I told everyone about the Tall Dark Stranger who visited our home and decided to stay. If you didn't read that, I recommend you do. This story will make more sense. Just click on the link and then come back. http://www.grangerlandrfd.com/tall-dark-stranger.html
The Tall Dark Stranger stole the heart of a young single mother who was working hard to hatch a nest full of eggs. She forsook that family and took up with him. Well such actions have consequences. In short, these are the consequences.
The Tall Dark Stranger stole the heart of a young single mother who was working hard to hatch a nest full of eggs. She forsook that family and took up with him. Well such actions have consequences. In short, these are the consequences.
We had seen these eggs and knew that she was sitting on them. We weren't really sure that they were his but hoped so. For probably at least 3 or 4 generations all of our ducks had been related. When they hatched it erased all doubt.
Because of her behavior with the previous nest of eggs we didn’t entirely trust her.
One night we moved her and her eggs into this little room. It was big enough and designed to resist efforts of any predators. We thought she was safe and that it was secure enough that she wouldn't leave her eggs. I was happy with this arrangement but she considered me to be just another predator. In human terms “some folks just don’t know which side their bread is buttered on”. I guess in ducklish that would be "she forgot who throws out the feed".
Because of her behavior with the previous nest of eggs we didn’t entirely trust her.
One night we moved her and her eggs into this little room. It was big enough and designed to resist efforts of any predators. We thought she was safe and that it was secure enough that she wouldn't leave her eggs. I was happy with this arrangement but she considered me to be just another predator. In human terms “some folks just don’t know which side their bread is buttered on”. I guess in ducklish that would be "she forgot who throws out the feed".
Just a little better look. Of course I couldn’t leave them here. A perfect place to hatch eggs but once they hatch you need to move on. They could probably get out of the nest but could be hurt and sure couldn't get back. Besides, Mama will keep them warm but we needed to be the ones that made sure they had easy access to food and water.
Of course there were consequences. I enjoy showing the wounds that come with this type of benevolent heroism. Too bad Sally doesn't feel at all sympathetic. That is unless "old fool" has become some sort of sympathetic or loving expression.
That's what this cage is made for. If you read any of the stories about our ducks (muscovey chronicles on the contents bar) you have seen this cage before. The ducks grow here and actually crowd mama out of the cage. That normally takes about two weeks and they do it by pestering her till she is about nuts. We once had a duck that hatched 29 eggs (community collection) and they drove her away really fast.
We started with seven babies and we now have five. It's probably my fault that we lost two of them. They grew faster than normal and, therefore, the cage became too small. One was pecked to death by the others. That was the light colored duckling. One of the dark ones had tail feathers pulled.
I cut three of them loose and put three (including the pecked one) in another enclosure that was larger. Too late. By about the third morning the pecked one was dead. I opened the door, two left, and the five of them have been roaming (generally together) ever since.
We started with seven babies and we now have five. It's probably my fault that we lost two of them. They grew faster than normal and, therefore, the cage became too small. One was pecked to death by the others. That was the light colored duckling. One of the dark ones had tail feathers pulled.
I cut three of them loose and put three (including the pecked one) in another enclosure that was larger. Too late. By about the third morning the pecked one was dead. I opened the door, two left, and the five of them have been roaming (generally together) ever since.
Someone kept hanging around. I really don’t know if he was interested in mama or the babies. Probably some of each but he did hang around. After a couple weeks mama was going to go nuts (as predicted) so I evicted her. After that, mama hung around but daddy did not. Mama actually was a good role model. She was under the cage at all times and, I think, would willingly have sacrificed herself in the event of a predator.
Daddy hung around for awhile but soon wandered off in the company of another young blond. I just recently saw all three on the shore of Lake Wilcox (a future story) together. I have heard that Geese are monogamous but can assure you that ducks are not. They tend to pair up in a casual pairing and this is a little unusual for our flock.
I guess the Tall Dark Stranger needs to be renamed. I can't think of a good one right away. He will probably just be TDS if he is mentioned again. One certainty. He is hardly a stranger here as he is the father of perhaps 10-20% of our current flock. We sold some babies in the last group or the percentage would not be so high. These guys are different. They started their freedom walking more upright. Sally said it was more like a penguin than a duck. That seems to have changed and they walk more like the others now. What hasn't changed is that they seem more independent and wild. It's funny that they avoid the rest of the flock but panic when separated from each other. Hope they stick around because I think it will be fun to watch them assimilate. They still hang by themselves and the older ducks slap them down.
Ed. We posted this story yesterday. Last night I heard a banging and rattling on the porch. I found the raccoon trap was sprung. Inside it were two of these babies. I have grown used to seeing them traipse around the yard single file. Apparently they did the same thing here with the first two getting caught. Wish I had a picture. Talk about clueless.
I guess the Tall Dark Stranger needs to be renamed. I can't think of a good one right away. He will probably just be TDS if he is mentioned again. One certainty. He is hardly a stranger here as he is the father of perhaps 10-20% of our current flock. We sold some babies in the last group or the percentage would not be so high. These guys are different. They started their freedom walking more upright. Sally said it was more like a penguin than a duck. That seems to have changed and they walk more like the others now. What hasn't changed is that they seem more independent and wild. It's funny that they avoid the rest of the flock but panic when separated from each other. Hope they stick around because I think it will be fun to watch them assimilate. They still hang by themselves and the older ducks slap them down.
Ed. We posted this story yesterday. Last night I heard a banging and rattling on the porch. I found the raccoon trap was sprung. Inside it were two of these babies. I have grown used to seeing them traipse around the yard single file. Apparently they did the same thing here with the first two getting caught. Wish I had a picture. Talk about clueless.
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