DUCK!

There's nuthin sadder than a broody hen with nuthin to brood. Poor Chicky-baby was sitting on an empty nest and even the indignity of having a big girl climb on top of her and lay an egg didn't dissuade her from sitting on that nest until the chick fairy left her something for her efforts. She didn't eat. She didn't drink. She didn't poop. She sat. 

Bea to the rescue. On a particularly rainy raw Wednesday, a trip to the farm ended with my buddy reaching under her Muscovy Duck and coming out with an egg. Mama duck had 15 under there and didn't seem to mind losing one. A half-hour drive with the heat blasting brought one duck egg and one VERY broody little white hen together. Chicky-baby tucked that precious egg under her and for the first time in a couple of weeks she looked content--content enough that the next day she flew off her nest for a mountainous poop, a glorious dust bath and the first real meal she'd had in a long time.  Then she tucked herself around her egg, with a chorus of little clucks and squawks that lasted pretty much around the clock--a chicken lullaby.

A week later I checked her egg and there was a tiny hole. Next morning I looked for a baby and there was an egg with a bigger hole. That afternoon when I checked, you could see wet brown feathers through a crack in that egg and the little guy was squirming around. That evening Ducky-baby was finally OUT!

Chicky-baby has her baby. The little guy has soft brown feathers with a yellow bib, black patent leather feet with claws (didn't know ducks had claws)  and tiny beady black eyes. He's a cute little bugger. CB is a lioness when it comes to protecting her baby and I've got a couple of good blood blisters courtesy of  her beak. If they gave out Nobel Prizes for motherhood, she'd be at the top of the list to win. OK--so there's a slight problem. Chicky-baby is desperately trying to teach Ducky-baby how to scratch, how to peck for goodies--you know--how to be a functional chicken. Ducky-baby just doesn't get it. He wants to stand in the water and bob for goodies. He doesn't come when called and (horrors!)  he gobbles his food.  I gotta hand it to Chicky-baby--she's not giving up. She's glad to be a Mom--even if her baby IS obviously developmentally challenged.

As for little Ducky-baby--if he survives his mother's efforts to teach him the ropes, he'll be a very fine Muscovy Chicken

Addendum: Ducky-baby is a full fledged part of the flock. The little guy waddles around with the big girls all day long. While they still don't like little Millie, they LOVE Ducky-baby. He's the "worm-whisperer" and if there's a worm in the backyard, he'll find it--to the girl's delight. They gotta be quick tho if they hope to snatch his prize. Ducky-baby can suck a worm down in a flash--just like a piece of spaghetti.