Muscovy Ducks
September 20th, 2008 by Dan BodensteinSometimes called the most hated duck around, Muscovy ducks are often prosecuted for their “looks”. Not the most beautiful duck in the world, we have found that they do indeed strive in one area, personality.
Our home has become a haven for these ducks. People often shoo them away because they tend to poop where ever and when ever they like. Despite their defecation factor, these ducks are rather intelligent. As refugees making camp around our home, we have named many of these ducks. Season after season, the females create nest around our home and we are honored to be able to observe the birth of many of these.
Many of these ducks have been around our home for several years, including Speckle-head, Little Brown Girl, Sister Brown Girl, and Guy. Some of their offspring include Tweed, Jet, and the late Eagle, LB junior, and Pearl.
Recently due to increase in the water activity there has been an increase of Limberneck, also known as avian botulism. LB Junior (Little Brown Girl Junior) was one of the first to be affected by this disease, and did not survive. Pearl was the next to experience this illness. At first we thought they had been poisoned, but once Jet and his brother Eagle came down with the same symptoms, we contacted the Wolfe-Peterson Animal Rescue. We were told about Avian Botulism.
We caught Jet and Eagle and placed them in boxes, and drove them to the center. There the volunteer said they will treat the birds, but they were not sure Eagle would make it as his symptoms seemed worse than Jet’s. They were right.
A week later we were able to go and pick up Jet. He was doing much better and even recognized my wife. Jet is a juvenile duck, and met up with another duck from another nearby lake whom we named Moon. Moon is a white duck with grey spots which resembled the lunar surface, hence the name Moon. Moon seems to be the same age as Jet, but we feel she was abandoned at an early age. When she came to us, she could not swim in the lake. She would watch the others jump in, and go to the edge, but like a scared child, she chickened out. Last weekend, she made the leap, and swam across the lake to us. Jet and Moon are best friends. Moon still cries out for Jet like a baby chick would call for its mother, and once Jet makes his presence known, Moon runs to him.
These ducks are a part of our life, and despite their unpopular status in the community, they are popular in our hearts.
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