Mrs Down's Diary

Still some bullocks waiting to go to market, but apart from that, only noisy guinea fowl and scatty banties around the yards.

All change soon, however. This weekend several thousand day old ducklings will arrive.

Their pens are ready, each equipped with drinkers and heaters. They are placed at the end of the big open foldyard so that the gallons of water they they love to splash about, will all drain into the main foldyard drain.

Each pen has to be netted over as otherwise our local sparrow hawks will look upon the ducklings as a generously provided free take away dinner service.

The goslings on order from a specialist breeder/hatcher (no idea what the name is) will also soon be here.

The only problem is that they will be out and about in the paddock before the Aylesbury ducklings which we hope will soon be hatching out under various banties, are taking their first nibbles at, and exploration of, the grass.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette May 6