thedrakesprogress

[thedrakesprogress]

Abernathy and Tammylan have been getting far too fond of my silkie chickens, so today I went to look at some young call ducks. The fella had eight advertised, but four (including the mother) had sold by the time I got there - I told him I was interested in four so he held the others until after I'd been. I decided to take them all despite him not knowing what sexes he had.

Once I got them home and could have a proper listen to them, I'm pretty certain I have three ducks and a drake. The three ducks are actually the ones I wanted from looking at the pics online over the last few days, and if I'd been able to get the Mum as well it would have been exactly what I wanted, but ah, well. Hopefully three drakes and three ducks will settle in okay together, with Poirot being a younger drake. Obviously it will be a couple of months before I can introduce them to the older drakes, I don't want the bog boys trying to get overly *cough* affectionate with the young girls and doing them any harm.

I've named this crew after Agatha Christie sleuths - Hercule Poirot, Tuppence Beresford, Ariadne Oliver, and Miss Jane Marple.

[thedrakesprogress]

DuckoDucko.

I made the boys a new pen today, since they've grown up and become much too interested in lady chickens. Hoping to get some lady ducks to join them shortly!

[thedrakesprogress]

I took a photo of Tammylan next to the little paddling pool today as a size comparison for a friend who posted a picture of her 2.5 month old Muscovy next to one! Tammylan is 6-7 months old.

The bottom of Jeremy's neck was around the same level as Tammylan's beak... 😅

[thedrakesprogress]

Abernathy and Tammylan are getting their big-boy green heads and curly tail feathers. 🥺😍

They grow up so fast!

[thedrakesprogress]

What are ye doin' in my pond?!

As soon as the boys heard me emptying the pond, they came waddling over post-haste! I clean less often now it's cooling down, the pond gets less slimy but the bottom gets muddier - the drakes enjoy that though!

[thedrakesprogress]

I remembered this song today while I was taking selfies with the drakes! I wish my record player's amp was working better so I could play my Goodies LP!

[thedrakesprogress]

The ducky boys are getting their green drake head feathers. Gandalf has only just started getting a couple, but Tammylan and Abernathy being older have really gone green!

[thedrakesprogress]

Tammylan's adult colours are coming in and he looks a little bit like a velvet toy that's had bits worn off. He's looking very beautiful.

[thedrakesprogress]

My name is Gandalf

I eat the ground

And when I sit

I'm very round

[thedrakesprogress]

Mudpuddle!!

[thedrakesprogress]

I've been looking online for farm-y themed teapots. One suggestion Amazon came up with was this slightly ominous glass with a drake rising from the depths...

...Now I know why I don't shop on Amazon.

(I mean apart from them treating people like shit and having an author sign-up process that gave me a migraine and made me rage-quit.)

[thedrakesprogress]

I've come to the conclusion that ducks are basically human toddlers:

cute little walk

thrives on routine

protests violently when you pick them up to check their health

actually cuddles are kind of okay I GUESS

NO PUT ME DOWN NOW

sleeps

poops

the louder you say "DON'T EAT THAT!", the more quickly they swallow whatever they just picked up off the ground 🦆🦆🦆

[thedrakesprogress]

The drakes like biting the water from the hose the same way dogs do! So cute!!

[thedrakesprogress]

Abernathy and Gandalf on the outside of the window trying to eat a spider on the inside of the window.

[thedrakesprogress]

I was washing out the chickens' nesting boxes and the drakes heard the hose. They came over and when I turned the spray onto them, Aberhathy stuck his chest out and luxuriated, and basically turned into a cheerleader in the carwash scene in a teen movie, lol.

[thedrakesprogress]

Sleepy drakes. 🥰

[thedrakesprogress]

I made the boys an en suite with the old kitchen sink. They will have a paddling pool in the back yard, but in the night time/morning pen they'll have this to splash in.

And since they're sharing the pen with the chooks, which are out free ranging during the day, the drakes are in a puppy play pen until they adjust to their new home and they need water play!