Well, this is ALL Becky's  idea.  As with all her ideas, this one is very sound and logically thought out.... (Ok, Jim - QUIT laughing!)

First a little background - Becky wants to herd with Ace, BUT the price of Diesel is drastically limiting how far she can travel. So why not practice here at the farm on sheep.  Jim REALLY veto-ed that one! Hum - back to the drawing board, how about more cattle. Darn, second veto. Maybe ducks? Something Becky had NO experience with at all.  Yes, she has been doing a ton of reading lately!

Then there was that fateful trip to the feed store..... She stopped in one sunny Saturday to pick up their feed order and had JB with her. NEVER EVER take your 2 year old human kid into the feed store in spring. He spots the ducklings, and after hysterics, "Elmo, Me Quack Quack, JB Ducky" and an EVIL feed store owner that has tried to add poultry to the long list of feeds I get for years.....

Well, let's just say that Mom now has WAY too many ducklings (A lovely assorted mix of Cayugas, Runners, Buff, Magpie and Blue Swedish and a pair of Peking.) that got their start  in a horse tank in the middle of the living room. The boys love them, mom, personally could REALLY do with out the smell. Thankfully, Jim is VERY laid back and just rolls his eyes and starts building duck housing.

And really, if you are going to be taking care of DUCKS, why not have CHICKENS too?  I mean, what's ONE more bag of feed?

Becky was thrilled that three of the four breeds are on the endangered lists from the American Livestock Breeds Conservatory. She strongly believes in trying to preserve the genetic diversity out there.