The Odd Bird Farm Stand

20/04/2025

Hello Friends!

This week I have:
Rainbow chicken eggs from happy chickens that have free range over 1/2 acre of pasture and forest - $7 / doz

Plants
Strawberry Blonde Marigold Starts - $1 each
White borage starts - $2 each
Walking onions (3.5 inch pots) - $3 each

Please message me to arrange pick up (nothing is left out at the stand, you have to message first)

Thanks!

Send a message to learn more

20/04/2025

The last boxes of bees went to their new homes today! As you can see from the ones I kept here, they are already very busy building little homes for next year’s babies. All of the yellow around the entrances is pollen from different bee mamas working on their nests.

15/04/2025

Last call for Mason Bees! If you were hoping for some, a final bee delivery will happen this weekend. It is time to release the bees!

Send a message to learn more

03/04/2025

A customer forgot to pick up their box of bees and I was a little late bringing them back inside to the fridge, so when I opened the box I saw a few already emerged and many in the process of emerging. They definitely feel it is time to wake up!

It also shows you what a great hatch rate we are having with our cocoons!

I have limited cocoons left and expect to be sold out within the week. If you are hoping for some mason bees please do reach out asap!

Yesterday alone 150 baby bees went to their new homes!

02/04/2025

Hello Friends

We are starting to run low on Mason Bee cocoons. We are seeing excellent hatch rates thus far. It is going to be a busy guzzing season!

They are $20 a box with 20 cocoons. Punch a pencil sized hole in the box, hang it somewhere sheltered where it won't get wet (preferably on or near a mason bee house) and watch baby bees emerge over the coming weeks.

I can do delivery to Comox Valley and Campbell River if distance is a barrier for you.

Send a message to learn more

21/03/2025

*Please note, I do not leave anything out at my farm stand until arrangements have been made to pick up. Please pm me to make arrangements before coming to the stand. I don't want anyone to make a disappointing trip!*

It is that time of year again! Llyr’s Bees is now selling our wee boxes of Mason bees. We will be doing delivery to town on occasion so if trying out to Black Creek is a barrier for you please reach out.

This years’ prices are:
1 box and 20 bees for $20

Cocoons are an even mix of male and females and have been screen for parasites.

If you want more bees we can add them for $1 per additional cocoon.

The boxes are great for storing in the fridge and when you are ready to release, punch a pencil-sized hole in the side (carefully) and place the box in a safe space facing the morning sun… and over the next few days and weeks watch your bees emerge!
The best time to put out cocoons is when temperatures hit 12’C consistently during the day and/or when you see the dandelions and maple trees in bloom.

Pm to arrange pick up / drop off.
We can do cash, e-transfer (prior to delivery) and tap.

Currently also available:
Chicken eggs ($7/ doz)
Duck eggs -limited supplies- ($9 / doz)
Walking onions -a few bulbs per pot- ($5)
Crosnes starts - a few bulbs per pot- ($5)
Jerusalem artichokes - a tuber or two per pot- ($5)

Soon to come: (all in limited quantities)
Perennial potato onion starts
Perennial babington leek starts
9-Star Perennial broccoli starts
Strawberry Fields Marigolds

23/02/2025

Hello Friends

I have 4 dozen chicken and 1 dozen duck eggs if anyone is interested, please pm me and I can leave them out for you.

All happy, pastured birds who get to roam over an acre of property freely.

Nat

Send a message to learn more

01/02/2025

Chickens are slowly starting to lay again. Apparently the green-egg layers are especially motivated.

I have one dozen chicken and one dozen duck eggs up for grabs today.

Due to the ever raising feed costs eggs are now $7 per dozen for chicken and $9 for duck.

Thank you for understanding

15/09/2024

Did you know at the Odd Bird we take in all sorts of creatures with beaks? Some of you who have visited may have had the chance to visit with my herd of rescue tortoises. Last month we took in a new little shelled friend as well.

Nugget the turtle has been with us a few weeks now and what a few weeks it has been. She came in with fairly significant shell rot, an overgrown beak that limited eating and long nails. Thankfully we JUST HAPPEN to have a former Tortonto Zoo reptile vet who specializes in turtles living in Nanaimo. He was able to sedate her (not an easy task with turtle's metabolism), run blood work, re-shape her beak and give her a mani/ pedi.

She will be treated for shell rot for the next month at least but her bloodwork came back great (blood cell count, liver function and kidney function great). Yesterday she had a salad of mulberries, kale, silkworms and soldier fly larvae. Hopefully from here on in she's on the up and up.

31/08/2024

This handsome lad is a fun mix between a runner duck and a Muscovy hen. He will be sterile and won’t be able to produce offspring of his own (which I don’t mind on account of how many ducks there seem to be).

He enjoys the company of the other young Muscovy and can be sent to a new home with one of them or another female runner cross.

Pick up Black Creek or may be willing to drive.

Must be able to provide them with shelter, clean water and food and some opportunity to free range as they love fresh w**d and grasses.

31/08/2024

I have these two looking for a new home. Dumpling in the foreground was given to me by MARS when someone mistook him for a wild goose. I am certain he is actually a young male Muscovy. The black Muscovy hen behind him is also looking for a home. Both are used to chickens and ducks of various kinds.

Must be able to provide shelter, food, clean water and the option to free range as they love fresh w**ds and grass. Either duck may also be paired with Blue, another young Muscovy looking for a home.

