My husband and I have four backyard ducks: Fanny, Emma, Dorothy, and Gertrude. The first two are Pekins, and the last two are crested Pekins, meaning they possess the magnificent bouffant more typically seen atop the prestigious heads of grandmothers.
This is a picture of one of the crested Pekins as a duckling, though all four are fully grown now.
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| I'm wearing a duck onesie |
We procured ducks for three reasons:
1. We needed an all-natural solution for the weeds in our yard.
2. Duck eggs are quite tasty.
3. Yard marshmallows are adorable.
They've brought me a great deal of joy, although it can also be frustrating or even heartbreaking at times. Since I'm in a listing sort of mood today, here are some of the pros and cons.
PROS
- They really do help out with the weeds, especially if you feed them the weeds when they are wee ducklings. We made sure to feed our girls plenty of dandelions when they were babies, and they do an amazing job of keeping the yard clear.
- Their eggs are delicious. I've fried them in the pan, baked with them (cakes and breads), made mayonnaise, and the world's tastiest French silk pie.
- As I've heard another duck owner call it, "yard TV". I love watching them waddle, flap, swim, and dive from my table at breakfast. There is something intangible yet immensely satisfying about watching ducks just do what ducks do.
- You feel like a god. Ducks always want more food, and carrying strawberries or bananas results in a hot pursuit that surely resembles the dynamic between celebrities and their paparazzi.
CONS
- They're vulnerable. With two awkward, dull-taloned feet and a gummy, toothless bite, ducks have virtually no ability to defend themselves, and can be killed by almost any other animal. Our ducks reside in a pre-fab shed at night, and during the day they reside in a fully fenced in yard. Additionally, we make sure that our heroic guard dog is with them any time they are out of the coop.
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| The heroic guard derp |
- The poop. Oh lord, the poop. Put one duck in a room full of sugar-high eight-year-olds and you'd be surprised who makes more horrific bathroom noises. Their poos shoot out of their backsides at high velocity, and woe betide anyone standing behind them.
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| An innocent picture of Emma and Fanny |
- Caring for an aging duck can be quite difficult. One of our ducks suffers from arthritis and hip problems. One leg has become immobile. She manages a sort of hobble by using her good leg and the opposing wing, but it is difficult for her. We carry her around a lot, have crafted a sort of "duck wheelchair" for her to rest in that eases the pressure on her poorly leg, and must give her baths inside the house (see prior point regarding 'duck poop' to understand the gravity of that).
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