It’s hot. Like… bake-an-egg-on-a-metal-roof hot.
So naturally, we’re on full-time hydration duty out here—mainly for the animals, but also for our own sanity.
Ducks & Geese:
The ducks are basically living in their pool these days—and honestly, I get it. We’ve got a hose running into their pool during the day, with the overflow draining into a little pond we’ve been digging out in their bigger area. It’s still a work-in-progress, but they’re loving the extra water and muddy chaos while we shape it into something more permanent.
Also—one of our ducks (our seasoned lady who we call “Mama”) is back to laying eggs! She’s been with us a while, and it’s sweet to see her settle back into the rhythm. No sign of the others laying yet, but with how hot it’s been, I don’t blame them for holding off.
The geese are hanging tough too. They mostly lounge near the shaded edges of the duck pool and get a little cranky if the water’s not to their liking or if their feeders are getting low. We’re making sure everyone stays hydrated, cool, and a little bit spoiled—with frozen peas, fruit chunks, and shady rest spots. There was a scare the other day when my husband went out to check on them. They were screaming and going bezerk…. there was a HAWK watching them closely. They’re covered overhead so the hawk wasn’t going to get them, but they made sure that we knew something was creeping them out.
Nutmeg the Rex Rabbit:
Nutmeg is beautifully settled into his permanent home—and we’ve done our best to make it summer-friendly. He’s got solid shade coverage, good airflow, and a steady supply of frozen fruit treats and cool water throughout the day. He seems happy, curious, and most importantly, comfortable despite the heat.
Suggestions?
Do you have better heat ideas or snacks that we can give the animals? Any easier ideas to keep them safe in the heat? Let us know!
As always, thanks for reading!
~G’s Homestead