Ducks are in heaven

I realized I haven't updated the ducks in a while. As you can see, they have lost all their juvenile feathers, and now look like adult ducks. That is Mario in the front, Spicy right behind him (the white one), then Chatty is brown (she's shy), and Blackie in the back.

Blackie is the prettiest of my ducks, with feathers that are iridescent green on his head and back, and blue on his wings. I call him my "fashion model" because he doesn't have brains to go with his looks. He is a total follower!

Mario is what is called a "Trout" runner duck. Looks like a Mallard Male duck. He is the boss of the yard, and will chase the dogs around, nipping at them. All the ducks have claimed full ownership of the yard, and definitely feel they are higher on the pecking order than the dogs. Thank goodness my dogs aren't feisty, they just stick close to me, or stay on the deck to be away from the ducks.

Spicy is still the lead female. She is white with a little bit of tan on her, looks more like an apricot color. Too bad Mario is hogging the pic so she is hard to see! Spicy is likely to duck her head down and let you know that she is watching you, but will rarely actually chase the dogs (that's the boys job!). She's very vocal and continues to speak her mind about things!

Chatty is the baby. She is a Khaki runner duck, with some pretty dark brown lacing on her feathers. She is prettier in person than in the pics. Chatty joined us a week after the other ducklings, and has never been the leader of the pack. She is a follower, and the one most likely to fall behind the flock or to be sitting a little apart from the group.

They have started acting like pairs in some ways, with Spicy and Mario as one pair, and Chatty and Blackie as the other. Still no eggs, but I can hope for some by Halloween!

They are eating bean plants that I tossed out from the garden. I had a few bean plants growing on the fence, and the ducks love to eat their leaves, stripping any new growth off of the vines every day. Since the beans are about done for the year, I thought I would make them happy by tossing some out to them!

The ducks are pretty smart, smarter than you would think. Every night, at dark, I use a flashlight to see my way out to their pen. They follow along behind me, staying in the light, and walk right into their pen. In the morning, not long after sunrise, Spicy and Chatty will begin calling to be let out. I go open the gate to their pen, and out they race, talking all the while, trying to chase up some bugs. Funny to watch!

Well, I am off to can more tomato's. Gotta get it done before the day gets too hot. Oh, and by the title "Ducks are in heaven"? I mean, they LOVE the bean leaves and are having the best time stripping those vines!