Yesterday we stopped to get gas in the car on our way back to the farm. We stopped at a gas station that we don't normally go to. We pulled up and immeadiately we see a Muscovy hen pacing back and forth in front of the door to the gas station! I watched her watch the people inside walk around and figured she was someone's pet who had come with them for a walk. I've heard of bonded ducks doing weirder things! My husband comes out and he asked about the duck inside. Apparently it's been coming to the gas station everyday for over a year and people feed it chips and cookies and junk. The guy who runs the station said that it just showed up one day. We asked him if we could take her home, we felt bad that she was all alone and was living on junk food. The guy wouldn't let us take her. *shrugs* I'm fine with him "keeping" her but man, he could at least be giving her some proper food! I guess someone dumped her off, poor thing. I left my name and number with him and told him that is he ever wanted her to go to a home with other ducks and proper food to give me a call. Poor girl
Awwww, thats sad! I would have "convinced" her to get in the truck! LOL Poor thing probably wouldnt know what to do with proper feed. Im wondering tho...if she has a clutch of eggs somewhere? Might want to check back there in a few weeks!
I thought about that too, but can muscovies breed with other breeds? He said that she's the only one...
Awww I'm sorry you couldn't take her home. I bet she would have been much happier. I get so mad when people do things (even with good intention) that hurt an animal for their own happiness. You don't think he just wants to keep her so he attracts customers do you? Maybe you can call the humane society and explain she's not eating properly and they can take her and give her to you? Just a thought. At our water plant(about 4 miles from me) They are always dropping ducks, They see the water and think they will be fine. But the water has dangerous pumps in it and they aren't fed. Not to long after I moved here I stopped their and asked if I could catch them if I could have them. I ended up with all 8 muscovies they had. I have even had a couple calls from them to pick up one more that was dropped off. They even have a sign that says this is dangerous for the ducks. people can make me so mad. Julie
It did appear that customers knew about the duck... Whether that was bringing them in or not I don't know. The man looked like he probably didn't have many if any friends of his own and he was the one who fed the duck. I have to wonder if he even knew it was bad for her to eat that junk. So many people still think it's fine to feed ducks bread I am seriously thinking about bringing a small plastic hopper of duck feed back to the gas station as a friendly nudge that she needs better food.
For a fleeting moment I thought "I bet I could call animal control because this a gas station, not a pet store, and if he is feeding the duck it's legally his I think so they would probably take her away"... But then I was like "You know, if she's been coming here for over a year, she's obviously not starving to death right now, and what would it solve? It would get her out of there but maybe he just doesn't know any better?"
I know, it would be for her own good. But I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt... Innocent until proven guilty, ya know? The man seemed to be a few sandwiches short of a picnic. What if the duck is his only friend? I would feel horrible taking her away. Maybe he just needs someone to teach him how to care for her? Am I being ridiculous? lol
I would just give him some duck feed, consider it your charitable work for the day. He obviously has a soft spot for it. Good luck
