house clean. 

So this time we got older baby runners in ivory and tan. They are very afraid of us as they were older. Not much human contact before us. But they are smart. They went back into the coop after the 2nd night on their own when old enough. It usually takes 3 nights of us chasing them back into the coop. I have since become hyper vigilant about coop cleaning with ducks and chickens. I used pine shavings and clean out often. Feed and water outside the coop only.  The end result is healthy,happy poultry, bugs eaten and eggs a plenty.