Mallards have joined our flock

..and this one is a little happier than previous post. Two mallards have moved in and Daffy, Donald and Daisy have accepted them. Both have the curled tail but only one looks mature. I had initially thought the immature drake was female and even now I am not sure. I know that females quack loudly and this one is quite the quacker but I have never really heard a mallard before. And there's the curled drake tail feather! It is already following me around when I have food and it's only been his second visit to my backyard (This video is of the first visit and that's why Lucy is seen here and there). Enjoy!

She gave the good fight....

Heard the ducks at my back door at 6:30pm like they always do and I walked out, got the corn, grabbed a few tomatoes and that's when it hit me that I didn't hear Lucy. Took a quick head count and she was not there. Lucy is always first and stays at my heels when I have the food so I was concerned. I whistled for her like I always do and check the bushes. I walked halfway down my backyard and some some white in the pond. I figured that was a plastic bag but I went and got my binoculars and went back out.  Sigh. It was her. Only the back end was sticking up and their were some feathers spread around. I watched a moment cause it was moving and then a giant snapping turtle head popped up beside it. It's head is about three inches in diameter! Anyway. Lucy had fought a hard fight living here.One day after a storm I found that she lost half of her top beak. She was attacked once after that and had her ankle damaged and was limping badly for awhile and just when it healed up she was attacked again, along with Donald, and had all the webbing torn from one foot and the ankle re-injured. She was a Pekin that a girlfriend got for this guy on the other side of the pond and they put them in the pond and never had anything to do with them since. They put 6 in and only Daisy is left from that batch. The pond is 3/4 dried up and the ducks are more at risk now. I will miss her. I would sit there feeding her and petting her neck and I will miss that.

Goodbye my little angel

Ricky the Raccoon get's caught!

This morning I looked out the window just to see if any ducks were at my back door and I glanced at the trap and saw the raccoon.  At first I was concerned as it was motionless, lying down with eyes fixed on some point. I couldn't see breathing or anything and I felt like it died there but I got a little closer and it lifted it's head and boy did it look sad.  Glad I caught it. I was going to take the trap down in a few days because I thought it had moved on.  I am wondering if I should bait it again and see if I catch anymore just to keep the adult ducks out back safer.





So here is the video of it being released. I took it about 5 miles away to a place where there are two separate creeks that I have never seen run dry and miles of forest for it to live. I did think about letting it go in my backyard but the pond is nearly dry and I didn't want it in my yard anymore.

Just for any duck or chicken owners. Those openings on the trap are 1 inch by 1/2 inch and that raccoon stuck it's arm all the way through and touched the van. Make sure your fencing is smaller than that to protect your little ones!

Why?......Because....... Because why?.........Because.........

Typical two and three year old behavior. My son has fallen in the "because" routine!  Whenever I ask him "why" and I am answered with a "because". It can get frustrating at times but mostly it amuses me.  I especially like it when I say back "because why?" and  says something totally unrelated. Here is an example"

Me: Arthur, why did you pee in your pants?
Arthur: Because.
Me: Because why?
Arthur: Because..cause... Buzz lightyear woody YOU ARE A TOY!
Me: ???
Arthur: I'm not a toy!

Yeah, it's pretty damn funny.  I'm just dying to get to the "why" and "what" stage! I'm so going to turn on the tall tales. I see it now!

Arthur: Daddy?
Me: Yes son?
Arthur: Why is the grass green?
Me: Well, it all has to do with this thing called Chlorophyll.
Arthur: What's that?
Me: Well, at night when you are sleeping, these little people called Gnomes come out of the bushes and paint each blade of grass with this stuff called Chlorophyll.
Arthur: Why?
Me: Well if they didn't paint them then it would be yellow and Gnomes hate the color yellow.
Arthur Why?
Me: Because the son is yellow and that is why they only come out of night.
Arthur: Ohhh........... What's a gnome?
Me: Gnomes used to be little kids that didn't do what parents told them to do and they would shrink into tiny little people and snakes and mice and rabbits would eat them.
Arthur: Why?
Me: Because..
Arthur:Why....
Me: Because..

Yeah. it's going to be fun!

Non-related topic:

I felt better after donating my baby ducks to Noah's Ark. Going out today I noticed a pen/hutch/coop in a corner of someones backyard. It's almost entirely hidden from view of the road despite it being on the side of the house. You got the house and then you got trees/bushes on the other side. It's really well built and off the ground. Looks like a cardboard box inside, the kind that holes 10 packages of printer paper. Blue and white. When coming home I noticed a second white in the pen. Are these the people that took Freckles? I couldn't tell what it was because it was getting to dark and  I had only a half a second or less to look. Their yard is in plain view of several homes and up on a hill. If I was to walk up to it I would be easily seen and that person keeps the curtains on their living room windows open.  I really need to let it go. Need to find Jennifer a good paying job and move the hell away.... even if it is down the street or something.

