What is it like to have a pet Duck? (Part 2) ~ She can fly!

We’ll blame Gigi, our cat, for Maggie, our pet duck, learning to fly.

Gigi and Maggie came into our household only weeks apart, both as babies, e.g. kitten and duckling. So they grew up together as siblings. And like sibling sisters, they loved and loathed each other.

Gigi loved to pounce, playfully, when Maggie was around. Consequently Maggie became very good at moving away quickly. As running from a playful kitten is rather impractical when you are a duck, the next obvious step was to utilise the wings.

First it was a high hop, then a longer hop. Gigi loved this new game and would jump with Maggie. The hop became further and further. Both of them were in heaven. Gigi because she had finally found a way to play with Maggie (something she had been searching for since her arrival), and Maggie because, well, she was flying.

We soon developed a routine, particularly in the mornings. Gigi, Maggie and I would leave our cottage at dawn and walk down to the let the other animals out. Maggie would waddle behind me and Gigi would sprint ahead, then come back and pounce on Maggie, then run ahead again. Maggie in turn would fly a short distance, then waddle back to me. It could be a somewhat slow journey to get to the other animals sometimes.

As Maggie’s flying ability strengthened, she flew higher. Gigi would pounce and Maggie would fly with Gigi chasing and leaping underneath. If Maggie wasn’t feeling particularly playful she would simply fly all the way down to the other animals, leaving a bewildered Gigi half way, wishing she could fly too.

With flying, came independence. For both of us. Now, remember, a Duck is a flock animal. They panic if they are on their own, but as long as Maggie had another animal, or better yet a human in sight, she was good.

When Maggie entered her teenage years, she started to hang around with the other animals. She would stay down in the lower garden with them most of the day, sometimes all day. Ah, freedom!  The chance for me to get things done without a duck following me everywhere, quacking when she couldn’t see me. (It’s called imprinting, but that is another story.)

Before this, when I needed to go out, say to the shops, I would put Maggie upstairs in our cottage. A mirror to keep her company. She was very obviously resigned to these moments, telling me off quite distinctly when I would come home and bring her back downstairs. I think this is what prompted her to start spending time with the other animals. They at least were more interesting than the duck in the mirror.

Each day is different with a pet duck. There is no predicting. The plus side, I have become far more able to change my plans quickly. For days she would quite happily hang about with the other animals, then I might get a spate of her wanting to be with me. No matter how many times I took her down to the other animals, within an hour she was back up at the cottage, letting me know she had arrived.

I became quite adept at reading her moods and determining what sort of day I might expect. My favourite was always when she wanted to be with me and would hop up onto the sofa to fall asleep on her cushion. Cosy, quiet bliss.

Looking for More Duck Tails?

If you would like to read Part 1

What’s involved in having Pet Ducks – Duck101

Maggie’s Tails

and other Animal Antics

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PS. Still More Duck Stuff

You’ll find duck and other animal inspired gifts in our Shop, as well as duck inspired gifts and our own designs below.

(Simply click on the image to see more.)