Ok, I try not to ever hurt anyone feelings if I can avoid it, but I’m fairly certain the ducks will not be reading the blog – so . . . Ducks have their purpose, at least I had a purpose for them – they are not picking up the hint. The plan was for them to help clean up the pond by eating bugs and vegetation there. Started off well enough, but now they are so afraid to go into the pond – I am assuming because of turtles? – that they will nearly thirst to death within 6 inches of the shore line waiting for some of us to bring them a nice fresh bucket of water. A whole trough of water that remains clean for about 5 seconds. Long enough for them to drink up as much as they can to quench that thirst they worked up sitting on the shore of the pond. Then, they hop in and swim – and poop!
Change of plans – new purpose for the ducks
Ducks in the garden are actually very beneficial. They don’t care for tomatoes and cucumbers and squash and corn, but they do like bugs. Awesome, I have bugs! They may not like tomatoes, but neither would they slow down their waddling much in deference to a beautifully bearing pepper plant (not that we have any of those yet – faith). So, we figured out a cheap way to run netting around the plants we want to keep while leaving as much of the in-between spaces open to the ducks for de-bugging. The deer netting suggested at the good ol’ Tractor Supply only cost $15. A few temporary fence sticks and zip ties and we were ready!
So, this system has worked out fairly well so far. No more free-loading ducks! They are earning their keep. I have a noticeable decrease in the bug population attacking my corn and collards.
Second problem – how to let ducks have clean water for more than 5 minutes! We went one evening to Dollar General and purchased the last $8 baby pool in stock and brought it to the garden/duck enclosure. I figure if these darling, dumb, ducks were provided with a baby safe swimming hole AND a tub of drinking water they might actually get to drink clean water and swim. NOPE!
First I seriously had to CARRY one of them and place them in the pool. They were afraid to get in the blue pool with pictures of fish! Then, after getting comfortable – they just drink, swim and poop in both. New plan.
We put a fence circle around the drinking tub – nope! Then they just won’t drink out of it.
So, we are currently trying the suggestion of a drinking bucket too small for any of their butts to fit in. Maybe if it’s too small to be a toilet they will consider it the water fountain. I will evaluate the success of that plan this morning when I do my walk around. I have hope!
The cows are settling in nicely. We are getting better at the rotational grazing. There is more permanent fence and crossing sections off with electric fence is much easier than last year. I long for the day when my little farm looks like somebody mowed. I am not a fan of 90 degree days, tall grass and weeds. But, apparently much less a fan of weedeating, so . . . patience!
Challenges abound in life and in farming.
(I have tried unsuccessfully to click on this photo to turn it right side up – some glitch will not allow that to happen – yet another challenge. He’s still cute – and annoying)
Blessings abound alongside.
I am looking forward to harvesting more than squash from the messy garden, but salad from the porch planters has been nice.
It’s been a while since I added a song, this one is speaking to me currently . . .
brandnewfarmers 