It’s Friday, that means it’s time for a flock update.

Let’s start with the chicks this time:

A chick pecking the camera (probably the green light below the lens):

On to the big girls. A chicken laid a surprise egg in the middle of the coop floor; probably thought it was a large poop (yes, they both come out the same hole):

All the other chickens rushed over to look at it:

Chickens out in the run:

Me topping up the pine shavings bedding; I just toss rough piles, and the chickens scratch through it, spreading it around:

Quacker time. Literally; one of the ducklings has started a proto-quack, while the others are still peeping. They’re growing up!

We’ve also chosen provisional names for the ducks: Bill for the male Cayuga, Gilly (Gill) for the female Cayuga, Bert for the male Buff, and Gertrude (Gert) for the female Buff. We’re still not sure which is male and which is female, though.

Here are Bert and Gert checking the temperature:

I replaced the waterer with the big duck one. This can be heated, to avoid it freezing in winter, though it isn’t plugged in yet. It is designed for ducks, with nice deep bowls, but small enough that the ducks can’t climb inside, removable filters to make it easier to clean, and a larger capacity reservoir:

Ducklings splashing:

The little Cayuga duckling, covered in water droplets:

The big Cayuga; look at those wings!

Ducklings are very messy, including when eating:

Duckling treat:

The Buffs watching me:

A view of the duck house across the pond; they should be ready to go out there in a few weeks time:

Finally, a token picture of the wild birds, with a deer munching on the tall grass by their feeders: