Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Duckling Cuteness







Tuesday, May 6, 2008

APHA Solid Paint Bred 2007 Chestnut Filly


"Chigger" is an APHA Solid Paint Bred Chestnut Filly, D.O.B. 2/2007. She has two small white spots on her barrel that are not big enough to qualify for regular registry. She is a very lovely girl with a great personality and an excellent pedigree that includes Impressive (2X) and Te N Te. She is HYPP N/N.

These pictures just don't capture her beauty, she is a very pretty yearling. I will have video of her up soon to show her lovely floating movement.

Her front legs are very streight. She just moved this left hoof as I took the picture. Will try to get another one more squared up.
Pretty, pretty face!


She is a bit toed out in the back. But she has a really nice rear!

Chigger's sire is Prestigious, an APHA halter champion. You can see a picture and get info and his pedigree here:

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/prestigious4

Chigger's Dam is Te Totally Mine. Her pedigree is here. "Te" is 19 years old, still producing and sound and healthy.

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/te+totally+mine

This filly is easy to catch and loves grooming and attention. She will pick up her feet and is getting used to the farrier. She has been trimmed twice without too much fuss. She is current on vaccinations and worming. Chigger leads well and loads and backs out of a step up trailer. She has a great personality and will make someone an excellent riding horse some day. She will be between 15.2 and 16.1 hands. I think she will be particularly suited to English but could go any way.

Chigger was sold to Diana Evance who never paid for her in full.  I'm still owed $60.  Diana traded her off to someone else.  Hope she's okay.


Saturday, May 3, 2008

Ducklings!

We had bought a trio of Bantam White Calls, a breed of small domestic duck for ClaireAnna for her 3rd birthday. Ted had them shipped all the way from New York State. Unfortunately, soon after they arrived, the male died. We have had no luck in acquiring a new male for the last 4 years. ( It just costs too much to ship a single bird ) This past fall, a 4-H friend heard we were looking for one. He called and said he was going to Louisiana to his grandpa's for Thanksgiving and he could bring us back a male. (Grandpa raises ducks) Ya! Finally, we had our trio again.

So, about a month ago we started collecting the Call eggs and when we had enough, we put them in this box.

Grandpa Harmon kept them sprayed with water once a day. 28 days later, we heard peeping!
Unfortunately, out of the 15 eggs in the box, only 3 hatched. (Ted had to help them get out of their shell ) Humidity in the incubator is apparently a very tricky factor.

ClaireAnna is raising her 3 new ducklings in her bedroom, at least until they are a little bit older. She decided she needed to get IN the box to bond with them.

They are so tiny - smaller then a tennis ball and weigh even less. The littlest ducklings we have ever seen.
This is an adult pair of White Calls. This is what our ducklings will look like when they grow up. Aren't they cute?! There is even more good news. Both White Call hens, our Chineese Mandarin hen and our Ancona hen are all sitting on thier own little nest full of eggs. In a couple of weeks we should have our first batch of home raised ducklings!


Alexandar All Grown Up

Well, he's not ALL grown up, but he sure has grown into a handsome yearling. Alex is 12 months old now and Kate got some nice pictures of him today.




Post Script: We sold Alex soon after these pictures were taken.  Big mistake.  He would be the perfect horse for me now.  Sure wish I kept this pretty boy.