It’s not as if we needed any more critters…we certainly had plenty to take care of without adding a winged division BUT, that said, I have this thing for Muscovy Ducks. They’re the ones who don’t quack (they coo, like doves..and hiss), can grasp perches (they don’t have permanently flat duck feet – they even have toenails) and they have those bright red wattles around their beaks (the males have even more red “bumples”). They are a rainbow of colors, lavender, fawn, black, white, green, purple and IMO, have absolutely adorable personalities, kinda dog-like actually.
So, surprise, surprise, one day a half-dozen fuzzy ducklings appeared like magic (note: no cauldron was harmed in the process) at The Retreat. TahhhDahhh – introducing the Muscovy Kids – our Drake Mr Big , who IS big – so big he can’t fly without a running start off the edge of something… like a parasailer, Lavender, our sweet, petite, very girly girl, Gabby, our Diplomat, always making peace and the 3 “look alike” Super Models – Linda, who often does the exact opposite of what you’d like her to do, Naomi, who is very smart, very brave and rather bitchy – the first to try everything and Iman, who is very competitive and always “correcting” the others.Together they are The Retreat duck, Duck, DUCKS! You’ll hear me calling them to bed just that way every evening at 4PM.
We have a huge, beautiful new pond, with a waterfall and everything. We, of course, envisioned graceful, colorful Muscovy Ducks paddling around in it for the guests entertainment. Do the ducks like the beautiful pond? Nope! Won’t even paddle around the edges. What do the ducks like? A little teeny, shallow pool below a small waterfall on the creek that runs by the office from the old spring (100+ years old) up on the hill. That and the porch of the office. They have a lovely covered duck pen, sheltered, safe, but where would they prefer to roost at night? On the office porch railing. Until we started figuring out that they like to go to bed about 4PM that’s where they insisted on sleeping every night – creating a new morning duty…porch washing.
It’s a learning experience, being a duck herder. They train us a little and we beg them a little. We’d hoped they would be cute and amuse the guests…just from a little further away than the Guest Welcome Cabin at check-in time (see photo). That aside, I love them.. when I’m not cursing them and chasing them off the porch for the 20th time that day. I can’t stay mad though, how can I when they wag their tail feathers like a happy puppy when they see me. I love watching them out my office window, they become fascinated with something, study it intensely and then once they have seen enough, off they march (in unison) in search of the next collective fixation. They are very much a flock – and they prefer everyone maintain the proper pecking order (pun intended) – they immediately start a 30 second neck waving, head bobbing, beak pinching flash mob the minute any one of them does something alone without “approval”…. then, as soon as it began, it’s over and the flock waddles off butts a-waggling, once again “all together”.
You can see our Muscovy Ducks (and even feed them, they do eat nicely out of a hand) every day …at ….SIGH…the Guest Welcome Cabin at the Retreat at Sky Ridge. Their act is not quite as polished as that of the famous piano playing ducks from the legendary IQ Zoo In Hot Springs (something from my childhood) – but you know…we’re working on that…….
Click the Graphics Below for more info and the history of the IQ Zoo and info on our friend Joel Slaven – who heads a modern day “IQ Zoo” – he’s the trainer extraordinaire who rescued (yes they are all rescue dogs) and trained all of the Dalmations for 101 Dalmations the Musical – now touring the country.
IQ Zoo Ad
IQ Zoo Duck
Our Friend Joel Slaven - Professional Animal Trainer
