Adventures of Spook – Spook takes over the farm!

Just as in “Spook survived terror”, living on a farm in Pa is a constant battle of hierarchy and survival for young baby chicks and ducklings. This is another Spook Adventure that takes you into the morning antics of our cute little house duck to give you an idea how Spook takes over the farm (and apparently my blog). You don’t have to be a brave little warrior… when you are just… this… cute…

Spook is living the dream of a house duck. He is living indoors, warm, fed, loved, and catered to his every cry. Life on the farm seems to stop for Spook. Although the donkeys are being asses… the chickens are being a bunch of peckers, Spook is not having a problem with it… at all.

The Spook strategy is– DRIVE ‘EM ALL NUTS!!!

Morning Coffee of Chirp, Chirp…

Spook’s weapon as he takes over the farm is his baby duckling cries. Just like a newborn baby crying for a bottle or a diaper change, this baby cries for everything. But as humans we don’t find the cry of a baby irritating or harsh on the ears. We learn to understand our newborn’s cries and start to understand our babies needs by listening to them. I haven’t been around ducks as long as the evolution of my species, so I don’t know… just what does that ‘SQUAWK’ mean in duckling language… and why is it driving me nuts?

He hears me come down the steps in the morning and I don’t even get to start my morning with coffee. I hear the waking sounds of a baby duckling… a very loud, high-pitched, and fast series of “SQUAWK, SQUAWK, SQUAWK!”.  Why does he have to do it at the top of his little duckie lungs right in the middle of my mad rush to go pee. Can it wait?… I really have to go to the bathroom….? Please?…. Oh gosh… Oh no…

My thoughts run rampant as I quickly evaluate that my bladder MUST take priority. Is the cat trying to make a stealth attack for a little breakfast of fresh duck? Did Spook get loose and scaring himself leaving little piles of fresh liquid duck poo all over and under my living room sofa? Is he stuck? Is he caught in something? Why is he screaming?

I flush and walk to the back room to make eye contact with two big beautiful brown eyes… the screams stop.

Aww… He missed me. He woke and he couldn’t find me. “It’s ok Spook… I’m here. I just had to pee…”, as he gleams back at me with a soft and quick “…chirp, chirp”.

Imprinting… What the heck is it?…-

Baby ducklings are born to imprint on their mother, (or in this case me) just as a child bonds with their mother the first few hours of life. This is good as they constantly want to be with whatever, or whomever they are imprinting. This is the earliest and most critical aspect of baby duckling development. Their “Squawk”‘s are their way to call out as if to say “Where are you mom?… I’m scared. I’m alone. I’m lost.” It is a commonality with many birds and it is their way to recognize their mothers, their siblings, friends, and foes. Imprinting can help to keep them safe from predators as they are forming attachments within their flock and as they develop their sense of identity (“Hey… I’m a duck.”)

Have you ever seen the baby chicks or ducks on sale at the Tractor Supply? Did you notice the signs that say, “Chicks minimum purchase 4”, “Ducks minimum purchase 2”? The reason they do this is because you shouldn’t attempt to raise a lone duck (my circumstance is not ideal, however, it is necessary and should not be attempted without duck raising experience). Ducks need to be raised with other ducks so that they can imprint on each other. During imprinting, they will follow each other around and learn cues about life from each other. They essentially keep each other entertained as they are never alone. The unfortunate situation in Spook’s case was that he was the sole survivor and I don’t have the luxury of raising him with another duck sibling. So for now, Spook and I seem to be sharing a special bond by the way of imprinting. It would just be too early for him to be released back outside to assimilate into the flock of other ducks. He is still small and vulnerable to predators. Most of the time I try to entertain him and keep him busy, but although he is taking over the farm, he is actually quiet for the moment so maybe I can get something done around here… awww…..well at least until…

Did I mention my morning coffee?… Well I almost…

Spook Unleashes ROUND 2 –

I put Spook in a little red wagon I set next to me in the kitchen. He can see me while I make my morning breakfast and finally the coffee is done brewing. I pour a cup to cool while I walk over to open the sliding door and let some fresh air in. I can see momma duck playing just outside with the Pekins and the Khaki Campbells who call the farm their home. You can hear their quacks as they play… problem is… Spook hears them too…and it starts all over again. Spook cries to his duck comrades outside like a General would rally his men… “squawk, squawk…”, they reply “quack, quack…”, he gets louder “SQUAWK, SQUAWK…”, the ducks outside get louder “QUACK, QUACK…”, louder and LOUDER… back and forth…. OMG… Not all of them…. PLEASE Make it STOP!

