Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Handsome rooster and a polar dip!

I actually had my good Nikon camera in my hand today when I went down to the lower barn and saw this...


McGuinty, our Chantecler rooster, bathed in late-afternoon sun.



Isn't he beautiful? And a very nice, mellow rooster. He's the fellow I won at the rooster crowing contest last summer. I would like to get some Chantecler hens sometime.

And we've been in the midst of a January thaw, but now the temps are going back down and we are supposed to get more snow this weekend. I'm glad we still have a good snow cover on the ground...


That's Sophie on the lower right!


Tristan went into the duckyard on the weekend.


So did the ducks. And a couple went over the fence, so I had to retrieve them. Muscovy ducks are tropical birds and can get frostbite if it's too cold, so I only let them out when the temps are at or above freezing. Last year I thought they had the sense to come in out of the cold, but a couple of the boys ended up with frostbitten caruncles (fleshy red skin around their beak and face) so this year I'm being more careful. Fortunately the frostbitten parts healed with time.


And there's Karène the adventure duck!

Meanwhile, Jimette decided she'd like a bath (it was about 5C on the weekend, plenty warm for a dip!)


The ducks are so well-feathered, they really don't seem to mind a polar swim!


Everybody...


...into...


...the pool!



And a good old splish-splash! I filled these containers several times over the weekend. The ducks are very enthusiastic bathers, and usually empty out most of the water with their splashing around.

No more baths for a while. The temperatures are about to plunge. By Monday, the high is supposed to be -16C/3F and the low -22C/-7F. Too cold for the ducks and chickens to play outside, but they have the whole lower barn to run around in during the daytime in winter.

Stay warm out there!

37 comments:

  1. Those are some lucky chickens and ducks. That first photo is absolutely gorgeous. I love your new camera. I'm not looking forward to the colder weather coming back. I have been loving the milder stuff but it is winter, after-all. Hugs, Deb

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  2. Those top two pics are prizewinners..stunning!
    Jane x

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  3. Birds need water for bathing so that they can keep their feathers healthy/ the good condition feathers keep the bird warm. It there's now water they use snow.

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    1. I've noticed the ducks rolling around in the snow. :)

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  4. McGuinty looked very handsome in the sunlight. You have a knack for taking remarkable photos.

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    1. Thanks Ahab! THere was some luck involved in that one.

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  5. Gorgeous rooster pictures - the light is just perfect. Sadly, we have no snow... but I got the flu! Yay!

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  6. Bathing in a bucket on top of snow just seems wrong but he is sure enjoying himself. We have a heated birdbath on our deck which i can see from my kitchen window and the birds just love it no matter what the temp.

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    1. THat's great, Barb! IT can be so hard for birds to find water in winter. I have an immersion heater for our birdbath that seems to work well.

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  7. Oh I so love seeing photos of your animals!! I pinned the first two on my Pinterest board...Feel Good.

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  8. We have snow here now, and my hens stayed indoors almost all day yesterday. Barbara's heated bird bath sounds like the hight of oneupmanship! Where do I get one?

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    1. Come to Canada! WE have all sorts of gear for helping everyone to survive a long winter!

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  9. He is a very handsome rooster! I wish my chickens had such a big indoor space to run around in during the cold weather.

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    1. They seem to enjoy the lower barn!

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  10. I'm just freezing looking at the duck splashing in the water. I probably would run and wrap him in a woolen blanket when he comes out. McGuinty is superb!

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    1. I worry about them, but then if I work my fingers into their feathers, it's only the top layer that's wet. Underneath it's all toasty warm down!

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  11. Excellent photos ma'am!

    Warm? What is that, you'll need to remind me ...

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    1. Thank you Owl Wood!

      Temps are supposed to be -20C or lower most of week. I've already forgotten what warm is!

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  12. McGuinty, you are just gorgeous! Bet you would love some Chantecler hens for your harem. Hi Sophie! I see you there in the corner. Tristan, I would have loved to join you in the duckyard and to tromp through the snow with Karene. But, really, I think I'd pass on the swimming pool with funny Jimette this time and just enjoy hearing the quiet of all that lovely snow.

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    1. I am going to work on getting some Chantecler girls this year. :)

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  13. Brrr. Jimette is one brave duck.
    That first photo is an absolute stunner.

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  14. Wonderful photos. Beautiful rooster. Now I will really have to scoot to be on time for the dentist!

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    1. Ugh, dentist! I'd rather look at photos!

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  15. Stay warm! Love the pic of McGuinty.

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  16. Never mind a frostbite, I think Jimmette's face is going to fall off!

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  17. Beautiful wonderful pictures! I want to print out McGuinty's & frame it.

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    1. I can send you a high-res version if you like. Just email me at the address in my profile (Or message me on Facebook.) No problem!

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  18. Beautiful photos of McGuinty Natalie....he certainly is a handsome fellow.
    Ducks must be desperate for a bath in that temp!! Interesting to see what's going on around your farm in the colder ;months.
    Hubby was telling me it's -20 in Toronto at the moment, he's heading over there in Feb with No. 1 just for a week!!
    Think they're in for a bit of a shock, no doubt it will be a little warmer by the time they arrive.
    Have a great weekend...

    Claire :}

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    1. Claire, I have to take the bath away when it's too cold, because they'll go in it anyway. Crazy ducks!

      If hubby is lucky, things will have warmed up a bit in Feb. Toronto is warmer than were we are, but coming from Australia, it'll all seem cold!

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  19. I absolutely love your rooster and ducks photos. I wish I could get you to take pictures of my wild turkeys!

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    1. Thank you Ms. Sparrow! I have seen so many wild turkeys this week: on our farm, along the roads, in other fields. They are just everywhere right now!

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  20. Anonymous10:23 am

    The photos of McGuinty are striking. (He's very regal.) Brrrrrrrrr on those temperatures. I'm a bit of a wuss when it gets to 30F (to long living in the Southwest.)

    janet

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Thank you for all your comments, which I love to read!