Husbandry

It was supposed to get very cold last night, so I caught most of the muscovies and put them in the quail sed in deep straw; I plan on putting heat in there whenever it's going to drop below -20C. They're fairly tropical birds and they don't have all the fancy mods that true ducks and geese do, to keep their feet warm. In the past I've had muscovies that froze their feet, which was... bad.

This morning Chocolate the muscovy came out for water (I water everyone before work) and I scooped her up and put her in with everyone else. I'm not sure where she sleeps, but although it seems like it must be safe I think she'll be happier with other muscovies. I hope she doesn't hold it against me that I picked her up just because she lets me get close. We'll see.

It feels warm out. The thermometer reads -15C, but maybe the lack of wind is helping. It's almost foggy and I suspect the moisture helps too. In a couple days we're supposed to be up to -6C over a couple nights, that will be a nice respite and should let me pry some of the water dishes off the ice as it softens.

Samhain is over but the veil still feels so thin right now. I go about my daily business and there is just a near presence of death, not necessarily a foreboding, just that I feel it around me even with the worst of the killing cold done for now.

I do what I can to stave it off for the animals, that's what I'm here for, and then to sort seeds for new life in spring.