But first - for the story to make sense, I must tell you that we have baby ducks on our farm! Cute, adorable little ducklings that I whole-heartedly love!
I love these little ducklings so much that I have claimed them as my own! Luke was shocked when I said I wanted them to be my job! They are mine to raise and to take care of daily. This is pretty simple - give them food and water and change their bedding every few days. And just sit and indulge in their pure adorableness. I may regret this spontaneous decision in the winter, but for right now I am thrilled!
Yesterday I was keeping a very close eye on my sixteen sweet little ducklings. I went inside to give Henry a snack, and I heard a cheeping, that seemed to belong to the ducks. "Oh no," I thought. "One got out!" I quickly ran outside with Henry and panicked to see that a little duckling was running in the chicken coop! Now, pecking orders are real things - chickens will peck a bird to death if it is not one of their own - their size. So I legitimately panicked, and quickly called "Help - anybody! Someone watch Henry so I can save the duck!"
The hilarious part that I then noticed, the full-grown chickens were terrified of the baby duck! The duckling was lost and therefore running all around, and the chickens were running from it, terrified! I couldn't believe this because I have watched chickens catch, and eat, mice.
Luke and Derek came to watch Henry and laugh at the site of grown chickens hiding from a duckling. I went into the coop and grabbed the little duck and returned her to her home, safe with her other ducklings.
Well, last night I was washing dishes, looking out my kitchen window which has a great view of the chicken coop and fence, and I noticed a big hub-bub among the chickens! I also heard a faint little cheeping noise! "Oh no!" Another little duckling. I sprinted outside and my fear wasn't imagined - a little duckling was hanging from a chicken's mouth, so I thought. All the other chickens were swarming the one who had it, trying to steal it away, so it was hard to get a good look. I sprinted over to the fence and scared the chickens and they released the duckling. I could see it ran under a board, but that was it.
As if that wasn't enough, our vicious hunter Murtle was right there, ready to pounce. I knew I would have to act fast before her claws caught on to my little duckling. I lifted up the board, and a MOUSE sprinted away. Ugh! I ran into the duck coop and counted - all 16 ducklings were in there, safe and huddled together under the heater. Thankful, I walked out of the coop, happy to have all 16 ducklings, but so irritated that I saved the life of a mouse. Murtle chased the mouse - I am pretty sure she wouldn't let it get away, she is a quick cat!
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