Spring Ducks 2020

It has been a relatively nice Spring.  The ladies have started laying eggs again, and are happy splashing in their pool, too.  They have had a very familiar visitor this Spring.  A very calm around people sort of Mallard.  Could it be the released wild mallard sister coming back to say hello?  Only they know. 

First eggs of the season April 9th.  

Monochrome trio April 10th.  

Can't wait to share eggs with the neighbors.  

Duck egg, chicken egg, duck egg, duck egg. 
Duck eggs are much larger than chicken eggs.  

Ms. Mallard lounging happily by the ladies.  

Ms. Mallard hanging out with me, dog, and ducks. 
This mallard is fearless.  

Ms. Mallard

I think we know each other.  

Hello.  

Ms. Mallard 

Mr. Mallard is way more frightened, and hangs out on the roof. 
He is usually the one to convince Ms. Mallard that she has to go.  

And here is the joy of the Spring pool.  

They would like it deeper, but then they have the hardest 

time figuring out how to get in and out of a bigger pool.  

It has been over a year since the last post.  Life has kept me away from the digital world, but the ducks and gardens keep on.  The ducks remain a wonderful reason to rise and shine.  They are part of my daily rhythm.  Wake up.  Fill duck water, food, let ducks out of coop.  Work rest of day.  Before bed, walk ducks to their coop.  Clean up their dishes.  Sleep.  Repeat.  The two black cayuga ducks are starting to get white feathers.  They "grey" as they age.  In the next couple of years they will become mostly white. 

Duck laying eggs in marsh hay nest.  

April brought egg laying season.

Lots of eggs over the summer.

They still love their mini pool. 

Cooling off.  

Fall in the new duck pen.  

I added leaves from our front yard Maple tree for the ducks to forage in.  

Foraging for bugs.  

Then came a mild winter.