Well once again I found myself looking at the chicks and ducklings at TSC. I have yet to purchase any animals from TSC, but I have ended up with 3 rescued birds. Ivan is the latest. The manager recognized me when I was asking her if she could make an exception to the 6 chick rule, because one of the chicks I rescued was a tiny bantam chick. She is lonely by herself, as she it too tiny to put in with my large chicks. Since we couldn’t get just one and I wasn’t about to buy 6, we turned to leave. Knowing that I don’t mind taking on sick chicks, she offered to give me a lame duck. Um…a duck? I have no idea what to do with a duck! I have no pond…no pen for a duck. I have chickens and guineas and large livestock. Where am I going to put a duck? My children all looked at me with big ‘Puss in boots’ eyes. Before I knew what was happening, I was rushing to the check out so I could get the duck in the warmth of the car.
I knew my husband wasn’t going to be happy with me bringing home yet another bird…but especially a duck! I was right. He frowned when he heard it chirp and thought it was another chick. He scowled when I told him it was a duck and mumbled “well I guess I get to build a duck enclosure.” He stopped what he was doing when I told him that the duck had nowhere else to go. He knew that there was something up. He walked over the box and looked in. There he was…quiet and looking up at the big guy. My husband took one look at his deformed leg and said “well he has a chance to be happy here.” He proceeded to pick up Ivan and in baby speak said “Nice to meet you, lil fella.”
Meet our homestead’s first duck, Ivan. I have no clue what kind of duck he is or how exactly to care for him, outside of non-medicated starter. I am not even sure he is a he.
What do we do with a duck that swims in circles and hops on one leg? We love him, of course!
Ivan on his monkey pillow.
Ivan hopping to my son.
Ivan right where he wants to be
I knew my husband wasn’t going to be happy with me bringing home yet another bird…but especially a duck! I was right. He frowned when he heard it chirp and thought it was another chick. He scowled when I told him it was a duck and mumbled “well I guess I get to build a duck enclosure.” He stopped what he was doing when I told him that the duck had nowhere else to go. He knew that there was something up. He walked over the box and looked in. There he was…quiet and looking up at the big guy. My husband took one look at his deformed leg and said “well he has a chance to be happy here.” He proceeded to pick up Ivan and in baby speak said “Nice to meet you, lil fella.”
Meet our homestead’s first duck, Ivan. I have no clue what kind of duck he is or how exactly to care for him, outside of non-medicated starter. I am not even sure he is a he.
What do we do with a duck that swims in circles and hops on one leg? We love him, of course!
Ivan on his monkey pillow.
Ivan hopping to my son.
Ivan right where he wants to be
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