July 29, 2026

Muscovy Mom and Her Ducklings

 Three video clips of Mom and her day old ducklings.

Mom made her next at the bottom of the hay loft ladder, where she was protected from goat feet and invading chickens. They are several days old now and it's amazing, actually, that the goats haven't stepped on any of them! Everybody seems quite content with the arrangement. 

14 comments:

Eaton Rapids Joe said...

Very pretty girl!!!!

I like small farm animals that blend in to their surroundings. I think that gives them a little bit more protection against hawks and other predators. It makes them harder to find for us humans....but rattling a bit of feed in a plastic bucket usually does the trick.

Rosalea said...

"Like a duck to water..." Love them.

Anonymous said...

Baby ducks are so cute and grow so fast! RHill, TX

Ed said...

It is so enjoyable and relaxing to watch videos of a species of animal and their offspring that you have no prior experience with.

Leigh said...

Joe, very true about their coloring. I'm guessing some of the ducklings will inherit her coloring as they are a lighter gray that others. (The daddy is black and white).

Also true about the feed bucket! lol

Leigh said...

Rosalea, it's amazing, but the very first time a duckling sees water, they make a running dive into it!

Leigh said...

RHill, they do grow fast! It won't be long before they'll look like adults.

Leigh said...

Ed, their instincts for mothering always amaze me. There is definitely some deliberate teaching going on. It's also amazing that some are better mothers than others.

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

So cute! Lightens my heart for a Wednesday.

Quinn said...

I've often been tempted to have ducks here but the lack of even a small body of water held me back. I do enjoy listening to ducks talk to themselves :)

Leigh said...

TB, baby critters have that effect. :)

Leigh said...

Quinn, we don't have a pond or anything that large either. But Muscovys aren't necessarily swimmers, they just love to take baths. We keep deep dish feed pans full of water for them. They don't mind not having larger pond; they are extremely happy with their little "bathtubs".

daisy g said...

What a treat to have new life on the homestead!

Leigh said...

Daisy, it is, and they grow so fast!