A couple of years ago, Ellie May and i read a book about the homesteading adventures of a middle aged, solitary "geek" that married an earth mother type with a thing for birds and rescue animals called "Enslaved By Ducks." Very amusing book if you ever need something to read for fun.
Back in the fall when Susan, dear Susan and I had our big lamb butchering adventure, we here at Tails Up aquired some ducks. When the lady that raised the lambs called to tell us they were ready, she said she had 4 or 5 drakes that she would give to anyone that would butcher them. Susan's people are not duck eaters, but i love it, and while my family has not eaten it, i am pretty sure they will like it, and i told her i would love to have them.
I show up at Susan's house on butchering day, and look in the back of the trailor to find 10 (!) drakes. Don't know if you have any experience with ducks, but they, as chickens, tend to be filthy nasty creatures. Gonna be a long, smelly ride home. And a long day of butchering when i get there. After the initial shock wore off, i noticed that there were two different types of ducks: muscovies, which we have had before, and are definitely meat ducks; and Indian Runners, with which i had no experience. They didn't seem to have enough meat on them to make them worth the effort, but they were insanely adorable--yellow bills, orange feet, long white necks and little brown vests, with a single curly tail feather, and the most goofy facial expressions. And then they start running around...oh my gosh, WHAT CLOWNS!!!!! The muscovies i could eat, but those runners...nope, too cute for me to put a bullet in. Way more valuable for the entertainment factor.
Anyway, i got home butchernite, backed the van up to the brooder house and unloaded the ducks, then put the lamb in the freezer. I went in the house, and told Ellie May and Jethro to go have a look in the brooder house.
When Ellie May came in i asked, "Aren't the runners cute?" and she hangs her head and grumbles, "I have been enslaved by ducks." i said, "But aren't they cute?" and she repeated, a little more tersely, "I have been Enslaved By Ducks." and i, a little more excited, "i know, but aren't they cute?" and she, "I HAVE BEEN ENSLAVED BY DUCKS!!!!" i, "But did you see how cute they were?" and finally she, "Who's going to have to take care of them??!!??" and i replied, "Well, they will be on Jethro's chore list." to which the response was, "OH MY GOSH, they are SOOOOOO ADORABLE!!!!"
I went out every morning and started my day with laughter as i watched those goofballs do their thing...they just kill me. We had a couple of duck rodeos while they were figuring out that the pond was home and the dogs wouldn't eat them, and that was good for a few laughs as well.
Then, for a while, the group became "Ducks of the World." They started trapsing down the road every day, returning every evening. We tried corraling them out of the bar ditch for a while, then just let them be. Every now and then they would come home one short. Then one day, they didn't come back at all.
I was bummed. These guys had been such a light in my day. But, they were, after all, Ducks of the World. Can't tie them down.
Christmas morning, i got a present. I went out to do barn chores, and there, on the pond, were two runners. They have been here ever since. Am guessing they were like Scuffy The Tugboat, who figured out that life in the bathtub of the man with the polkadot tie was just the life he was meant for.
Now they wait for me at the doe barn every morning, then waddle at quite a clip ahead of me to the pond for treats. I have named them Jesse and Owens. Can see always having a couple of runners on the farm.
I hear you have never had an omlette until you have had a duck egg omlette.
So now we are in the market for some girls.
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