Maude and Mabel the muscovies

Mabel and Maude

The khakis and Peking ducklings


The old Mullard

The noisy ones

Mabel on her wall

Watching the world go by

Since their arrival here to replace our old mullards mate, a male mallard Maude (grey) and Mabel (black and white) haven't mixed as I would of liked. Maybe foie gras ducks they think they are a cut above the rest. The rabble of 4 khaki Campbell's and 3 Peking's maybe too much for them as these seven are continuously busy waddling round the farm making a noise and investigating everything.

They spend their days sitting up on the wall outside the barn overseeing what is going on, occasionally they will fly over the field kind of crash landing and making an appearance when farmer J is milling cereal as do all chickens and ducks but most of the time they spend in a pair.

All chickens and ducks find their own way of an evening back to the barn for a night of safety. Last night was no different, or so I thought. It was dark when I closed their door and didn't see that Maude had no come back in until this morning when she wasn't there. Ive searched but cant see her, only hoping she has found somewhere safe and is not sitting on eggs, as these will not be fertile, i did find Mabel's 6 huge eggs in the manager, so at last we have duck eggs- these are the first after the initial two they laid since coming here!

Poor Mabel has been on her own today, wondering around, I wonder if she thinks 'wheres my mate'. I only hope I am not in the same situation before getting these ducks which were brought to keep one old mullard happy for now to have two old ducks lonely (if only they would be friendly together).

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2ENJ093 - FRANKLIN

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The English Paysanne

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