Ducks (part 2)

One of the best things about being on a farm is that theres never a true ending to life. Bob the chicken might get eaten by your yellow lab, but a Bob junior will hatch the next day, and then the next, until theres 4 Bob juniors running around the yard in his place (thats a true story). Life renews itself before your very eyes; like blowing a dandelion and watching thousands of yellow flowers bloom where the seeds land.

This renewal often happens spring into summer as small beaks find themselves breaking into the world. It's marked with small "peeps" and a maternal hen pecking your hand as you collect broken shells. Often this transpires naturally, but if you've ever taken a biology class you know you need biodiversity for a species to survive; more than just 30 chickens continuously reproducing. Basically; we have to buy new chicks every-so-often.

After my first year of college, I decided my summer project would be raising new ducklings. I bought a giant above ground pool from Walmart, and started looking online for ducks. Unfortunately I started my search too late, and all the local farms had sold out of ducklings. So that kind-of put the idea to bed.

I still needed a summer project though, so I came up with a wonderful idea: a new puppy. My mother wasn't as on board for this idea as she was for the ducklings, but she humored me anyways and so we visited a local Mini-Aussiedoodle breeder (our current dog, Lucy's, breed). Unfortunately for my mother who wasn't so sure about the idea, I just fell in love with this tiny black and brown ball of fur, and after two visits we took her home.

Maple, pictured below eating a piece of grass, quickly became my best friend. I spent all summer teaching her tricks and playing fetch with her- let me tell you, this pup has no limit to the amount of fetch she can play. She might not have been as calm, or as obedient as Lucy, (or even as good at using the bathroom in the grass instead of on the sidewalk), but she was perfect for me.

Leaving for college that August was so much harder than it was my first year- Maple wasn't even full grown yet, I had so much left to teach her (she couldn't even jump through hoops yet!). I was so worried that I'd come back for winter break and she wouldn't remember me. Obviously, that was a stupid fear, and I think its fair to say that I will always be her favorite person.

As sophomore year came to a close, I once again thought about the ducklings I never bought, and brought the idea up to my mother. She was already considering ordering new chicks, so she was happy to add my three ducklings to the order. I know what you're thinking, and, yes, you can order baby birds online to be delivered by USPS.

Within a week of being home, our birds were delivered, and ducklings became a reality on the farm again. Since they've arrived, I've spent hours and hours sitting outside with these three ducklings, watching them swim, play in the grass, and grow into their unique personalities.

As they've gotten bigger, they've grown more and more yellow, reminding me so much of Bingo in his early days; his life became legible to me again. Larry, the biggest of the three, has very obviously become the leader of the small flock. Everywhere she goes, her two sisters follow closely behind in a short single-file line. Larry herself doesn't really know where she's going, and often tries to follow the others, resulting in a circular walking pattern (hi Bingo!). Tip, the medium-est of the three, has really taken an interest in swimming underwater. When she's not busy following Larry around, she's diving and twirling (ungracefully) in the water. Bean, the smallest of the three, knows she's quite small, and spends most of her time trying to sit under her sisters. She hasn't quite mastered the art of getting in or out of the pool, but Larry and Tip never leave her behind- especially because she will cry and cry and cry if she's left alone for even a second.

From left to right: Larry, Tip, and Bean

They get a little bigger every day, and they seem to learn more and more about swimming as they do. My youngest brother, Solly, and I built them a coop yesterday, and once their feathers have all come in they will move into their new home.

Puppies, chicks, ducklings; they're all the same in a way, they are a source of pride and joy. To hold a baby animal in your hands, and promise to love and care for it, is such a beautiful reminder of humanity's role in nature. These small creatures are powerless without us, and as such it is our job to keep them safe. I can't promise that these ducks will live forever, but I can promise this much: This time the ducks will never meet any Doberman.

PS: Thank you so much for reading! If you feel so inclined, share a photo/story of your pet(s) in the comments!