It rained all day yesterday. Real wet soaking rain. So the ducks and I practiced all day going in and out of their new home. 
It is the big central pen in the barn and full of straw for the laying of eggs.
I would herd them in then stand opposite the entrance until they were quite settled then leave them to it with their door wide open so they did not get frightened in there. The last thing I need is for them to fly out in fright. They actually stayed in there for long stretches of time. Then the pull of the rain and all that MUD would be too much and out they would stream into the puddles.
Last night at dusk I put them in there and shut the gate and by the sounds of it they are still there this morning. So far so good. This is a much better option for egg laying and for when the winter does come. Their little tin is really only a summer shelter. No good in the weather.
While I was mucking about in the barn I opened up the whole of the piglets creep (until now it was divided with straw bales so they could cuddle in there) and filled their food bin. Now it turns into their cafeteria. Not much food goes in yet, they are still just snacking, but if I sat in there long enough they all take turns coming in to play in the straw obstacle course I made for them, nibble on some food, nibble on my boots, have a slurp of water then race back out. They were a bit stir crazy yesterday because of the rain and their Mum keeping them inside all day.
Their Creep Cafeteria enables them to eat at their leisure. Otherwise their mother cleans everything up before they get a real chance.
I have awoken to rain again this morning. We are well and truly sodden, the cows are locked up off the good pastures and once we start to warm up again I look forward to some good growth for a week or so before letting them back out. We have a few days of coolness and clouds which is very good for letting the rain really soak in.
I need one more good cut of hay and at least 200 bales purchased then I might feel more ready for the winter. We have time yet. I hope. This will be a good cut if I can get it in before October.
But no gardening today and no sowing of the ground covers either – too wet. My guest and I will keep working in the barn. We will keep training the ducks and Tia and the piglets, which is quite a fun job for an Airbnb Farm Stay guest.
It is feeling so cool this morning! I will have to find my trousers and socks.
Have a good day.
Love celi
WEATHER: Drizzle then Clouds. Cool.
Saturday 09/08 60% / 0.17 in
Light rain early…then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 66F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Saturday Night 09/08 50% / 0.1 in
Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 56F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Sun
6:26 AM 7:13 PM
Moon
Waning Crescent, 2% visible 4:52 AM 6:56 PM
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The Kitchen's Garden 
34 responses to “DUCK WEATHER”
Really great to see that all is getting back “to porridge”, as my grandmother used to say. Lovely pictures. And I am marveling at “rain”. I haven’t experienced real seasons since I was east of the Mississippi ten or was it, twenty years ago?
Getting back to porridge. That saying makes perfect sense!