Easter Gift at the Farmette
As Terry and Jeannie sat out on the deck this morning, to their vast surprise one of the ducks came waddling out with eight - count 'em - 8 baby ducks in tow. They didn't even know she was setting nor where. Jeannie, ofcourse, went into ecstatic ooohs and aaahs and "so darling, so cute" exclamations.
Both Jeannie and Terry recognized the danger to the babies if left roaming free in the chickenyard with the mama duck. Protecting them was imperative. Then that's when the fight started.
Terry's solution was to take them away from the mother duck and put the babies in a cage.
The babies huddle in terror at the far side of the cage, as far away from the giant humans as posssible. This is the country folks, a rural area. There are hawks and owls that can swoop down and snatch up baby critters. Chicken snakes love baby chicks and ducks. Also rodents, raccoons, possums, etc. that delight in a tasty baby-duck-snack. The chicken house has not been rebuilt since Hurricane Ike and is not safe for babies.
Jeannie wailed and caterwauled how cruel that was, the mama loved her babies, the babies needed their mother, waah, waah, boohoo, boohoo. Worn down by female hysterics, Terry yielded to the pressure. So for now Mama and babies are safely established in Jo's bathtub temporarily until a better solution can be found. [In Jo and Lloyd's absence - in Iraq - the master suite is not being used. The master bath has one of those big square step-up tubs (with a separate walk-in shower across the room). Until a pen is constructed to foil predators, the tub will suffice, can be readily cleaned and sterilized. Not an ideal solution, but ok for a day or two. At least Mama and babies are together and safe. ]
In the photos below you can see Mama shielding her babies from the giants that captured and imprisoned them in a bath tub. Now Jeannie has more critters to babysit and care for several times a day. "Aunt Jeannie" accepts the chore, very happy to have won the battle to keep Mama Duck and babies together.
This mama duck is small and cannot hover all 8 babies but she tries.
Happy Easter, Everyone.
COMMENTS:
Both Jeannie and Terry recognized the danger to the babies if left roaming free in the chickenyard with the mama duck. Protecting them was imperative. Then that's when the fight started.
Terry's solution was to take them away from the mother duck and put the babies in a cage.
The babies huddle in terror at the far side of the cage, as far away from the giant humans as posssible. This is the country folks, a rural area. There are hawks and owls that can swoop down and snatch up baby critters. Chicken snakes love baby chicks and ducks. Also rodents, raccoons, possums, etc. that delight in a tasty baby-duck-snack. The chicken house has not been rebuilt since Hurricane Ike and is not safe for babies.
Jeannie wailed and caterwauled how cruel that was, the mama loved her babies, the babies needed their mother, waah, waah, boohoo, boohoo. Worn down by female hysterics, Terry yielded to the pressure. So for now Mama and babies are safely established in Jo's bathtub temporarily until a better solution can be found. [In Jo and Lloyd's absence - in Iraq - the master suite is not being used. The master bath has one of those big square step-up tubs (with a separate walk-in shower across the room). Until a pen is constructed to foil predators, the tub will suffice, can be readily cleaned and sterilized. Not an ideal solution, but ok for a day or two. At least Mama and babies are together and safe. ]
In the photos below you can see Mama shielding her babies from the giants that captured and imprisoned them in a bath tub. Now Jeannie has more critters to babysit and care for several times a day. "Aunt Jeannie" accepts the chore, very happy to have won the battle to keep Mama Duck and babies together.
This mama duck is small and cannot hover all 8 babies but she tries.
Happy Easter, Everyone.
COMMENTS:
posted by Anonymous @ 4/11/2009 03:30:00 AM
Delightful! What a wonderful sign of new life, a true Easter blessing!
Saturday, April 11, 2009 5:38:00 AM
Thank you, Nick. I think so, too. Nature takes its course in the spring and it is always delightful when the various new hatches arrive. The baby geese are "Baby Hueys", so much larger than the baby chicks and ducks, but fuzzy little beings nevertheless.The baby ducks are the first arrivals this year, just in time for Easter.
Saturday, April 11, 2009 6:36:00 AM
Granny, I'm so glad to see your blog!
Saturday, April 11, 2009 9:30:00 AM
Welcome, Subversive Librarian. We are glad to have you visit us.
On this blog three of us are co-administrators. I am Worried American, Granny is Granny Ann, and the third is Gadfly. Granny Ann's personal blog is http:rocrebelgranny.blogspot.com.
She will be glad to hear from you.
Do come back again.
Sunday, April 12, 2009 5:39:00 PM
Subversive and I are old friends (one I hadn't heard from in a while). I dropped by her blog and left a message.
Happy Easter to all.
Sunday, April 12, 2009 6:30:00 PM
i had ducks when i was a kid- but we moved and had to give them to my neighbor. who ate them. :) luckily, i was too young to realize. these are sweet :)
Monday, April 13, 2009 7:27:00 AM