Pick up Black Creek

31/08/2024

This beautiful blue boy (and his pal Dumpling in the background) are looking for homes. Blue was raised by a chicken and so he has no issues there with mixed flocks. I do have some females he could be adopted with or he could go with Dumpling (another male I believe) as these two seem to very much enjoy each others company.

Pick up Black Creek. May be willing to travel.

31/08/2024

I have two ‘mystic blue’ cockerels from Wet Coast farm. While their adopted father is fine with them for now, we do have too many boys. If anyone is looking for a new rooster or two with great temperaments and an interesting look, one or both of these dudes may be for you!

26/08/2024

Hey Friends

I am noticing an abundance in my yard as I start late-summer clean up.

I have more Black Elderberries then I need, maybe someone would love to use some for elderberry syrups to keep the winter viruses at bay.

I have a small collection of walking onion bulbs.. maybe you would like to start your own green onion patch?

I have Jerusalem artichoke tubers looking for new places to set roots.

I just finished my annual saving of the avocado sprouts from my compost... so a few baby trees could be your next indoor plant?

I have some ice cream bean seedlings and yellow dragonfruit seedlings also looking for new homes. They have to be kept indoors during the cold months but are interesting edible plants for the indoor plant collector looking for some unique additions to their collection!

If any of these call to you please reach out! In return I'd appreciate a small donation towards the bird food and upkeep however if you are not able to donate that is fine too. We are all doing what we can.

Pick up Black Creek.

Send a message to learn more

25/08/2024

Continuing my previous post about the Odd Bird Farmstand trying to find some homes for some of our healthy and robust rescued birds, I wanted to make a specific post about a flock of Welsh Harlequins I am considering letting go to just the right home.

They are a flock of 4 females, 1 inter-sexed duck (formally female) and 1 male. Age ranges from 2 to ? as they came from various locations and scenarios. The male is unrelated to any of the females.

The intersexed duck came to me as female but has transitioned to male calls, colouring and feathers and has stopped laying. This is a rare but possible event when the duck's o***y is no longer viable and the body reverts to male hormones. They don't act like a male duck (doesn't chase females around or mount them) so the hassles of multiple males is not an issue. My research tells me that ducks like this don't live long but they have been like this for 3 years and still going strong.

One of the females as a permanent beak deformity. She is about 4.5-5 years old and I've had her for 3 of those years. She is perfectly capable of drinking and feeding but does not like to swim in open water as she cannot hold her breath under water. She usually waits for her flock mates on the pond shore when they go swimming. She requires a water bowl and / or small kiddy pool to drink and bathe.

One female duck was treated for a foot infection (not bumble foot) earlier this year and it seems to have resolved.
I adore this flock and was going to keep them for myself but since they are my most hardy and independent, rehoming them would allow me to save space for more of my disabled birds that are harder to rehome. They learn routines quick and I usually let them out to forage for the day and they return to me by evening or often earlier as they want their duck food. They are very gentle on my garden plants (much better than my muscovies) and are great at keeping the slugs down. I have an easy time herding them with a stick, guiding them where I want them to go.

I would consider rehoming them to a farm or average that:

- has a pond or bodies of water for them to swim in (they love foraging in the water)

- gives them the chance to free range and eat wild greens/w**ds.

- will keep the group together and not cull the inter-sex or disabled duck.

- Provide them with a predator-safe shelter at night and through the worst storms and seasons.

- Let them live out their lives or agree to bring them back to me if you can no longer care for them.

If you want an amazing group of foragers that will be gentle on your garden, eat many a pest, and provide you with tasty duck eggs then this might be a good group for you.

12/08/2024

Hello Friends

My flock of odd birds has grown beyond my reasonable capacity to care for them. Summer is fine but I always look to winter; Will I have enough coop space to keep everyone safe and warm during the worst storms? Does everyone have enough space in the run when I can't let them free range for the day, is my male-to-female ratio one that keeps the females sane?

I take in a lot of birds. I have taken in two more this week alone. The majority of them are dumped birds left to fend for themselves in parking lots, in nature parks, or this week it was the beach.

To keep taking in unwanted and disabled birds, I have to make space. I am completely at capacity now and it is time to find homes for some of my birds that are ready for new homes.

If you are looking for a few birds for your property, please do reach out. I have many lovely muscovys, and a few other breeds as well.

All I ask is that you provide them with a safe shelter at night and through the winter from harsh conditions, and insure they always have clean food, water and be treated with the dignity and respect that all living beings deserve.

I have a few males that I am happy to rehome with a group of females. I would prefer to send them to new homes in bonded groups. Some of the birds are disabled or come with interesting stories and I will only give those bonded groups to people who are ready to accept ALL of them.

If you do have space for a few new bird friends, they will reward you will slug control, maybe some eggs, funny antics, excited good morning greetings and garden companionship.

Please do reach out if you are curious!

Nat

Pictures of various members of the flock and their tasty eggs.

17/06/2024

Waiting for the vet to give this girl a chance.

One of our rescued Welsh Harlequin ducks has an infected foot. The first round of treatments didn't work but the vet is hopeful the next round might work and doesn't think we should give up hope yet.

Your support of The Odd Bird Farm Stand helps us pay for vet visits like these so this gal and others like her might get a second chance to live out her life with her flock.

23/05/2024

Thank you Comox Valley Collective for asking to feature our little flock of odd birds in your latest issue!

Soon, we acquired three Welsh Harlequin ducks from a local farmer. They love to swim in the natural bodies of water on our property and are great foragers,