Let’s check in with some of the homestead flock, shall we?

Duck butts:

Night swim:

A sequence of three pictures of a duck flying from the bank into the pond:

Just like dogs and cats, ducks sometimes have zoomies, randomly flapping their wings and hydroplaning around the pond:

A raccoon waded through the edge of the pond, while the ducks watched from a safe distance:

Attempting an artistic shot of the ducks in the rain through a whirligig:

The ducks in the pond during light rain:

Bert standing on one leg. I don’t recall seeing them on the bank in the northwest corner of the pond before:

Exploring the secret path on the west side of the pond:

Flapping wings:

On to the chicks. Some of them are starting to cluck (instead of peep) now, so I think I’ll start calling them chickens instead of chicks. They aren’t quite fully grown yet, and won’t start laying for another month or two, but are getting there.

A bit of pecking order aggro:

Perhaps triggered by a wild bird in the coop; I hadn’t seen that before (must have come in the pop door):

So far they prefer to roost above the nesting boxes at night (and above the window, not really an official roost). But I decided to put the poop tray back under the main roosts, in case they do switch to that someday:

Another coop invader: a cheeky squirrel:

The squirrel came back a bit later, much to the confusion and concern of the chickens:

I went out there and chased it out, and it hasn’t been back since (so far).

Chickens on the roosts:

Moana looking at me:

Four on the floor:

Moana eating mealworms from my hand:

The chickens outside in their run. Still lots of weeds, which is fine; dual purpose of snacks and shade from the sun for them:

No pictures of the old chickens this week. I’ll try to get some for next time!