Fertiliser factory

Been taking an interest in gardening lately. Organic gardening.... and what better way to fertilise the soil than to produce my own fertiliser :)
Meet the living factory....

About 2 months+ old by now. Not very good specimens of the silkies, I was told. But then, the by-products are the same nevertheless.

The Protector

Wow! been more than a year since I last updated this blog. Probably because there is nothing interesting to write about. Many things happened.... that's life. But one constant in life has been dogs. There wasn't long stretches that I am without one. Most of the time not by a conscious, they just crosses my path. The last were a mother and son pit bull duo that passed away at age 13 and 14 respectively. The last year of their life seems to be the hardest for them.
Then a black Miniature Schnauzer came to fill the gap.... a tiny fella with a big dog attitude. She is the one keeping the birds safe. Sometimes going to extreme...

The usual rats

Sometimes the unfortunate wild birds

And in one surprising instance, 2 juvenile civet cats in one night/morning

Here is wishing her a long and happy life hunting in a little patch of garden :)

Just found the photo of the 2 civet cats, thought it might be a good idea to update with graphics.

Lovebirds - start of a new season

I didn't have any luck with lovebirds so far. First clutch were not fertile. 2nd clutch of laying started. I have a feeling, this will be the changing point of my luckless run with lovebirds ;) 

First clutch of the incardellati

It has been a slow year as far as the finches are concerned.

Was trying to breed a trio of finch & canary mix (1 male Goldfinch, 1 female Goldfinch, 1 female Timbrado)

So far only the Timbrado canary is laying... & they do grow quickly :)

What was different this round was, using a square nest box and placing 3 birds in a cage.

What was observed was that they do not care for the dry moss as nesting material, pine leaves and cuttings from a broom was accepted. Then topped up with shredded newspaper. The newspaper is entirely the hen's choice as she tears it out from the floor linings.

 First chick hatched 26th May 2015 (photo is taken on 27th)

 2nd chick hatched on the 28th

 Progress on 31st May 

 3rd June

7th June

Now, the longer wait will be till they start to sing ;) will update by then....