In our preparedness efforts I have considered possibly keeping ducks. Due to our HOA rules we cannot keep livestock, chickens… or fowl. Sigh. I wish I had been preparedness minded when we were looking to buy a home! THIS would not be it, as I am so severely limited in what I can raise to provide for my family. Eggs are such nutritional powerhouses!! And duck eggs are bigger than chicken eggs… but that isn’t an option here. I have eaten duck eggs… and they tasted just like a rich chicken egg… no off flavor at all!
Today Arrow & I walked up to the post office to mail a soap order. When we had returned and before we got into the house we heard a ‘ruckus’ in the ditch.
Lo and behold there were two drakes chasing a female Mallard along the ditch area. Every once in a while one pair would stop running.
After this happened a few times, Arrow asked me what they were doing.
This question was followed by silence from me.
We watched these antics for a few more moments when he asked me if they were mating. Yes they are.
One male finally drove the other off and the remaining pair stayed on in our yard! We were so excited!! Arrow got some duck treats and I got my camera.
Here they are down near the road and one of the three tiny blue spruce trees Arrow planted for me a few weeks ago.
I walked down to the road and got this picture. In the foreground is one of the rock towers Arrow built for me.
Arrow also got his camera and took some of his own photos! They came very close to him as he sat in the grass.
Here they are by the hydrangea bush Arrow recently transplanted. For those new to this blog, this is THE bush that tripped me and made me break my arm in July 2010. You can read about that adventure starting here.
The Patriarch thought they must have liked our yard since it was recently cut and would be good access to all those bugs! Or that they are mallard-justed.
They flew off, probably to the lake.
Arrow named the drake… Mallard Fillmore.
A few hours later they had returned! Oh joy!! So we got a container to give them some water.
A pretty duck is like a mallard-y. 
Then they flew away again. Arrow busied himself making a surround for a larger ‘water feature’ and a small shelter for the happy couple. He placed the water containers into holes left over from our tree removal and front yard ‘flattening’ last year. I guess I will have to fill them with dirt and plant grass seed one day soon. It blessed my heart to see Arrow take the initiative in caring for these beautiful creations of the Lord.
Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
Proverbs 12:10
Of all things this pair returned to our yard a third time! I didn’t get any photos since I was cooking dinner. I did see them through the garden window. Ducks are smart birds. They went to exactly the same spot where the first ‘watering hole’ was!! Each duck got into the hole and lay there for a brief period. Arrow went outside to show them where the new water was, which they liked since it is a bit larger. He then showed them their shelter. Mrs. Mallard checked it out and they both flew off.
We are hoping for regular return visits!
Blessings, ~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)
Other Musings You May Enjoy:
Broken Arm Blessings – The Break
Lemon Lavender Muffins – Gluten & Dairy Free
This post also linked here: The Better Mom, What Joy Is Mine, Raising Arrows, Homestead Revival, Far Above Rubies, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home, Thankful Homemaker, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Builds Her Home, We Are THAT Family, Deep Roots at Home, A Mother’s Heritage, Women Living Well,
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I hope they return as well!!! God providing for you.
Sigh. They did not return to our yard today. Arrow kept asking if I saw them yet. So sad to have to answer… no.
We have a mallard couple who visits here, too. One day last week it was just Mrs. Mallard, and she spent the sunny afternoon hanging out with our girls. Ethel in particular seemed to like Mrs. Mallard and the two of them were wandering around the yard together, checking out all the good bug spots.
We *do* keep our eye on Mr. Mallard, though . . . we really don’t want fertile eggs and possible “mutt duckies”. He’s been landing on our barn roof and we’re hoping he has nothing but honorable intentions!
I was hoping Mr. & Mrs. Mallard liked our yard so they could eat the slugs out of my garden. Sigh. They did not return today.
I thought mallards mated for life. I didn’t think they had multiple wives. That could be my impression left over from multiple readings of “Make Way for Ducklings”! “Mutt duckies” sounds so funny!! You don’t have any male ducks do you? Guess you’ll have to gather and eat them quickly!
What a precious story! God is good! Thank you sharing this at WJIM. It made me smile.
We had such fun enticing the ducks to stay in our yard! The other day they did return one more time… this time they waddled about on our roof! It was so funny to watch them up there.
Just beautiful!!
Thank you!
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