The Odd Bird Farm Stand

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,

23/05/2024

It is haskap berry season! I love how these early-ripening berry kicks off foraging-for-my-food season. The ducks love them too!

Duck and chicken eggs are in full swing and money raised goes to support our flock of odd birds! This runner hen was dumped in a parking lot in Black Creek and left to fend for herself but is now enjoying life a free range bird with plenty of friends and food.

20/04/2024

Edit: Wow! Thank you for all of the interest. I will have to go down the list and fulfill orders before I can make any more commitments. I appreciate your business! (we definitely have tabacco, tomatoes and wild dagga left for now).

Garden Clean Up! I am in them middle of cleaning up my greenhouse and thinning out seedlings. This is your chance to get some great deals on plants! Please note these are small starts, not yet potted up into 4 inch pots. They will be

transplanted later this month and the price will increase accordingly.

Pick up is Black Creek, I am not doing deliveries this weekend sorry. Please pm to arrange your order! I have a pick up stand I leave orders out at once confirmed.

Plant Starts:
> Wild Dagga: amazing flower for hummingbirds: $1 needs to be hardened off
> Clary Sage: biennial, amazing smell, self seeding and amazing for pollinators! $1 - can go out now
> Moldovian Balm aka Dragonhead balm: Great for pollinators, lemon-flavour, can be made into a tea. $1 - can go out now
> Blueberry cherry tomatoes: $2 - must be kept inside for now
> Virginia To***co starts: $2 - must be kept inside for now
> Dragonfruit cactus starts: $5 - must be kept inside for now
Sold > 9-Star Perrenial Broccoli: $1
> Kalidascope Kale: $1
Sold> Luffa Plants: $2 - must be kept inside for now

Extras in the Garden:
Sold > 1 baby issai kiwi - self-pollinating. $5
Sold > 3 paw paw seedlings - parents were likely mango variety. $14
Sold > 1 Elderberry cutting, established with roots - is from last year, well rooted, needs to be put in the ground asap $5
> 1 unknown variety of rosé grape, well established in a 10 gallon pot: $10
> 1 sumac (I believe it is tiger sumac but no guarantee) $5

14/04/2024

Hi Friends

I have a few dozen chicken ($6) and duck eggs ($8) out at the stand for your Sunday brunch!

2491 Emmerson road, first house on the left (you will see the little farm stand). Leave the money in the bin or e-transfer to [email protected]

Nat
The Odd Bird Farm Stand

05/04/2024

Hello Friends

Plant season is just around the corner and I am going to have some fun and unusual plant offerings this year! Please keep an eye on this page if you like neat things you may not have seen elsewhere before.

Some of the plants on my list of offerings will include: Olympic fig plants (and maybe a few other varieties) Virginia to***co seedlings, dragon fruit cactus, wild daga (great for hummingbirds), Moldovian balm / dragon balm, hardy blue hibiscus, candy roaster squash, ice cream bean plants (tropical), 9-star broccoli, ground cherries and the list goes on and on.

I have Dragon fruit cacti seedlings NOW for $5 each, otherwise, keep an eye out!

17/03/2024

The birds seem to be celebrating St. Patty's day by laying more green eggs!

I have a few dozen duck ($8) and chicken ($6) out at the egg stand if anyone is looking for eggs today!

Laid by well-loved, free range birds.

Farmstand is found at 2491 Emmerson Road

Leave money in the Rubbermaid or e-transfer to: [email protected]

14/03/2024

I have a few dozen Chicken ($6) and Duck ($8) eggs available! If you are interested let me know and I can put them out at the egg stand or drop off if I happen to be traveling through that area in the near future.

19/02/2024

Less than two-weeks away!

Odd Bird will be there with willows, fig plants, tea plants, elderberry, prickly pear cacti, and Llyr's Bees will be there with Mason Bees and pollinator-friendly seeds he's collected.

See you then!