Mal the Mallard drake passed away last night. He was 10 years old. Looks like dad won't be getting any ducklings this spring. I'm not sure he'll get a new drake to replace him. I can't say I'm exactly sad. Mal took every opportunity to smack me in the face with his wings.
Dad's not happy about it though. We'd had Mal since he was a duckling and he did his job well. Never had an infertile egg and he wasn't too rough on his kids like some drakes can be. At least I don't have to worry about stress on the hens from him anymore.
On a brighter note, I may have more than just my eggs for the hatch! A very good friend of mine is dating a guy that raises chickens and said he just got 60 guineas last night at an auction! She's going to get me eggs from him for the hatch. I probably won't get guinea eggs for a while, but she's going to try to get me some of them as well when they start laying.
She said he has a 'foreign' breed that starts with a P, but Pendesenca is the only one I could think of off the top of my head and that ain't it. I'll have to talk to him myself one of these days and find out.
On a brighter note, I may have more than just my eggs for the hatch! A very good friend of mine is dating a guy that raises chickens and said he just got 60 guineas last night at an auction! She's going to get me eggs from him for the hatch. I probably won't get guinea eggs for a while, but she's going to try to get me some of them as well when they start laying.
