Pages

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Les femmes ducks. And Peckito.

After having spent some time observing the four duck-girls, I have named them.




Pardon the dark picture - I have been waiting for more sun, but, then, you wouldn't see this until April.  From left to right:  Cornelia (Cayuga - home hatch), Gertie (Ancona - Melanie hatched), Dolley (Cayuga/Swedish Blue - Kentucky Baby - Fiona!!!), and Dimples (Ancona - home hatch). 


Gertie is the one who protects the flock - she comes at you, head lowered, laughably unthreatening.


Cornelia is the prima donna - bathes in the water dish, no matter who needs a drink.


Dolley is the noisiest - she has the cutest white bib.  She is also non-stop babbling.


Dimples is adorable.


I love the duck footprints in the snow.  You will also note the inevitable fluffy Faverolles.  They still think that the duck yard is theirs - plus, they are still young and light enough to make it over the fence.  (Ah, I remember those days...)


I took this picture of Peckito with his little harem on my way back to the house to get ready for work.  Bunny has the young girls, Peckito has everyone else.  The two roosters look remarkably alike, with Bunny having silver/grey legs and Peckito with bright yellow. 


Peckito with Betty, Biffy, Buffy, and two
of Bunny's girls....


I was so thrilled that I was ahead of the curve on getting out of the door on time, when there was quite a flap in the chicken yard - I had to throw clothes on and race outside.  It must have been a hawk, as everyone was under cover - some under bushes, ducks under their hut and the rest in the coop.  It's always something.

16 comments:

Susan said...

Peckito looks like a Renaissance dandy in his yellow tights. Ducks are at the top of my list for next year to combat the slug plague.

Leigh said...

Now that we have Muscovies I can honestly say that I love ducks! I did get attacked by a Mama Muscovy this past summer however, and I wasn't really near her ducklings. She drew blood and was going to make a second pass but I fended her off with the lid of the feed can. I still love them though.

Fiona said...

I had a wonderful time catching up on my blog reading. Your Kentucky Babe sounds like Dusty Duck here, none stop quack yack! About anything. The Salmon Faverolle were on my have list here but we couldn't 'have' all the chickens we liked. Anyway it was so good to read all your news and admire your Thanksgiving dinner. God Bless you and all the animals you care for!

Susan said...

He does, doesn't he? Must be tight tights, as his crow is pretty high-pitched... @:-)

Susan said...

Leigh - They (Muscovies) can be pretty fearsome! (I miss being able to post comments on your blog... :()

Susan said...

Fiona, Dolley is a hoot. She carries on, beak in the water, out of the water, it's a steady stream of patter. I love my Faverolles - they are like feather pom-poms.

DFW said...

Love the ducks names. And, Pekito looks very regal with his yellow legs!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

"Gertrude" is a good name for the flock protector. In German, it is a Valkyrie name that means "Spear Maiden." (I only know this because it's my Mom's name too).

Sue said...

Whoever said ducks and chickens don't have their own personalities has never owned fowl. They're all wonderful! Love the photos.

Michelle said...

You crack me up!

Susan said...

I'd love to get a shot of the two roosters together, but they give each other a very wide berth.

Susan said...

My god. I will NOT be relating that information to her. That's all she needs.... :)

Susan said...

Sue, they really do have their own little idiosyncrasies. Last night Dolley was on the wrong side of the fence and her sidekick, Cordelia, would not go into the hut until they were together. It was so cute. And damp.

Sandy Livesay said...

Susan,

I loved that you named all of your feathered friends. Are any of them going to freezer camp when they get older?
Dimples.....that's my girl :-P One of my old nicknames when I was a little one.

There's always something going on outside with critters causing a ruckus or an uninvited guest causing a change in ones schedule. Stay warm, and enjoy your birds.
Hugs,
Sandy

Mama Pea said...

Now I'm going to put on my BGPs and stand up to my husband. Case in point? Now that we have our flock of geese and ducks pared down to our breeding stock (that's until we find out which ones will actually breed and which might turn out to be fluffer-offers), I want to name all of them. We had previously named the goslings we got from Oklahoma (using names from the musical), but for some reason (too many of them, I guess) none of the others. Now I shall go whining to my dear husband, "Susan named her ducks so why can't we name our web footed friends? Huh? Huh? HUH??!"

Nancy In Boise said...

Great photos! Cute "harem"