What has this world come to? or Giving the ducks a new home.

A couple of days ago I made a video introducing my 5 remaining ducks as I felt confident that no more predators could get in. I had a raccoon trap out and tonight makes night number 5 and no raccoon. I actually feel it has moved on as the pond is nearly dried up. Let me post the 18 minute long video, unedited, for ya and then you can read on.

Well, it didn't take on Youtube so I'm re-uploading. I'm going to assume that it goes fine and continue my post. Ah. Apparently I can't upload videos longer than 15 minutes on Youtube. Great!

OK, so I predator proofed the pen. I felt comfortable that they would be safe so I did an introduction video. Then some time last night or this morning someone took Freckles out of the pen. The heavy treated boards were pushed aside, there was no feathers anywhere near the pen or in my yard, or the next yard or at the pond, and the netting was in place.  If it was that raccoon I would have found feathers. The trap was still set with the bait. So I've given up. The way things are going I will end up with none in another two months. There is some real scum living around me or outside the neighborhood. I can keep them safe from humans. 

So what am I going to do? Today We went to Wal-Mart and got four large laundry baskets. I have two in each basket with another basket taped over the top and they are in my kitchen. Of course it was dark when I got home so I had to chase them in the dark and they did their anxiety poop in the baskets (lined with thick towels) and that crap really stinks more than the normal ..crap.  I called Noah's Ark in Locust Grove and they are willing to accept them so in the morning I am loading them up in the van, I am taking my son to daycare first and then I'm dropping them off at the Ark.  And then I am disassembling the pen (we used screws).

How do I feel? Enraged and heartbroken is probably the best words for this. Now Punky and Sunny were the only ones since Naili and Omelet have gone that would sit comfortably in my lap or let me reach out and pet them. The loss of Freckles has brought on a change and when I opened the door they, all four, came to me and let me pet their necks! And I had no food! And then I started to talk to them and they all turned their heads like little puppies. At that point they really felt like part of the family and here I am getting ready to give them new homes. I still feel pitiful over losing Naili and Omelet and now this. I'm so glad our dog is an indoor pet as I am sure someone would have stolen him a long time ago. American Hairless Terriers are not a common breed and they are not cheap either! (Video is at 51%). Jennifer, that's my wife, said not to worry to much as we will look at getting more when we move but I'm not so sure I want to do that. I just can't trust people to leave what is mine alone. You know what I mean? (I sure hope this video completes before i lose my connection)

I will take some video footage when I drop the ducks off tomorrow. I wonder what I shall do with this blog.... There are still Lucy, Daisy, Donald and Daffy in the pond (what's left of it) and they still come up every morning and evening wanting attention. I'm going to set both pools up for their enjoyment and continue providing corn and water. Today when I was walking around the pond looking for Freckles I saw that two wild mallards have join the group. They wouldn't come near me when the other four came near, but they seemed to enjoy the four's company and it looks like male and female. Perhaps they will get used to me and come up to the house. (65% uploaded).......  So do I talk about the four out back? They basically come up, eat, crap on my back porch and then leave. Do I talk about home life? Do I say whatever is on my mind? Is anyone interested? If you are then you need to subscribe if you are from the duck forums as I probably wont post the updates there (but I will stay a member.. such nice folks!). You people let me know!

74% uploaded. come on baby and post!

Past two days have been interesting. I can't quite describe it but the city my wife works in does an annual competition among businesses using rubber ducks. You dress it up or make a theme. Her boss basically sat on the project for 3 weeks doing nothing and then dumped it in my wife's lap on Friday. My wife called the people in charge to find out when it was due and got no answer so it wasn't till Monday that she reached someone to find out it was due that Thursday!  I feel that this person wants to see my wife fall on her face. She's not really her boss, but she is one position under her real boss who is Director. Anyway. My wife and I have been working on 1/2 the project, maybe 3/4 and another co-worker made outfits. They are Batman and Robin ducks, my wife and I made the batmobile. I added wheels and working headlights and rear rocket thingy and Jennifer made the body. When she got it there, last years first place winner came in behind her. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that person will get 1st place again and I think Jennifer will come in second. Last year she came in third but her boss (the one that isn't really)told her they lost.  Jennifer told me that everyone was commenting on her's and that lady's projects. I hope she wins first so she can rub it in that person at works face! 

Great. I switched tabs and now I have no idea of the progress on that video. That blows.