If it isn’t one duck driving me crazy… it’s all 19 ducks calling out to each other… checking in with each other like an elementary school homeroom during attendance but only done at the top of their lungs.  “JOHNNY…?”, “I’M HERE”, “MARY…?”, “I’M HERE”, “BILLY…?”, “BILLY…?. “WHERE’S BILLY?…”, over and over and over. Driving me nuts.

With all the ducks making a commotion outside (and inside), the donkeys are lined up at the fence to see what is going on. All six donkeys in an un-choreographed display of dismay, “hee haw”, “hee haw”, all right after each other as if singing rounds of ‘row row row your boat’…. Even the horse is whinnying her opinion on the matter from far out in the pasture. OMG… give me a break… now the chickens are “cock-a-doodle-doo’ing… and calling out to each other so they don’t get left out of the barn-yard chorus. It’s a battle to see who can be the loudest and apparently… who can get me to feed them first.

All I know at this particular moment… my ear drums need a break.

Ok Spook… you started this mess….

Fortunately his little wagon has wheels so I can wheel him room to room with me so he doesn’t have to get worried or scared when I am out of his sight. The wagon can also be wheeled to the back room by the computer so I can check my email in peace. He sits quietly in his wagon with only an occasional soft and quick “chirp chirp” to let me know he’s alright. I respond back with a soft and quick “Spook Spook”. It’s our little conversation for a little while during my morning email routine.

Every time I need to get something done, it begins… and ends… with Spook!

Unfortunately Spook gets stirred up when I have to go out and finally feed the other ducks, chickens, and donkeys… I have to put him back in the cat carrier (his ‘safe place’) before I go out just to make certain the cats don’t get frisky and want to jump in the wagon… I hope they get used to him soon… every single time I want to do something around the farm, it starts with checking on Spook, putting him in his carrier, getting whatever done quickly, and getting back to check on Spook.

Life (and apparently coffee) stops and waits for Spook as he takes over the farm. Donkeys wait to be fed which upsets them, chickens wait to be let out of the coop (but unlike Spook they get free-range), and the other ducks will just have to wait to go swimming in the pond. My supper gets cold, the TV gets drowned out (and I miss the best part), the cat litter is getting funky, and even the poor dog is so distracted that he can’t remember where his ball got to…

Spook demands attention –

Spook seems to have everyone on the farm very distinctly aware of his presence. Just like a child who gets all the attention, Spook demands his fair share of time, work, patience, and love.  He has taken over the farm and the battle to win our hearts. It’s an adjustment as we get Spook settled in and while we try to make him comfortable and entertained. We are bonding and learning from each other. I am starting to understand his duckling language as he talks, yells, and cries like a baby needing attentive care. I give it to him freely and lovingly as he demands. He is also understanding me as I ask if he wants to “go play”, “take a bath”, and the dreaded “go to bed”. Attending to Spook is time extensive but we are getting accustomed to each other and getting our routines down. I’m getting time to change the cat litter, play some ball with Hunter, and I am more relaxed about leaving Spook alone for a few minutes. So you see, against popular belief among the animals on the Misfit Farm, the chaos will soon have to start to return to some sense of normalcy (it has to for my sanity’s sake). This hope is what keeps me going.

I do also have to reassure the animals on the Misfit Farm that… It will be alright donkeys, chickens, cats, and Hunter the dog… we still love you. Right now… it’s all about Spook… and I think he’s really loving it.

Please visit again for Spook’s next adventure… to the tub for a little mastery of the game of Ping-Pong.

How can you not love this adorable little duck?

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoying it simple (with a side dish of Prozac… 😜)  – Love Sue… and Spook the House Duck 😊