Jemima didn't do a lot during the day. She came out of her house in the morning and waddled along to the pond. Later in the day she could be seen searching out slugs from the vegetable garden. Occasionally she ventured onto the smaller pond but at the end of the day was always waiting by her house to be let in for the night and fed. If we were late she would come towards the house quacking indignantly and if we had been out in the car for the day and only reappearing at her bedtime she could be waddling up the driveway complaining loudly.
A few weeks ago we bought 3 new ducks. They are Miniature Appleyards and very pretty - one drake, two lady friends for him. We imagined, erroneously, that they would follow Jemima around. Oh no! Jemima has become a teenager again. The new ducks are only about 6 months old and full of life. They are not keen on leaving their pond at night - persuading them into their house is a long drawn out affair ad Jemima just joins in. No longer is she there, waiting, at night, to be let in to the house. No, she has joined the young ones in their runaround attempts to get me to fall into the duck pond. As soon as they see me coming they swim to the far end of the pond - way beyond my reach. Our neighbour - the duck supplier, provided us with the equipment to help - a long piece of white plastic tubing. This, it seems, or he says, will persuade them to come out of the pond and go to bed. Maybe it does - for him! Actually, eventually, they are getting out of the pond. It is not an easy task. Great patience is needed and Jemima is just as bad as the rest of them - she has a new lease of life.
All is worth it though for the morning opening up of the duck house. These three little ducks come flying out as soon as the flap is opened and dash to the pond. They throw themselves in and swim around like lunatics. Jemima waddles frantically after them. They are such fun.
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