Am I slacking or what!

I just haven't had any post worthy news about the babies. I did clean out their pen today and decided to  record a bit for everyone's amusement.

Got a couple of photos too:

It would appear, and I am only 80% certain, that the black one is male. I've decided to name it Junior since it looks like its dad Daffy. As I said before, either here or Facebook I can't recall, I am calling the one with black spots on tail Freckles. I still haven't come up with the name for the brown one and I still can't tell if female or male.

My in-laws brought the possum trap up and I have it baited. Nothing came last night and I have started to think that the raccoon has moved on as it has been 2 weeks since the last death.  I will keep it baited and wait and see.

I had my son on the potty today and I was recording him go through about 5 mood changes. It was funny but my wife wont let me post it on here. Oh well.

I should find my facebook post I did and re-post it here. Ok, here it is. Just pretend you are reading my facebook page for this.:

Was just reminiscing of my childhood in Virginia. Decided to locate my grandparents old home on the farm in Urbanna. Didn't know the road they lived off of, but trying to remember the way from Little Creek when in the Navy, the crab fishing trip in the town and all my many visits as a youngster I was able to pin point it on google maps and I actually found it.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.668773%2C-76.603676&spn=0.001046%2C0.001541&t=h&z=20&vpsrc=6&lci=com.panoramio.all 

 they didn't live in the big portion of that house, it had a smaller house attached to it, servants quarters perhaps. It was super small but it was home away from home. I'd walked past some barns and stand on the river and poke jellyfish, catch small crabs, collect clay to model (great clay for modeling), throw rocks at a large black snake that scared my mom. All those fancy homes didn't exist. Oh my! I can see the old oil drum still just sitting out there. there was a small overgrown foot trail that went by it to the clearing. I've actually had a dream that I was visiting that river bed again not to long ago. good memories. I found a stray cow on the road and walked it all the way down to Danny's home. That's the family that owned all that. No one in my family trusted the son (who runs it or who's children run it)

 It kinda looks like that portion that was their home has been destroyed and maybe a garage put up off to the side at an angle.. I hate not knowing. Can't tell because of the shadows! damnit! And yes, it's still a dirt road.. let me pin point where i'd stand on the river.

http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=37.670555%2C-76.603187&hl=en&ll=37.670574%2C-76.601121&spn=0.008365%2C0.012327&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=20&t=h&z=17&vpsrc=6&lci=com.panoramio.all

I would walk to the right of the three red barns there and you can actually see a path now, but not when I was younger. You see, The people that lived next door in the bigger portion (nice hardwood floors btw) didn't have kids as far as I know so it was just me going and I didn't visit often enough to make a worn path. You can also see the drum or whatever that held oil I think. My grandparents house was heated with oil. neato.

If you continue going east down Racetrack road, on the right was the cows and on the left was pigs. All of this used to be a horse farm long long time ago and I think they raced horses, hence the name racetrack.

So that was what I posted on Facebook around midnight I think.

Should be switching over to pellet form instead of crumbles come middle of this week. They waste 75% of the crumbles in their water (talking about ducks again). I think Punky and Sunny recognize their names. Interesting. Funny when they watch a plane fly overhead.

Later people!

Ducks love veggies!

Let see. First some updated photos taken a few days ago.

No name on these right now. Waiting to see if male or female.

Run from the scary guy!

The photo above is Sunny
Here she is again biting my finger.








This video should have been posted with the video from the other day:

Ya gotta forgive the poor video quality. I've been using my cell phone as it is much easier to upload and post. This next one I had two tomatoes, one to get them out and one to get them back in. I was by myself so I am so glad this worked. I talked a lot so just put it on mute if you like. I can't stand to hear myself either!

This last one I kinda rambled but I describe my duck pen and give a tour of my yard, which sucks ass.

And there ya go. Don't feel like typing much today. 

Oh, before I forget. I get asked a lot of times pertaining to what kind of breed they are. The mother is a Pekin and the father is a Blue Swedish and this is what I ended up with. I had one duckling that was all white but was killed. The two white ones you see have at least one black feather or more.

