The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Womble on November 28, 2021, 09:37:15 am

Title: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Womble on November 28, 2021, 09:37:15 am

Last summer we found a flock of domestic looking ducks on a freshly dug pond at our local community woodland. They were tame but starving hungry, so we think they were somebody's cute lockdown project "set free" once no longer cute. Anyway, we brought them back here and they have been happily quacking and laying eggs ever since.

They seem to be a mixture of silver appleyard and Welsh harlequin, but there's one sweet wee thing we called "Tiny Duck", because she's about half the size of the rest.

Anyway, yesterday we made a covered pen for them in the field, for #flockdown, and then tried to herd the ducks into it.

Tiny Duck wasn't too sure of this, and when driven, suddenly let out an almighty quaaaaak, before taking off vertically. She then flew off past our neighbour's barn. "Wow, I didn't know she could do that!" exclaimed the Moleacatcher.

Then, just as we were debating how the hell to get her back, I spotted something flop down in the field 100m behind us. That's right - Tiny Duck had done a complete circuit of the neighbour's barn, our house, the trees by the road, and was now back in our field. She was collapsed on the grass, utterly exhausted, so I walked over, picked her up and put her in the pen.

You may now choose your ending, as follows:


1) Smallholder

Anyway, she's happily back with the others now, but isn't #flockdown a bummer?

2) Facebook Meme

The truth is that Tiny Duck was always able to fly - she just hadn't ever spread her wings and tried, so she didn't know she could. For over a year, she stayed behind a 3 foot high fence, always longing for the fields beyond, but never trying. What's stopping you from flying like Tiny Duck?

3) Facebook Advert

The truth is that Tiny Duck was always able to fly - she just hadn't ever spread her wings and tried, because she was afraid of being separated from her bigger, fatter friends. Are your fat friends holding you back? Click here for your free fourteen page diet and exercise plan.

4) LinkedIn Article

This is true of many people's professional careers. They believe they cannot fly, until given appropriate motivation by management. Are you getting the best out of your team? If not, try chasing them into a small, scary looking pen. You may well find that many of them can fly after all.

Of course, following this, many managers find that alternative strategies are required to sustain this new, higher plane of productivity. At What the Duck, we recommend the Shotgun Motivational Technique (SMT). Click here to register for our next webinar.
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: landroverroy on November 28, 2021, 10:11:37 am
Brilliant!  :sunshine:
But actually the main thing I got from this story is that you saved the ducks, gave them a happy home (by evidenced by the fact that they stayed) and that they are still safe. :&> :&> :&>
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: doganjo on November 28, 2021, 10:18:04 am
My take on this is that you have too much mental energy for your own good .............................

and too much time on a Sunday morning :roflanim: :roflanim: :roflanim: :roflanim: :roflanim:
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Womble on November 28, 2021, 10:25:37 am
I'm supposed to be working  ;)
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: doganjo on November 28, 2021, 10:29:36 am
I'm supposed to be working  ;)
on a Sunday?  I that not illegal? :roflanim:
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Fleecewife on November 28, 2021, 12:26:18 pm
My take on it is that Tiny Duck just knew what she was in for - back stuck in a tiny enclosure for four and a half months, paddling in duck  :poo:  - and fancied one last fly around, whether you were watching to see her secret or not. Yes of course ducks can tell the future  :knit:
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: arobwk on November 28, 2021, 04:54:21 pm
I think a picture of Tiny Duck is warranted !!!  LOL
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Forestlens on November 28, 2021, 05:02:17 pm
I think a picture of Tiny Duck is warranted !!!  LOL

Yes, we need a portrait of the intrepid aviator!
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: cloddopper on November 28, 2021, 09:22:50 pm
I'm supposed to be working  ;)
on a Sunday?  I that not illegal? :roflanim:

 No ....... Sunday is the first day of the week not the last one , never quite understood why the some folk use it as a holy day
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Anke on November 28, 2021, 09:27:26 pm
Just watch out that little duck isn't teaching your pigs a thing or two....
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Fleecewife on November 28, 2021, 11:26:25 pm
Just watch out that little duck isn't teaching your pigs a thing or two....

 :roflanim: :roflanim: :roflanim:
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Backinwellies on November 29, 2021, 07:49:36 am
]4) LinkedIn Article

This is true of many people's professional careers. They believe they cannot fly, until given appropriate motivation by management. Are you getting the best out of your team? If not, try chasing them into a small, scary looking pen. You may well find that many of them can fly after all.


Reminds me of my twin boys at 19 lounging at home without much direction being told (by me)  find your future or you move to Wales with me and my OH  (Wales very much a small scary pen!!) . Within weeks one was in RAF  and other had flat and good full time job to support himself!

One in RAF is still in RAF and doing very well, other is operations manager for National Coffee Company ..

... so if you are having problems getting them to fly the nest (pun intended!) :roflanim:  .....  theaten with moving to Wales!!

(We love Wales ... just on case you were wondering) :excited:

Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Womble on November 30, 2021, 12:33:28 pm
I think a picture of Tiny Duck is warranted !!!  LOL


Photo of the lockdown ducks attached, for your pleasure. Tiny Duck is in the centre  :love: .
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Fleecewife on November 30, 2021, 12:41:26 pm
Oh, my take was definitely correct.  That wee duck knows just what's what.  Such a determined look in her eye. She needs a good strong Norse name.
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Womble on November 30, 2021, 12:44:24 pm
Go for it, Fleecewife!


The rest of our ducks are all named after makes of outboard motor, so there's Mercury, Yamaha and Evinrude (she's a Welsh Harlequin, doncha know - try saying it with a Welsh lilt, and you'll get it).

Oh, and there's Obvious Drake of course. We think he's some sort of rap artist.

Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: Fleecewife on November 30, 2021, 01:34:13 pm
Beadohild - 'Battle'; 
Birgitta - 'strength'; 
Gunhild - 'fight';
Ellika - 'undefeatable';
 and my favourite Ulfhild 'wolf/battle'

Or maybe I prefer Ellika because as well as being strong she is determined not to be overcome, and she's very pretty


(The 'hild's can have an e or a added)


Then there's Battlestar Galactica.....
Title: Re: Ducks can fly!
Post by: doganjo on November 30, 2021, 01:42:58 pm
That's it!   Galactica!  Definitely!