What the Duck!

Grown Waddleston with his beautiful Mallard drake crown

 

We didn't really mean to have ducks, although Ron always wanted them.  We thought ducks had to have a pond, and Suzanne didn't want a pond or the responsibility and expense of a pond.

But all that changed with one shipment from the hatchery.  Enter little Waddleston Q. Duck, the free lone duckling that was included in shipment of baby chicks to provide body warmth for the overnight US Postal Service Live Animal Shipment.

Upon opening the hatchery box of peeping babies, Suzanne exclaimed, "That's not a chicken!  We didn't order any ducks!"

Nope, Waddleston was clearly not a chicken.  He was quite clearly a baby duckling, bill and all.    He was so cute and an instant hit, that he warmed his way into everyone's hearts, chicken and human alike.

And now, years later, our duck adventure has grown and this page is dedicated to chronicling that adventure.

We hope they quack you up as much as they have us.

 

Beautiful Contessa joined our farm last summer while we were on vacation. She and her sweetheart Kurt have become part of the family, joining in the night time pool parties.

When we put everyone to bed, we fill a plastic pool and the waterfowl, who are nocturnal by nature, quacking, honking and flapping in it through the night. 

June 8, 2009 

 
Vestia, Lucky, Daffodil and Ebony flapping in the spraying water

When I turned on the sprinkler this morning to water Ron's budding flowers, I Didn't realize I was watering the ducks. I had unintentionally created an early morning duck social event.. 

Click here to read the entire Watering the Ducks blog
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Mama Duck and Duckling

6/3/2009  Originally, we didn't have  ducks. We don't have a  pond.  We've considered it, but in the end, I've always decide against it.  The neighbors behind have a lovely pond. I can sit in the chicken yard and enjoy it from that viewpoint. It works for me.   I thought ducks had to...
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Give Us This Day Our Daily Egg

11/8/2009   Give Us This Day Our Daily Egg I like starting my day in the chicken yard, letting everyone out of their night time confinement as close to sunrise as possible. Opening the lower flap door of the main chicken house, the very energetic Angelica Frederica Chickadoo, a Transylvanian Naked Neck mixed...
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Dec 22   Muscovy ducks from a nearby pond  have been coming for breakfast.

Slowly they come closer to me and allow me to walk closer to them without flying away. After weeks of offering them food from my hand, a couple brave ones broke rank, came forward and accepted my offering.

Winning and keeping trust is a very precious gift. I hope I honor it accordingly.

Waddleston Q. Duck protects his sweetheart,
Neowana while she sits on a clutch of eggs.

Meet Waddleston Q. Duck, a Mallard Drake, and Neowana, a Partidge Cochin hen.  They are the most unlikely life time sweethearts.  The fact they are different species seems quite irrelevant  They spend their days together, hunting, pecking, sunning and napping. 

At sunset they walk outeer areas of the acreage apart from the rest of the flock, Waddleston quacking and Neowana clucking. He walks her to bed in the chicken house, then goes to his nesting spot in the grasses outside.  The next morning as soon as Neowana comes out of the chicken house, they start all over again.

Have you heard of anything sweeter?

 

One hungry duck waiting for me by the gate this morning.

Over the summer, a large brood of mixed breed ducks hatched next door. There are 5 remaining ducks. They travel as a group between our two farms all day and night, always ready when the next meal is being served. Haven't named them, but do enjoy their visits.

With deep sorrow, we said goodbye to our dear sweet Annie Goat.  Born with hereditary arthritis, after 9 years, her bones were just too injured for her to get around.  Sweet dreams and having grazing in the the life beyond.


Happy 100th Anniversary to the Girls Scouts of America.
 
Thank you for changing so many lives and we wish you continued success in the century ahead.

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Happy Quacky, New Year!  Hatchlings Katy Kate Kate, a crested Khaki Campbell duckling, and her snugly chicky siblings wish you a cozy & well-fluffed 2012.  They're celebrating "It's Okay to Be Different" month all year long.  Will you celebrate with them?
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Lizzie and Razor grow very fast.  Within six quick months, they are adult size and finding their ways around the entire farm. 

While on a Chicken Yard Tours, Pre-schooler Ryan and her friends find Lizzie Goose to be very soft, very noisy and very entertaining.  Tours are lead by Rooster Ron and/or Chickadoo Suz. and include three basic activities: classroom discussion, hands-on chicken yard eggs-perience, and art & creative eggs-pression.   

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24 Days of Gratitude: Day #21 - Toys, Past Times, Diversions

24 Days of Gratitude: Day #21 - Toys, Past Times, Diversions So thankful and any and all of these, especially my time with the animals and my computer diversions and friends. They do entertain me so well and fill my life with eggstra joy. Razor, our African Gray Goose, on the other wing, has a very...
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Our very talented acrobat, 6 month old Lizzie, a Chinese White goose. Her sister, Razor, an African Grey goose, watches unimpressed.

 After following me from the chicken yard into the back yard, Busy Lizzie, a Chinese White Goose, is busy inspecting everything, including the camera. Lizzie, you crack me up and make me laugh everyday! Thanks.

If you've enjoyed this game,  you'll really like our book of games and puzzles, Chicken Scratches, an Activity Book of Games and Puzzles for Eggheads of All Ages.