By late spring, the feathered creatures had become mature fowl. Because the chicken coop was so far away from the ponds that the ducks couldn't see them or hear them, we had to continue using the kiddy pool. It had to be cleaned and filled every other day. This was time consuming and back breaking.
The time had come to introduce the water fowl to the pond! One bright, sunny morning, we herded the ducks toward the pond closest to the house. It wasn't difficult....but it was slow going. When we finally reached the pond area, I expected the ducks to take off running in eager antcipation of a B-I-G pool in which to play! Ah, contraire! They took one look at all that water and headed for home. Another lesson learned: water fowl raised away from the water do not naturally take to swimming in big, scary bodies of water. We herded the ducks back to the pond area, where they cowered under the trees, near the water, but not in it. We left them dabbling in the puddles of water that remained in the tree area.
When the sun set, I worried about the ducks. Were they safe? Should we bring them back to the chicken coop? After lengthy discussing, we decided that they were ducks! They should know instinctively that they are safe in the water, they should love the water, they will adjust....yadda, yadda, yadda.
In the morning, we found BaRack cowering under the trees, but LeQuack was nowhere to be found. Rocky and Rosy were also missing. I refused to think the worst! We found Rocky back in the chicken house cozily munching on ground corn and chatting with the chickens. Rosy was nowhere to be found. Jim finally located what was left of LeQuack in the creek bed. Alas, because of our ignorance, some four footed critter had enjoyed a late evening dinner. I was devastated. We returned BaRack to the hen house, where he lived for about a year, before being captured by "something" during his nightly dip in the kiddy pool. Rosy was never seen again. Rocky lived, slept and ate with the chickens. We wondered if he would ever be a true Mallard, swimming and playing in the pond, as I had first imagined that Easter so long ago.
Minnie, the guinea became the boss of the farm-yard. When she screeched, the chickens, the duck and the people paid attention. Guineas are really skitterish, so it doesn't take much to set them off. It takes a LOT to shut them off, however. I grew to love her ear splitting screech. I knew she would warn us if danger was afoot. Due to natural selection and attrition, our little flock had changed over the summer, but the critters that remained cheerily greeted us every morning. Seeing their joy at just being alive made me appreciate even more the wonderful life God had given us. In my prayer, I rejoiced that we had become so blessed.
One bright, sunshiny day, as I walked around the place.....
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