Olly Astro and Janet are always excited to come out of the aviary when I get home from work, because I have corn treats waiting for them in the yard. O’Malley of course helps me do everything. He thinks he is very helpful.
Flapper had his treats in the pool.
Then I told him a bedtime story and tucked him into his nest.
“Once upon a time there was a sweeeeet duckling named Flapper.”
Good night everyone.
Flapper is a very good listener… especially when I am telling him about the watermelon treats he will get to eat on Tuesday.
Flapper loves to preen his feathers when his pool is fresh and clean. But he does not like to share his fresh clean pool, and will charge anyone who comes near it… like Olivia the chicken.
We’ve been quiet here at Flapper’s house, but just because we’ve been busy. All is well. Flapper’s beak is peeling a bit, but that’s normal. Doesn’t hurt him. Happens once a year. Chewy is around, but he hasn’t posed for any photos this week. Olivia too.
It’s been kind of hot in Seattle, so Janet the chicken has been trying to stay cool by fanning out her feathers. She insists it is very civilized, but I think it looks goofy.
Olly Astro thinks it looks a little goofy, too. But it’s pretty hot in Seattle.
So eventually she decided to join in the fun. A nice dust bath didn’t cool her down, but it cleaned her up.
I have been staying cool with fruit icees made from fresh fruit from the local farmer’s market. Olivia shares them with me but the other chickens don’t care for them.
Olivia and Olly Astro still don’t get along too well, but they mostly avoid each other. As you can see, most everyone gets along okay as long as I keep an eye on them.
The hot weather has caused Petunia to start molting. She leaves a pile of feathers everywhere she goes.
She’s still pretty though, even if she’s missing a few feathers.
Simon is doing well. He loves hanging in the yard in the warm weather, and he prefers the heat to the rain.
That’s just about all the updates from here at Flapper’s house. We’re doing a lot of maintenance work on the yard, so we haven’t had much time for the interwebs. We’re having a tree taken out, trimming up the ivy, keeping everything watered and hoping it cools down soon.
We hope you have a good week. Chewy and Olivia send their best. They promise to pose for more photos this week.
And Flapper says, “stay cool.”
Chewy wanted to check in tonight and just say hello.
Flapper was not quite as interested in chatting. He is not too fond of the camera.
Everyone is doing well. We’re having some major yard work done in and around Flapper’s night pen and aviary, so the ducks — and the people — are a little busy these days. But once that’s settled we’ll be back with more fun and more photos.
Quacks.
Sometimes people we don’t really know, but who follow Flapper’s blog, want to drop by and meet him. This past weekend two nice people came to meet Flapper and they brought him treats. They know the way to his heart. Check out this video of us all just hanging out and talking.
It was private when I posted it before, but I think it’s fixed now.
Quack on.
Hey, O’Malley. What’s up?
“I want to take a swim in Flapper’s pool. Do you think he’ll mind?”
I think he might be okay with it if you ask first… oops! Too late.
“Yahoooo!”
“That was a good splash.”
And a far-reaching splash, too. I am all wet now.
“Make room for me!”
“Cannonball!”
“WOohoo!”
“Super splash!”
Nice one, Petunia.
“What’s that sound?”
Oh! Um… hmm, I’m not sure, Flapper.
“If they are in my pool I don’t want to know. Just promise me you’ll clean out the muscovy cooties.”
Okay, Flapper. I promise.
“I can’t look. I’m going to make myself invisible by hiding my head. What?! What do you mean that doesn’t make me invisible? Are you sure?”
“Aaaah, that was a great swim.”
“Wake me up when my pool is clean again.”
Okay, Flapper. Sweet dreams buddy.
It’s hot weather for Seattle this week! Today it’ll get up to 90-degrees, which is pretty hot for here, especially because most homes and businesses don’t have air conditioning! Flapper stays cool by taking extra swims in his pool.
How do you beat the heat?
Chewy took a bath in the tree trunk pool today, and then showed off his feathers as he preened them.
First he got some oil from his oil gland on top of his tail.
Then he spread the oil onto his long wing feathers.
Some feathers were hard to reach, but he managed to preen them all.
He even scratched his chin feathers, which gave me a close-up view of his fuzzy butt.
Finally it was time to flap off the last of the water droplets.
Chewy even flapped to show off his buff chest feathers. He has been working out.
The bright sunlight showed off Chewy’s colorful feather details once he was all clean and preened.
Lookin’ good, Choo Choo. Right down to the last freckle.
“Thanks.”
After preening, Chewy laid down next to his wingman Flapper for a nice Saturday afternoon nap.
I was laying down on the other side of Flapper, so we all took a nap together.
On the other side of me, even O’Malley settled down for a nap with Petunia and Olivia the chicken.
Simon gave us the stink eye from across the yard, because he doesn’t like to nap near flapping birds. Too bad, Simon.
We hope everyone had as nice of a Saturday afternoon as we did.
Happy summer weekend, from Chewy and the whole crew.
Flapper thought you would like this photo, even though it is blurry.
As you can see, Olivia is good buddies now with Chewy and Flapper. The three of them are always together, especially Chewy and Olivia. Flapper can’t walk very well anymore because of his arthritis, so Olivia joins Chewy on bug hunts and they get along really well together.
We’ll always miss Racquel, but it is good to see that life goes on and new friendships can help to ease the grief of friends who are gone.
In other news, we rescued a new kind of animal.
Okay maybe it’s not an animal, but it does need some rescuing. This is my childhood motorcycle. My dad brought it to me when he came to Seattle for my graduation. I am planning to restore it back to good working condition and use it to get lattes and breakfast and such. Maybe we’ll even add a sidecar for Flapper (kidding).
It is an early-1970s Indian motorcycle with an Italian engine. Probably 80cc engine. We’ll know more when we get it cleaned up a bit and do some research. For now it lives in the living room. Yes… the living room. 
Flapper is off to the vet today for a quick check-up to make sure he is doing well, and also to get some medication for his arthritis.
Have a good weekend everyone!