If only I had 10K lying around (or, if that bores you then look at my video of ducks)

I love playing the stock market. I mean, really playing it. Of course with real money! I don't have any now but I did before. Back in 2000 or 2001, I took 10k that I had and didn't need right away and using one of those online trading sites I started to invest in stocks. Now, when I started, my style of investing was determined by watching CNBC and other sources. I would buy stocks that were at an all time low too. The problem was I didn't check out the company's financials and I got burned on the first 7000 that I invested. The good thing is I started to read Graham and Dood's Security Analysis. Now this book is huge and for the ordinary person without a degree in finance or accounting it will most likely be hard to read and boring (like an accountant, which I used to be). Because of the amount of reading it required I found a book I could substitute called Value Investing Made Easy by Janet Lowe. It basically condensed the book down and it's easier to understand. I read that smaller book and invested the remaining 3k. When I sold all my stocks in the fall of 2005 it was for about 11k if I recall. I sold all stock because I need a new vehicle and had no money (3 years unemployed). Now that doesn't sound like a lot, but let me tell ya that the first stocks that I invested in with the 7k, half of them went out of business and the other half either stayed near the buying price or tanked to some degree. If it wasn't for my change in investing then I would have lost more than I put in. Value investing folks, it's the way to go.

Since I still haven't any money that I can throw around like the good ole days, I tend to make up fake accounts using yahoo or google. I just found one that I did on November 2008 using only 4 companies and $1,972.00 dollars (I didn't account for commission costs and I have done dividend reinvestments). Just looking at it today after the DOW posted a huge loss again I find that the market value of my fake portfolio has grown to $4,031.26. If I remember right, I followed value investing principles. Now I think it says to stay away from penny stocks... maybe it was another book I read, but I also read about Warren Buffett and he buys things he likes and there was a company I really like and I find them to be innovated and the stock was under 50 cents. It's nearly a dollar now so that doubled, but because I was going on feeling more than value (the financials were good, not great) I had not invested much. My biggest gain came from a REIT that had solid financials and was at a good value. Pretty amazing since the housing market is so bad and you see closed stores everywhere.

Ohhhh, if only I had some real money that I didn't need. I would have to re-read the book of course. I have forgotten a lot of my accounting education and I haven't looked at a WSJ in 10 years.



Now if that has bored you and investing scares you, then check out my latest video. Be sure to watch closely at around 2:20 to 2:30!

Omelet officially became dinner. :(

Walked out this morning and the bird netting that covers the top was torn down and Omelet was missing. 50 feet away where I buried Naili I found a few feathers and quills and the quills were broken and had blood in it. I don't know if the coon climbed up top and pushed it down or if it was sagging in the middle and the ducks pulled it down from the inside. It doesn't matter as I'm pissed off and so sad at the same time. So that's it. My two favorite ducklings have been killed (3 total) Naili and Omelet were the only ones that would follow me and apparently the only ones that I was imprinted on. I sat in the pen on my butt for over 30 minutes and Punky and Sunny would not come to me. The other three wont come unless they come first. This evening I coaxed them out of the pen with a tomato, their favorite treat, and it took my wife and I to corral them back into it. They came to me when I sat outside with the tomato and I did pick up Punky and it was calm so that's a good sign I guess.  I think they are just too shaken up right now. On top of the pen I have treated pine going across. They are 1inch by 6 inches and go across the width of the pen. I have them spaced 3 inches (roughly) apart and I was putting fasteners on the ends so I can remove them and get int he pen to clean, feed, clean and refill pool, that sort of things. I only had 12 fasteners, clasps, whatever, but I think the boards are heavy enough to avoid being moved. I also put the tarp back on and on top of all this I put the netting back on.

Now, I called two wildlife services and it looked like it would cost me about $375 average to catch and remove the coon. Sadly this month is a bad month for finances and I can't afford it, not even to save a duckies life. My in-laws are coming up soon and they are going to bring their opossum trap and we will do it ourselves! Emotionally I want it killed, but I know it is just doing what is natural to it. So... we will relocate it miles and miles away.

I've started designing the coop on paper. I'm looking at 3'h x 3'w x 5'l. I might make the width a bit smaller and the height will be 3' at it's tallest. The bottom will be hinged on the front and secured on the back with a latch so i can drop it and the waste can be swept out. The top front will be hinged also so I can lift the back up. I want to find an alternative to plywood for the sides though that will be weather proof and light weight. Was thinking of the frame of the coop to be treated 2x2's. The top 3 inches will have galvinised steel mesh for ventilation. Oh yes, it will have a front door that is secure and a removable ramp so moving the coop will be easier. I plan on it sitting about 3 inches off the ground. I would like to do this now, but the heat is sooooooooooo bad for me.

I've lost 3 ducks. I have 3 ducks with no names. Punky and Sunny. All 5 ducks are distinct in appearance. I had thought I'd keep the two named and Omelet but I guess plans have changed.

What books have you read this year?

This post does relate to ducks! I know it doesn't sound like it, but this year I did read a book on ducks. It was called Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, 2nd Edition by Dave Holderread. My wife was kind enough to make this purchase on her kindle when I was trying to hatch duck eggs I found. It is full of great info!

