The Front Porch Swing

[OHhappychicks]

What a day! Have I got a tale for you all! I can't promise it'll interest y'all, but I can swear it's sincere.

For about a year now I've been caring for this flock and it's about doubled in size. I'd like to think TPTB have been making me oh so fortunate an fruitful when it comes to my lovely birds. However, I make mistakes like everybody else.

I was out in the yard this morning, taking a look at the early morning light diffused by the oncoming clouds of a nearby storm. There was the low rumble of thunder nearby but I could tell it wouldn't reach us. I figured it would be a good day to hang out some laundry to dry. It would definitely alleviate the stress on our dryer, anyhow.

Just as I was hanging a sheet on the line, my favorite duck, Indie, comes on up to me and just stares. I stared back (I'm pretty sure Indie can read my mind) and then had a strange inkling that something was wrong. So I went around and started a head count on my ducks. And then I noticed the problem.

Che was gone.

Che is a funny little guy. He's an Indian Runner duck, but he wobbles along because of this gimpy little leg he has. The only reason I even bought him was because the feed store guy wanted to feed him to their Burmese Python and my little sister, Nivia, couldn't stand the thought. Rather than have her be upset, I forked over the ten bucks for a crippled duck and he became a new member of our flock.

His absence was noticed by me but the other ducks didn't seem too stressed out. His girlfriend, Swedie, was sitting out in their honeymoon spot, just laying down as she would when she was with him.

I saw evidence that he might have been snatched up by something. White feathers blown into the fence (it was quite windy today) and their was feather fluff on the grass. Now I was really worried. Had a hawk snatched him up? We've got massive hawks around here. But the skies were clear. Then I thought it might have been the dogs (Che loves to pick fights with the rat terriers and he is not-so-secretly flirtatious with my big shepherd/boxer mix), but there was no body and none of them were bloated.

Okay, so I checked the field behind the house. Somehow, ducks just manage to sometimes slip out of the fence and can't find their way back in. It's happened a couple times before. So I went and checked but no sign of Che. I went into the field and there were no feathers or little gimpy foot tracks. Now I was scared.

How do I tell Nivia that her favorite little duck is gone? As far as she is concerned, if we don't have Che, we don't have a proper flock. I texted her to see if maybe she had seen him this morning but she was in school and wouldn't give me a response.

I searched all day, taking periodic breaks to think about where he could be before continuing my search. Hours flew by and suddenly it was 5PM and Mom got home. She couldn't remember seeing him when she left for work.

I couldn't help thinking he was gone. And then I heard a quack. It was faint and I looked down.

Oh, just Ducky, our Cayuga. But then Swedie comes up to me as well and then Indie. They all just stare at me and don't make a peep. Then there is a single, low hissing quack.

I look around and the only thing I can't see under is our dog kennels. They are placed atop cinder blocks and there is hardly room for our smallest chickens to get in underneath. But I figure those ducks are looking at me for a reason. I get down on my knees and take a peek.

A single beady eye is looking back at me. It blinks and then the feathers around it crinkle as the bird quacks at me.

Yup, Che, that little punk, was wedged down there for the entire day. My only guess is that he bothered the dogs and when one finally chased him, he lodged himself down there and realized he couldn't get out. I had to get Mom to come out and help me lift the kennel off of him and he just climbed on into it, taking a breather on the soft blankets before trying to maintain a little dignity by marching out. It didn't work. He tripped over the edge of the kennel and tumbled out. His girl Swedie didn't mind though and was bobbing her head for him in the kiddie pool where he proceeded to take a long drink of water before hopping in and mating with her. Ah, young lovers reunited at last!

He gave me an awful scare today and still had the nerve to try and eat my pant hem when I didn't just hand over the food when J was feeding the dogs. Indie saw this interaction and simply gave me another stare. It clearly said that I was personifying these ducks way too much.

Awesome story!

Well told! I love it when I can picture the stories!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Woke up to five, yes that's FIVE neighbor dogs having a self-serve chicken dinner. They tore into a wire dog kennel/carrier to get a rooster I had caged because he was getting his butt kicked in the roo pen. I only had one of the locks fastened so they bent the door up and got in. Well one got in (and couldn't get out) and the other four were circling like great white sharks getting a bite when they could. It is now open season on dog at my place. Guess I'll have to start packing a gun at all times to get them.

Oh, how sad and frustrating!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Pictures, I need PICTURES! Not for non-professional advice giving, but because I LOVE old architecture and wood. You can keep the steel and glass buildings.

Bruce

x2!

I love pictures of this stuff!

 

[Triple Willow]

Quote:
Geez. Sounds like someone needs a lesson in dog containment. You and your gun won't necessarily be around when they come by. Bruce

For real! Deputy Sheriff just left. He said "SHOOT EM'!" I want to cost the owners some money first, *this time.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I hesitate to post a photo unless he doesn't make it. He is loud. He is fat. He sure is a pretty little thing. But he isn't really using his little legs. So I set him up with scrambled egg. Might try a little liver later.

He was getting a little sweaty in my bra, so I gave him a private room.

Okay, not so private.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Awesome story! Well told! I love it when I can picture the stories!

X2. They sure can communicate! It's great when we listen.

 

[bruceha2000]

Quote:
Originally Posted by LeslieDJoyce
He was getting a little sweaty in my bra, so I gave him a private room.
Besides, you probably don't want what comes out of a chick in your bra

 

[love2grinchicke]

Okay, I need some advice here. Our only Polish hen, little blue Lucy, is going broody. This is what I just e-mailed to my dad about her.

Lucy is looking terrible. Her rear end is caked in poop, her box is nasty, with broken eggs, etc. I cleaned it out this morning, but it still is unhealthy. I think that the best thing to do would be to take her off of the nest, candle the eggs, and place any developing ones in an incubator. If she wants to be broody again, we can put those chicks underneath her, and she can adopt them. I think this is the best solution, and possibly a life-saver for Lucy.


Advice, please!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Quote:

Besides, you probably don't want what comes out of a chick in your bra

I did give that a passing thought. I've had chick/duckling/poult poo everywhere before, and I do not normally invite it. But ... no pockets in in my PJs and my hands are cold.

He is starting to chirp a bit in his new spot (instead of PEEP! PEEP!). Has wriggled around a bit. I can't spot an obvious problem with him. But I'm trying so hard to not get attached!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Okay, I need some advice here. Our only Polish hen, little blue Lucy, is going broody. This is what I just e-mailed to my dad about her.

Lucy is looking terrible. Her rear end is caked in poop, her box is nasty, with broken eggs, etc. I cleaned it out this morning, but it still is unhealthy. I think that the best thing to do would be to take her off of the nest, candle the eggs, and place any developing ones in an incubator. If she wants to be broody again, we can put those chicks underneath her, and she can adopt them. I think this is the best solution, and possibly a life-saver for Lucy.


Advice, please!

I'd have to agree. Give her a good health check-up, and try to get some good nutrition into her, help her get cleaned off ... and if anything hatches, see if she wants to raise them.

Poor girl. Brooding seems like very hard work to me.