Duck Duck
On March 27th B and I brought home 10 ducklings. They were separated 5 and 5 into small oblong cardboard boxes held together with tape. I did not pay attention to the construction of the boxes until minute 28 of our 30 minute drive home from Tractor Supply where we’d bought them. It was then that the first jail break occurred. Excited and no doubt scared by the unexplainable events of the last hour, the ducklings chattered incessantly from the box on my lap. More importantly, they’d shit. Ducks, I’d learn quickly, are pooing machines.
A block away from home the cardboard contraption proved fallible and the babies spilled on to my lap and the passenger side floorboard. I screamed. B’s hands didn’t move from 10 and 2. When we pulled in the driveway he calmly scooped them out from under the seat while I watched on, frozen in terror. All five of the black Cayugas were unphased. Welcome to duck parenthood, I thought.
For the next 6 weeks the ducks lived in the garage in two heavy duty tubs filled with straw bedding. There was no decor, only the necessities: a heat lamp, water container, and food. For my part, each morning began a bit earlier, manning the hose to rinse and refill water. Each night ended similarly. I came to love the chorus of quacks that greeted me each time I opened the garage door. Goodnight, we’d say, grow big and strong.
The ducks were approximately a week old when they were plucked by the hand of god from the tub at Tractor Supply and placed in our care. Shortly thereafter, one duck, Daisy, showed signs of developmental differences. Her legs curled inwards rendering her unable to walk. She had to be removed from the tub in order to keep her from being trampled by the others. (She lives with B’s parents and is treated like a princess).
I had not for a moment anticipated a ‘lame’ duck. Nor did I consider all the ways in which our user error could harm them. We learned after a dramatic first bath time that baby ducks get cold quickly. Instead of putting them in the water in batches we dumped them all in at once. Then came the distinct moment of terror as we watched all their little bodies suddenly freeze up like ice cubes. I dashed inside for towels and then I handed ducks by the armfull to B so he could warm their shaking bodies against his chest. Minutes later, thawed and chirping once more, each duckling found a spot in the tub to preen themselves. They came out of the whole ordeal fluffy and cuter than ever.
However, ducks don’t stay cute for long. Their teenage phase of half-grown-in adult feathers is decidedly awkward. But we marveled at their development; their swift growth, the deepening colors on their heads and wings, their down coat slowly falling out while bristly pin feathers emerged. The pin feathers fascinated and scared me. The feather is encased in a clear keratin sheath giving it a skeleton-like quality. As the bird prunes the sheath, the feather unfurls.
With plenty of adult feathers and heads peeking over the top of their tub, we knew it was time for the ducks to move. Fingers crossed they’d be permanent residents at their very own private pond at the foot of B’s cabin. A month and a half later, occupying an entire tub rather than a cardboard box, the ducks took their second car ride. In a soothing tone I explained that their worried quacks were unnecessary. I described the duck coop we lovingly built for them and all the space they’d have to explore. I told the ducks things they couldn’t understand so I could quiet my own worry. It suddenly felt like such hubris to assume we could interject our coddled ducks into the well established ecosystem and promise them safety. Of course we couldn’t.
What foolish assurances we make to one another. I will never leave you. It will always be like this. The only always is death. That’s nature. For seven days we had nine ducks at the pond. Now there are eight.
Two months to the day we got them, eight ducks went into the pond. They unfolded their full grown wings and splashed across the water and I laughed with pure pleasure. That’s nature. That’s the most natural thing.
I loved reading about the ducks! I haven't seen them since they went to the cabin so I'm happy to hear they went in the pond yesterday! DD looks happy in her princess life!
I enjoyed this immensely