Swimming in the burn

Since Otto's first taste of freedom, I have been introducing him to the burn that runs adjacent to the run. At first it took a while for Otto to go in but now that he's got used to the idea there is no keeping him out. He swims up and down a small stretch of the burn for 2 - 3 hours at a time and loves every minute.

I've been throwing in fresh fish for him to find, and he seems to be having a good success rate at finding them. At first when he found a fish he would head back to his holt to eat it. After a few days he is now quite happy to eat them on the spot. He has found a spot on the bank just next to the bridge, where he sometimes goes for a munch. He must feel safe there as it is quite overgrown. 

He seems to be interested in everything and anything! Yesterday he went into the walled garden and grabbed a plastic plant pot. He then proceeded to carry it into the burn where he played with it for ages. When he swims underwater, all there is to see of him is a trail of bubbles! very funny to watch. He seems to be really enjoying his trips to the burn..hopefully it wont be long before he visits the sea! When I want him back into his holt I call his name and tempt him home with a fish or two. He seems to want to go back, which makes life easier for both of us.

Otto met the Hens today while he was out and about...he didn't lick his lips and didn't seem to mind them at all. Must say i'm rather glad of that.

Now that Otto is using the burn, it seems a bit of a waste of time and energy getting the large pool ready for him. I'll have a think about it. Maybe it will be useful to give him a bit of depth to his swimming. Perhaps prepare him for a bit of deep sea diving?