Ducklings 2 weeks old 5-1-11 pt 1

Today the ducklings at the nursing home are 2 weeks old. They are learning to use the ramps to get in and out of the pool we set up.

Pic #2. Look how all 13 babies and Mama are looking the same direction.

Pic 3. Put some food out on the bricks. Mama always lets the babies eat first. After a little while she will eat.


Pic 4. They are drinking from one of our chicken water containers.

Egg Bound Ellie 4-30-11

Ellie hasn't be right since Wed afternoon. After researching on backyardchickens.com, I think she was/is egg bound. That means an egg didn't form right and come out.

When we went to a nursing home Wed for a chicken program, I took her out of the nesting box. She had not laid yet. I think I disturbed the process.

On backyardchickens, they recommend sitz baths to relax the muscles, along with massage, to get her to expel the egg. She did expel a yellow glob. I gave her 5 baths over 3 days. Not sure what else to do for her. She's somewhat better, but not totally. She isn't talking, which she usually does constantly. I put her out with the other girls today, after 3 days of being in the bathroom. I am going to try to locate a vet who knows about chickens.

Here she is having a sitz bath. Then a pic of the bathroom. She has medicated water, grilled chicken, yogurt, cooked and dry oatmeal.

Then there's a pic of the her with the baby shampoo I keep on hand for the hens when they need cleaned up.

She is an excellent patient. She trusts me so much. She never fusses at what I'm doing with her.

Chicken Program Twin Oaks pt 3 4-27-11

Thought I'd wear my straw hat (that I got at the New Mexico State Fair in September) to look like a farm girl. Did I succeed? That's Harriet. She laid green eggs.




I'd bring one hen inside at a time to carry around for residents to pet. Then I'd put them on the floor to walk around among the residents. Here's Harriet. She was talking away the whole time. So adorable.

Chicken Program Twin Oaks pt 2

Left them run around the courtyard. Fenced in a part to keep them away from the mama duck and her 13 ducklings. You will notice that Pearl is not there. She hopped the fence right away. She is one independent chicken with a mind of her own. The residents loved her.



Pic 3 -
Parke got Pearl back in where we wanted her. She has her head turned down and away from the camera. She looks headless. :)

Chicken Program Twin Oaks pt 1 4-27-11

Have Chickens Will Travel! We took 6 chickens to Twin Oaks Nursing Home, where Parke works. Here they are packed up in the car. Parke carried Phyllis around to show the residents.

Bad Hair Day video 4-23-11

Ellie Cleaning Her Feathers 4-23-11