The Guru Ducks

It is important to have guides to show us the value of every part of life.

Ducks teach me to delight in water and mud. They are thrilled with the storms that make the roads and pastures a sea of mud.

Herding Ducks

Lucy is a natural herder, which is a good thing because these three drakes chase her any time she isn't actively herding or holding them.

Let Me In!

These silly drakes are at the yard gate, wanting in. If they were in, they'd be at the gate wanting out.

Snoozing In The Sun

Ignoring the parade.

Babies and Bunnies

Just to prove I'm not totally fixated on birds, I'm including some rabbit photos.

A hen with her duckling. Because one can't have enough ducks, and hens make better parents. Even if it is frustrating when your chick won't perch.

A hen and her chick. Because the duck eggs didn't hatch, and she snuck a couple of her eggs in when I wasn't looking.

Bunny kits. Until today they've been completely covered (it was very warm today). 

Momma bunny.

Pappa bunny.

Soon to be momma bunny.

My does all have nest boxes, but none have used them. This girl loves her cardboard box. She's just stuffed it with pulled fur.

Duck, Duck, Duck, Hen

Ducks!

My ducklings have grown up! They are beautiful in feather and personality. They are very calm, friendly little birds - a joy to have around.

May you live in interesting times.

Today has been an interesting and exciting day, in all senses of the words.

My keyboard has been dying one key at at time for a while, and recently I lost use of the bottom two rows. Obviously a new keyboard was in order. The Mac Store carries a very interesting one - The Virtually Indestructible Keyboard. They had to ship one from Redmond to Olympia (the closest place for Apple supplies - about 1 hour away). Today I drove up to get it.

This keyboard is very cool, but will take some getting used to. It's silicone based, flexible, and according to the tech at the store even acid spills won't harm it (he used one in a chemistry lab). No more dog hair and dust working their way under the keys.

The second exciting thing is that people in Olympia had East Indies ducklings for sale. These ducks are tiny, black,  and when they get feathers, iridescent. They are hard to get, as hatcheries won't ship ducklings due to their small size. I now have five ducklings! Adorable.

When I got home I was greeted by my Border Collie, loose. The good news was there she was waiting for me, the bad news - well, besides the need for better containment, I wasn't sure what the bad news was.

As I unloaded the groceries I bought at Costco (no trip to Olympia is complete without a Costco run), I noticed that some horses were in the wrong pasture. Exploring further, I found a gate had been opened by the hinge side. 

And then I saw the Arab stallion sitting down. Now that's just wrong, horses don't normally sit. Slipping and sliding down to him (it has rained continuously the past 3 days) I realized he was seriously stuck in the fence. I got the wire cutters and managed to cut him out. He's such a sweet guy, he just stays calm and trusts me to help him. He's a bit scratched up, but otherwise seems fine.

So now I have a gate that needs rehanging and a fence section that needs replacing. But my horses are OK, if unintentionally relocated.

I'm now back inside getting used to this new keyboard and resting up.

The Dabbling Duck

The day started out overcast and not too cool, so I'm out in a t-shirt, vest, and jeans. It starts to rain. I'm a Pacific Northwesterner, what's a little rain. Then it starts to pour. Hail was mixing in with the rain crashing down on me, and I was losing my happy frame of mind when I turned a corner and saw the duck. He was in his element, happy as a duck, dabbling at all the new puddles and enjoying the free shower. It is impossible to be grouchy around ducks.

Excuse me while I go change into something dry.

Ducks

I love having ducks. When it is windy and the rain feels like it came from a fire hose, everyone on the farm looks miserable and heads for shelter - except the ducks. Even the geese seem overwhelmed by the rain, but not the ducks. The ducks run from puddle to puddle, stream to new stream, delighting in the amount of water on the ground. They dabble in the mud and sieve food from runoff. Life doesn't get any better than this. My ducks are happy.

It isn't just my ducks, either. A local farmer's grassy fields are half covered with new ponds - and those ponds are inhabited by wild ducks. I counted 7 of them. Opportunists.

It gives me another perspective on life. What's unpleasant for one is a delight for another. We are all different, and our opinions are all valid. I may not like being out in driving rain, but the ducks love it. I celebrate these differences, and give thanks to the ducks.

Fright and Flight

My horses just had a mini-stampede, frightened from their food by a flock of 2 ducks and their 5 ducklings moving in tight formation. The ducks were (reasonably) worried about being stepped on by huge 4-legged beings, so started avoidance maneuvers, which further upset  the horses.

I managed to herd the ducks into their shelter before the horses came back down the hill. The horses all stopped on their way back to let me know I shouldn't allow such dangerous beasts in their field while they are eating. Never mind that the ducks have been here a week now.

Scary creatures, those ducks.

Ducks!

I've been wanting more Guinea Fowl, but chicks from the hatcheries are pricey and you have to buy a bunch. I called on a local ad, and besides the 4 adult Guineas she had Guinea chicks and Runner ducklings. I couldn't resist, especially when she offered to throw in a pair of Mallard crosses and  one of their chicks. Here's my new flock of ducks, enjoying their new surroundings.

The adults have adopted all the ducklings, making my job much easier. I let them loose after two days inside, and they were thrilled with their new freedom, but returned to the shelter for the night. I'm excited to have ducks again.

Guinea pictures will follow, as soon as I can get decent shots of the very wild adults and the lovely chicks.

Duck in the Headlights

When Berna chased the bantams, the Muscovies were with them. The ducks flew off as Berna ran down the hill. When I finally left for work, I noticed a duck across the county road from my lane. A very shell-shocked duck, looking just like a deer caught in the headlights at night. I pulled into the closest driveway and walked back up to her, talking softly and encouraging her to cross the road and head up to our lane. She did seem to know who I was, and slowly - very slowly - headed in the right direction. Once I got her on the gravel lane she took off flying about 2 feet above the road. Assuming she could find her way from there, I went on to work.

The next morning I realized that only 2 Muscovies were lined up for food. The third must of flown out of her known territory fleeing Berna. Sadly I counted her as gone. The other two wandered around aimlessly for 2 days, obviously missing their friend.

This morning as I was feeding the sheep I heard the susurration of happy ducks. I turned to see three Muscovies doing their greeting dance. They then Egyptian line danced to the next kiddie pool, formed a new circle, and chattered some more. Tails flaired, crests up, and heads moving back and forth they made a happy trio. I'm so glad to have them all home.

Visiting Ducks

The Muscovies have discovered the upper pasture and house. They now come up each morning, test all the water, eat bugs and slugs, then fly on the roof so they can soar back down to the bird area. They also particularly like this stump.

The Ducks Learn To Fly

It started with wing flapping as they left the shelter in the morning, and getting their feet a few inches off the ground. Soon they were up on the tree stumps and cages. This flying is fun stuff!

Now I find them on the roof, or their favorite place, the top of the van. I could wish for a better favorite place. They are big birds now, and sleep outside. They haven't yet discovered the pond. I hope I'm around when they do.

Best Laid Plans...

The sheep shelter.

The sheep water.

Muscovies

The 3 ducklings I bought from my neighbor. It didn't take them long to find every drop of water in the area.