We have a problem.  A duck problem.

Two of my Muscovy ladies are broody.  One is sitting happily in the henhouse on an old fish box having made a nest over a false egg (that I put in to promote laying).

This is Black Duckie and we only have one that colour so I can easily identify her.  I put six hopefully-fertilised real eggs next to her, she happily pushed them gently all under herself and settled in for the duration.  It was very sweet. I did wonder what she would do at the time and she did exactly the right thing so I am hopeful she might manage to produce some ducklings.

Meanwhile the other ladies look very similar and I am taking photos to try and identify who else is broody.

Today, I finally found out when this duck poked her head out from under the container where she is laying and starting to make her nest.

Such a ridiculous place to do this but there is no telling her.

Pepper has been known to nip in a steal and break an egg to eat.  Not good.

Today, I tried to catch broody duck No 2 but no luck. She was having none of it and went off to join her friends, furious at my pathetic attempt.

So, instead I took photos of her for future reference. I want to get her inside a quiet shed before she makes a proper feather-pulling-out nest.

Now, I know this duck. This is Penthesilea.

She has a totally white head so easy to know.

Meanwhile, I am trying to work out if it is Penthesilea’s Mum who is broody duck No 2. I’m pretty sure it is.  I shall stop worrying as much. She is a great Mum if we can just stop Pepper stealing the eggs.

(2021 duckies)

My Cunning Plan is working very well, she types smugly.  Klængur is nicely contained in his own personal little dining room….

… while everyone else is happily eating without argument, hassle or fuss. They all seemed remarkably relaxed about this arrangement, which is good.

While I was doing stuff with Haakon (spraying a hoof with ACV), Iacs came meandering down the hill towards me at a swift something, possibly a bibbly trot.

The buckets, that I had just lugged up halfway up the hill from the Minions’ field, were duly searched.

And washed up.  Thank you, Iacs.

We were also joined by Kolka who had given up on whispering sweet nothings through the bars at Klængur.

She briefly gave a thought to her incarcerated loved one …..

…. and swiftly moved on to see what lovely yummy things I might have.

Obviously Klængur was released and he does wait patiently, for which I thank him.

I am sure he doesn’t mind. I don’t even need a headcollar to lead him in – just chin hairs, so he has definitely got the plot.

Peace reigneth.  Hurrah.

The weather is pretty vile today.  Cold, wet and windy.

The old ladies had their buckets of chips, lard and éclairs – anything to keep the weight on.

Vitamin (known as Minnie-Moo) had already finished her’s and was just cleaning up.  She is tied to the fence so I can quickly rinse her mouth out (water – I take a small bottle down with me) and spray her hooves (ACV) before she runs away.

This diet seems to be working for Fivla and Vitamin and I am pleased as it means they can stay with their friends, who are not allowed anything fattening ever again.

The others get their scoopful of vitamins/minerals along with the slimming sludge (fast fibre and zero chaff).

The bowls were already wet as someone had been tipping them over (possible Tiddles and definitely Storm), so the food became sludge.

Wet sludge or not, it was quickly devoured.  Beggars can’t be choosers, I told them.

And then one by one, small horrible wet little ponies came to ask if there was any more?

It is lucky I don’t mind being dirty or wet.

Actually, I do.  Sorry guys.  I gathered my buckets and clambered over the fence.

The dog walk is daily.

And different folk join us depending on who is around.

Today it was Harrel-the-Barrel who jogged along behind.

And then Maggie, his mother, joined him.  They are a dear little team of two and I sat down on a dry rock for a hug from them both.

This was the view behind me…..

And the one in front.

Barrel was considering his mode d’emploi for going over the stream.

Everyone was enjoying themselves.

And then I was joined by Monster.

I love this photo. Another album cover, do you think?

And then we all joined up with ‘Bert who was sitting, peacefully chewing his cud, enjoying the rare Shetland spring sunshine.

To paraphrase/quote Hippocrates, but not in his vernacular because that would look pretentious, “Desperate times call for desperate measures“.

Every morning I always have someone waiting for me – probably waiting for the buckets and not me.  It is usually Iacs but today Kolka joined him.

I am fed up with Klængur. He has taken to bullying Haakon and Iacs off their buckets when he’s finished his rather meagre non-fattening version, which is not on.  Feeding time was getting more than a bit fraught and the Old Men were suffering.

So I came up with a plan which was duly executed with total success.  Yesterday, I lugged two sheep hurdles into the field and put them in one of the cleared byres on the end of the derelict house to act as a gate.

And now Klængur has to eat his bucket on his own until I say he can go out to rejoin the others.

Feed time will be more peaceful and less of a battle for everyone.

I went down the hill to feed the rugby scrum that is the Minions and I noticed Kolka was kindly doing a “prison visit”!

I thought it was very sweet of her.  She does love him.

After I had finished with the Minions, I went back up and released Klængur.

So this will be new daily norm.  The bullying will stop.

I told Klængur this and, to be fair, he didn’t seem to mind being led to his new dining room or the waiting afterwards for me to let him out.

And here is my latest album cover or, as Daisy said, when I sent it to her, “Why can he (Iacs) never look normal?”