Unhatched eggs
Well, it looks like little Tapper isn’t cut out to be a mother yet after all because, after weeks and weeks of sitting on those eggs, she has given up. She did try!
Bubble, the female turkey Tapper was brought up with (there is also a male Bubble), is absolutely delighted to have her best friend back out and about. They are very close as you can see.
Tapper: Motherhood isn’t everything, Bubs!
Bubble: Oh, okay, Taps.
I should have kept my mouth shut!
Well, it’s drizzling rain and I have the flu, so I rather miserably went outside to let the gang out of their pens later than usual this morning and, almost immediately, all these fights broke out. Seli (one of the ganders) was attacking Baby Turkey; Tapper (duck) had left her nest of unhatched eggs to give one of the Bubbles (turkey) a huge bite on the bum; and then the other Bubble and Zaruma (Tapper’s ‘husband’) started fighting viciously- really viciously. I had seen them do this before but this was really horrible so I kept trying to break them up and then all of a sudden, as I was yelling “Stop it!” they both ended up in the slimy green pool at the centre of the yard and, because I was so close and yelling, my mouth and nostrils were immediately filled with the goop of their splash and a wave of it speckled me from head to toe.
This is the embattled Zaruma who is usually bright white with orange legs and feet, so all of the black stuff on him is the same as what catapulted into my mouth! I have used half a tube of toothpaste; next time there is an incident, I will definitely keep my mouth shut!
Cheer up!
Emery 1: Is Julie okay?
Emery 2: Shut up, Emery 1, and eat your dinner – I’ve saved you the crusts
Emery 3: Those funny little chicks out there yesterday were rather cute weren’t they!
Emery 2: (munching) Well they’re gone now aren’t they?
Emery 1: Oh, poor Julie
Emery 2: They were just guinnea fowl – get over it!
Emery 3: You really are callous aren’t you and you’re the female of this group!
Emery 2: I am not a female!
Emery 1: Actually, I think Emery 3 might be right, Emery 2 – you could be a female
Emery 2: Hell, I hope not!
Angelina: Where’s Julie?
Bubble: I’m not sure. I think she’s out there somewhere looking for those chicks.
Angelina: I hope she finds them! I’ve been looking for them too, you know, just out of curiosity.
Brad: I hate to say this, Angie, but I think a fox might have taken them.
Angelina: If so, I think we better gather around the back door and make sure Julie is okay.
Brad: Good idea – let’s go – let’s cheer her up!
Turkey posing 2!
Yesterday afternoon, Husband’s niece, Jane (the one who takes amazing photos) came over to visit with her son and his partner. Bubble seemed to take one look at Jane’s camera and began posing, and following her around. His posing for Jane was much more striking that his posing for me the other day; it was hilarious!
Turkey posing
Me: Bubble, would you mind if I took some close up photos of you?
Bubble: I don’t mind at all as long as it’s just me. I’d rather not pose with the other Bubble if that’s all right.
Me: Just you – maybe some profile shots.
Bubble: I believe this is my best side.
Me: Definitely!
Bubble: Would you like me to look pensive like this, or defiant?
Me: Show me defiant.
Me: That’s fantastic, Bubble!
Bubble: Thank you. I can do nostalgia too, if you want.
Me: Okay, Bubble, let’s see nostalgia.
Bubble: How’s that?
Me: Absolutely brilliant!
The elusive duck
Tapper (the duck who all the other ducks and geese adore and want to ‘marry’) keeps disappearing and then – as I mentioned in the previous post – mysteriously reappearing. I never see her anymore during the day but she always comes back at dusk. She waits until all of the gang are yarded and then she takes to the little pond like a duck to water (sorry I couldn’t help saying that!)
I can’t lock Tapper in the yard any longer because she flies out straight away. Well, that’s what I thought until I saw her actually climb out the other evening. She uses her wings for liftoff, but it is her massive webbed feet that get her over the fence. It’s like watching gravity reversed and very funny. So far she has been too quick for me to get a photo. I certainly didn’t know ducks could climb – but maybe she is just multi-talented!
Anyway, one of the Bubbles has lately taken to watching out for her. After all, they were raised in the same box in the kitchen so they’re a bit like siblings. The Bubble pictured below seems most concerned not to let Tapper wander off again but the trouble is Tapper is getting really sick of this. I will let the pictures tell the story:
Funnier stuff
With my camera charged and working, I took a lot of pictures this afternoon but this is my very favourite, because it shows the fledgling relationship between Doc and the Bubbles. I think compatibility is about to happen – yeeha!
Bedtime
The geese and ducks like to have a bath before bedtime. Godfrey usually supervises.That’s him at the back.
The two turkeys we call ‘the Bubbles’ never participate. That’s one on the left, walking away.
Even if the turkeys were interested, Godfrey hisses them away. He has a very powerful hiss which he accompanies with an angry trumpet noise.
The peacocks aren’t interested in bathing either. They think the ducks and geese are weird! Angelina, in particular, is rather disdainful of their antics.
I can see Angelina’s point of view – Ola, Pearl and Tapper like to play leapfrog in the bath.
Everyone waits their turn.
Well, except for Tapper who is always the last to get out of the bath and go to bed. That’s her at the forefront.
Pearl and Diamond aren’t that keen on leaving the bath either.
Woodroffe, however, willingly goes to bed because he loves his bedtime snack of lettuce scraps.
Zaruma’s favourite bedtime snack is bread, so he also willingly goes to bed.
Eventually, Godfrey and I get them into their yard for the night. Once they are in, Godfrey usually turns around a gives me a goodnight kiss (a sharp nip to the ankle) if I don’t leave the yard quickly enough!
Ahhh – the bedtime ritual!
jmgoyder 