This edited and condensed journal by Karen Keel of adopting a duck reflects the unusual qualities of this particular duck, plus insight into a human family’s perspective of the duck adoption process. The full journal borders on being a scientific and behavioral analysis of yet one more instance of animal-human interactions.
Karen says this isn't the first duck her central Florida family has adopted. It is, she reports, the first Indian Runner Duck she has ever come across, as well as the most precocious and vocal one to enter the household.
The Duck is Adopted
July 22, 2011~ Whoever dropped this duck off at the Melbourne Library duck pond, why ? She's so cute & funny, she absolutely loves Marie & me. I broke down & bought duck food for her after only 24 hrs. She loves grapes & veggies. If you are out of her sight she quacks for you if she can't find you & her quack is almost mute! Swore up & down that I'd never do this again!
July 23, 2011~ It's day 3, Saturday, no school & Marie wakes up early! The duck hears Marie & wants to be fed! Yesterday we went minnow fishing for the duck. Two boys from the neighborhood came over & wanted to fish for her. I told them if they fish for her, they can feed her. She was well fed with fish treats.
This Duck Is Unique
July 26, 2011 ~ This duck is very unique! We learn new silly things from her every day. When riding in the car with us she sits on our laps, loves attention at any time from most people & or kids, doesn't like being left alone anywhere, likes her grapes peeled now, loves ice in her water to cool her down, loves hand fed minnows & now loves to be water taxied across the creek! She doesn't want go to sleep until after dark & when she goes to bed in her bassinet, she wants to be tucked in & fully covered over with NO light shining! At first morning’s light, she want to be fed right away, acting like she's starving every time I feed her. She loves air conditioning, gets over-heated easily. Funny duck she is!
July 29,2011~ Short & sweet! This duckie does birthday parties, still can go most places with us, and stays on the front porch & doesn't run away when I can't take her with us. Trying to teach her how to fly by holding her in my hand & lifting her up & down slowly as she flaps her wings… so cute.
Patches the Duck Starts Stepping Out
Aug 3, 2011~ My kid's tired of caring for this duck. Just scoop the poop kid & I'll take care of the duck! Patches is so lucky. She is cute & I am attached to her! She was a crazy diving duck in the creek; also everyone loved her in Petsmart yesterday. She doesn't care for certain people touching her, or for stuffed animals.
Aug 7, 2011~ I learn more & more about Patches every day. Marie spent the night out last night & came home before noon. Patches got up as usual to eat & look for Marie. When she couldn't find her, she quacked all over the house looking for her, then she kept coming back to me for comfort and to cuddle when she couldn't find Marie. She also picks on Tigger (a household cat). Crazy duck.
Patches and Marie
Aug 13, 2011 ~ Now Patches needs to know everywhere Marie goes & she seems to follow her more than before. Ever since Marie started school she seems very lost & she drives me crazy getting into everything during the day! I don't have a duck. I have a toddler. Everything goes in her mouth now: beads, string, paper pieces & my food & drinks, plus more!
Sept 3, 2011~ Latest update on our duck is that she is a he! (A diagnosis that turned out to be wrong.) When I was away in the hospital for 2 days, duck had to stay with Ron (Karen’s husband) so they bonded a little more. As we built the new playhouse, duck was there most of the time supervising! Had to put a mirror up for Patches for company! (When left alone Patches is confined to a small outdoor area with a bathing tub and the propped up mirror.)
Time for Duck Raising Advice
Does anyone out there know anything about house raising an Indian Runner Duck! Just want to know if I'm doing it right? Found out that's what kind of duck I have! Patches sleeps inside at night & is inside & outside during the day! Any advice would be nice! Need to start feeding my duck more or all wheat feed as to not get too much protein built up in her, which is bad for her! Also found out that she is related to the Mallard family! The difference is Indian runner ducks can’t fly, so will never fly away.
Sept 30, 2011~ Ok, I've chased men & boys down my road and called the cops because a guy exposed himself to my oldest daughter…the other guys /boys tried to steel bikes out of my yard, but when it comes to walking away with my duck that I've learned to love... THIS MEAN WAR! Yes, someone tried to steal my duck today. They walked away with her & I gave chase & got her back!
Patches the Beach Bum
Oct 4, 2011~We took Patches to the beach. She wasn't allowed to go in the ocean, but she took a long walk on the beach with Marie, Granma & me. We spent about 1 1/2 hours. There was a slight breeze on the beach which gave her the freedom to fly about 10 to 15 feet & about 1 foot off the ground (even if only for a moment). She enjoyed her time there.
A Duck Goes to School
Oct 14, 2011~ I took the duck to Marie’s school for show & tell with a few classes & duck was so good as long as I held on to her. She was touched & petted for about 2 hours by 3 classes & the children loved her. We had a great day.
Three Months After Adoption
The adoption of Patches the duck has been an emotional involvement for Karen, Ron and their daughter, Marie. Here is the impact it has had on them.
Karen: “About my Patches & how she changed my way of thinking about ducks. She has sincerely warmed my heart in so many ways with the silly, amazing, sometimes annoying, but loving things she does. I must remind myself that she is a duck. She does new & interesting things every day, which truly amazes me. She acts like my new little child. I love to challenge her intelligence to see what she will do next & what stimulates her interest. I love my little duck & all the things she does.”
Marie: “I love my duck more than anything! We swim, take walks & even sleep in the same room. I love when she cuddles with me & gives plenty of kisses & hugs. I give her a lot of them too, but I don't like her pinches, but I don't mind as long as she is nice again. We have fun playing & showing her off to my friends. I want to keep her forever. I think it's funny how she doesn't like my sister Renee.”
Ron (according to wife Karen): “My husband has mixed feelings about our duck. When Patches wants to be bossy to him, he has some fun messing with her. When she tries to bite him he is quick to stay clear & thinks it's kind of funny when Patches continues to want attention from him. Even if she tries to bite him, Ron does try to be nice to her! He likes his cat more but feels ok about Patches. He likes our walks with Patches & thinks it's kind of funny how she acts with Marie & me. He feels Patches is very unique.”
(A companion article features the amazing, lovable Patches three months after her adoption by the Keels.)
Sources: Karen Keel, Marie Keel and Ron Keel.
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Rosemary E. Bachelor - Rosemary Bachelor, a prize-winning journalist, has had a career as an editor, feature writer, magazine publisher and author. Her latest ...
