I spoke too soon, the last four crias have all been girls. The June ones are nearly done now, just one more to go and seven July girls waiting to move up to the birthing paddock. The cria are coming out big and healthy. We have been concerned about just one which was a bit slow getting going but seems to be OK now. Its mother is very dim and keeps losing her and then running around in a demented fashion.
Chas decided to clean out the chick house today and tipped it on its side whereupon a load of blue eggs fell out and smashed, one of the aracauna’s had been sitting in the top bit. Three eggs survived and she has gone back in so maybe she will go on sitting, I hope so because they are such pretty birds and blue eggs still give me a thrill – very sad! In between we have done loads of matings, getting the maidens going. So far they have all sat quite readily and I am amazed by how well the juniors from the show team have grown on now they are shorn. All the rest of our animals are being shorn on July 3 so we will wait until then to remate the new mothers as it is so much easier for the males when they are shorn. We don’t want any accidents with our males and their rude bits.