Poor old Captain Speck – he has been lonely and moping. The problem is both of his wives have been away, fussing over eggs and ducklings rather than keeping him company.
The timing was supposed to be good, but the weather saw that off. Cyco’s clutch was hatching just as Chloe began to accumulate a nestful of eggs for a second attempt, but the appalling wet stormy cold weather finished off three ducklings, and we had to take her and the remaining crowd right away to another building, which we had to clear out and prep as a duckling nursery. And even though the ducklings grew huge, the bad weather continued. Meanwhile Chloe is sitting on her eggs, and Speck looks dejected
Until a couple of days ago, when we brought Cyco and her brood back. He got very excited – actually a bit threatening – usually perking up that quiff is as far as he goes, but we were holding one of his wifes and she was giving it hell. Much shouting ensued from the pair of ducks. Fortunately, when it comes to Muscovy ducks, the shouting is almost silent. Once we put her in the pen, he felt much better about it, and Cyco felt a lot better about it when we brought her ducklings in. And Himself felt a lot better about it too, as this time he carried the duck in without being pooped on. Duck poo can go a surprisingly long way…..Me, I was carrying in the ducklings which are now two hand efforts of wriggling fluffiness.
Speck now sits on the coop keeping guard. He really does seem very attached, and he sticks his head feathers up at us when we come in – that’ll show us..
In a couple of days we shall take the coop away and hopefully he will be fine with them all.