Gotta love that Kindle. I happen to like to read old maritime novels, many of which were written over a 100 years ago. My favorite time period of this books are from 1400's up to the early 1900's.  Since many are old, I can find them for free using my wife's Kindle. Here's a list of the ones I have completed reading since January 2011:

Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum - This is a true story of a man circumnavigating the world in his boat the Spray. I believe it was about 46,000 miles in 3 years. He had some bad weather here and there, a run in with an outlaw in South America I believe. Think of it as reading a navigators diary. Free on the Kindle!  For additional fun, try reading about him and his life in Wikipedia. Wow.

Mr. Midshipman Easy by Frederick Marryat - This one about a young boy raised by foolish parents. Throughout the book he follows his father's philosophy teachings until the end when he finally comes around. He get's into some tight situations but manages to get out somehow. I believe the time setting of this novel takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. I also got this one free on the Kindle.

Afloat and Ashore: A Sea Tale and Miles Wallingford Sequel to Afloat and Ashore by James Fenimore Cooper - Free again! Really enjoyed this one. I found myself wanted to shout at the main character that the female friend of his was in love with him and for him to do something. He does, but at the very end of course! A really good read!

Ned Myers or, a Life Before the Mast by James Fenimore Cooper - That's right! Another one by Cooper. I had no idea he wrote this type of stuff and I believe there are a few more for me to discover. This is actually a true story as Cooper and this chap Ned where shipmates for a very short time. Much later in life Myers ran into Cooper and told him his life story which Cooper published. The story takes place before and just after the War of 1812. I read this book not knowing it was all true until the end and was blown away.

Jack in the Forecastle or, Incidents in the Early Life of Hawser Martingale by John Sherburne Sleeper - Free on Kindle. I honestly can't remember what this one is about as it is the first one I read.

Let's see. I re-read all of L. Ron Hubbard's Mission Earth books. That was a good read!

I'm currently reading Gnomes by Wil Huygen. My wife got this for me and I hadn't seen it in years but I remember the illustrations.  I'm also reading on the Kindle, The Sea Wolf by Jack London.  I also have this in movie format starring Chuck Connors.


Just had to yell at a couple of kids that were throwing large sticks at the ducks in the pond. Grrrrr. I hate this neighborhood!

Hot day.. good time for a swim!

Changed out their pool water today and boy where they happy! I change it once every day or every other day. I really got to stop talking while filming! I sound like such a dork.

This evening I decided to get a garden stool and sit in the pen with them to get them used to me outside. You see, when they were inside my office they would come to me and want to be held. If I took the side down on their pen they would push each other to get a chance to sit in my lap. The only ones not doing that were Coco (RIP), and the remaining three unnamed ones. Naili (RIP) of course got in my lap more than the others and would sleep there for a few minutes. It's a damn shame I do not have her anymore. Omelet sat in my lap a lot too and then there is Sunny and Punky. Well, the other day I was sitting outside the pen on the grass with the ramp down and waited and waited and finally Sunny came to me and I picked her up and put her in my lap. She was not happy at all. honk honk, quack quack, screech screech! I held her still and she never ceased so I put her on the ramp to go back in and she took off tot he back of the pen on the outside. Not to fear, I got her again and put her in myself and that was that. It put me off that they were so uncomfortable sitting with me after only a week. so, back to the beginning, I put the stool in the pen and sat there calling to them. Sunny and Omelet thought about it but just didn't seem to have the nerve. After 20 minutes the brown one that I have only held once came up to me, approached my outstretched hand, did this weird vibration thing and touching my finger with it's beak it proceeded, quickly, to run it up the length of my arm. I reached down and pick it up and put in my lap and it just sat there, laid there, and was still!  After sitting awhile I put it down and tried for another. Punky answered and did the exact same thing! Oh Punky was affectionate! After awhile I put Punky down and Omelet did the same thing!  I have noticed the adult ducks, Lucy and Daisy, but mostly Lucy, have used that mannerism, except I haven't picked them up.  So cool.Their little heads vibrate like one of those massage things for your back.

Bathing Beauty?

Got video of Omelet bathing/playing/cooling off in the pool. All of the ducklings have been honking except for one. It's probably still too soon to determine the sexes.

It's interesting to note how the water looks dirty in one video and not so bad in the other when both where shot 30 seconds of each other.

I got Sunny out yesterday and tried to put her in my lap and she did not want to cooperate. She wanted to go back in the pen. I put her on the ramp and she took off around the pen on the outside and I had to catch her. It wasn't too hard since she wasn't really afraid of me, just cautious.