one duckling

There was a commotion last night outside. I went out to find Dad standing over the duck’s nest with a flashlight. I peered into the nest and saw the biggest milksnake I’ve ever seen, its mouth mostly around a duck egg. I got a long stick for Dad and he got the snake draped over it, then took it out to the barn. The duck was in the garden, quacking. A peeping sound was coming from the side of the flowerbed where the nest was. I went over and found one little yellow duckling, scared and peeping. I gathered him up and held him; he calmed down and got quiet. Dad came back and found the body of another duckling. The duck came and got the one living duckling when I set him down and they headed off. We didn’t find the body of the third duckling.

I constructed an incubator for the remaining four eggs out of masking tape, drywall, styrofoam, rigid insulation, and two very hot lamps. The incubator and eggs, along with an aquarium thermometer, are in the greenhouse with Lily. According to various books and internet sites, the eggs should stay at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which is where they are. I hope the little guys hatch.

This morning, the duck and her duckling were in the pond together, along with the geese and other ducks.

We had the sprinkler on earlier and the two rouens, along with the fuzzy yellow duckling, were enjoying the cold water.