My dear husband generously offered to take our three toddlers to the feed store today, so that I might have time for a nap.
Blessed man.
I awoke from my nap to find that we are now the owners of 4 newly hatched chicks. Remember when I used to name our chickens and hold them in my lap like prized pets? Well, reader, times have changed in the Rose home. Because, I confess that the first thing I said to my dear husband when I learned we now owned chicks was, “Oh. Hmm. Just so we’re clear, it’s okay if they die, right?”
Poor man.
Those chicks might not be long for this world. I certainly hope they blossom into egg-laying hens, but they have three toddlers who are eager to love them to death. And, five months is a long time to wait for those chicks to reach maturity. Let’s cheer mightily for those chicks and for my enterprising husband.
This past week at the Seltzer household had daddy bringing home a new baby duckling (which we were shocked anyone would have right now due to the heat. One of our adult ducks dies last week due to temps above 100 degrees).
Anyway, he brought the little duck home, much to the delight of our children. Our female adult duck, however, wanted nothing to do with it, the poor thing. The problem is, ducks are very much communal creatures and DO NOT like to be alone. The reason for bringing home the new duckling was because our adult duck, Ping, would not stop waddling around the yard quacking loudly, wondering where her best friend from birth had gone.
Since Ping refused to mother this strange new creature, we now had two ducks incessantly quacking. What is the best solution in this scenario? Why, to get ANOTHER little ducking, of course!
So the nest day, mommy and the kids went to the crazy feed store that is carrying ducklings this time of year and found our new duckling a friend. Immediately upon Olive’s arrival, Puddles perked right up (or should I say finally settled down!). Sure our adult duck is still not happy, but hey we now have two cute little duckling that no toddler or four year old boy would ever harm (he he).
Wait, did I say TWO? Did I forget to mention that a mother duck was killed out at my husband’s workplace today, and that after it was discovered that the duck was a mama and had a clutch of eggs (9 or 10 I would guess), the guys at the powerplant promptly called the only guy they knew who’s family raised ducks. Yep, thats us!
So now we have one very unhappy and lonely adult duck, two week old ducklings, and a possible 10 more on the way.
The moral of the story: If your adult duck is unhappy because his best buddy died…oh wait. I still have not figured out how we should have handled this prior to adopting 12 new ducks!
Grandpa Morris could never resist bringing home baby chicks from the feed store.