For a very suitable song, click here

Last time I reported from Duckville, I mentioned that we were hoping for some new arrivals. I am happy to say they are here!

Babs, Joy and Teddie

Having debated long and hard about when to introduce the ducklings and their foster parents back into the main area, we decided to bite the bullet and try them all in together. When it seemed to be going fairly well, we arranged to collect our new duck ladies. They could acclimatise in the quarters recently vacated by the ducklings and then be allowed to find their place in the flock after a few days.

For some reason, I felt calling them  the three amigos would not stick, even if we changed them to the more correct three amigas. Several other ideas were dismissed because they just did not seem to fit. I began to wonder about famous trios. Most that came to mind were male. I did not know how many Kardassians were currently female and certainly did not know their names. I had a vague idea that they are brunettes. As were the three degrees.

A day or two before we were due to collect them, inspiration struck. I had memories of a trio who were very blonde and always did everything together. Our three ducks had to be kept together, according to the advert, so it made perfect sense to christen them The Beverley Sisters.

Babs, Joy and Teddie

According to sources, the original Beverley sisters always dressed alike, lived in houses next door to each other, never fell out, sang close harmonies, were slightly naughty but generally considered wholesome enough and were very popular. Everything pointed to this being A Good Choice.

We arranged to meet at a petrol station about half an hour from home. We took the crate that our four original ducks came in and intended to put another, larger box in the boot ‘just in case.’  Unfortunately, we forgot the larger box. Fortunately, the owner did not mind selling us the crate the girls were in when it was obvious they were never going to fit into ours!

The three ducks look extremely alike. My internet sources tell me that the original Beverley sisters always stood in the same order – a bit like Ant and Dec, I believe – so from left to right they were always Babs, Joy and Teddie.  I do not know whether our ladies always stand in the same order, so I propose to either refer to them en masse, or assume they are in the Babs-Joy-Teddie formation, whether they are or not.

Perfectly behaved in the car, Babs, Joy and Teddie

It has been pointed out that we already have a dog called Teddy, so  there could be some confusion, unless, of course, we address them in writing.

We drove away from the petrol station with the three ladies happily cuddling in their crate in the back of the car. They have quite deep, fruity voices and they chattered among themselves while we discussed how well-behaved they were being. Babs and Joy spent large parts of the trip with their necks entwined, while Teddie snuggled up to them as close as she could manage. It was all rather sweet.

Unlike Dick van Duck, who had a yellow beak, the Beverley Sisters have very pretty pale peachy/coral pink beaks. They have lovely buxom bodies and pretty white plumage, with a hint of cream. They are probably at least twice the weight of the runner ducks and their breed is usually kept for meat more than eggs. We would not dream of eating them. We are hoping that maybe next year we shall have some mixed race ducklings, perhaps with white plumage but the comical upright posture of the runners.

The runners stand much more upright than the mallards

The dogs were very interested in the new arrivals, sniffing us and the crate and getting hissed at for their trouble. We shooed them away and took the crate down to Duckville. Casper and Teddy squeezed between the shed and the fence, trying to get as close as possible and Minnow and Poppy charged about in the dog pound, woofing and peering through the side of the duck pen.

We opened the crate and encouraged the sisters to go and explore their new home. They were a little reluctant to leave the crate, but as soon as they did, they sploshed through the big water bowl and waddled around, checking out the accommodation.

When Geoff went down later to check all was well, the Beverley Sisters were fine. The ducklings and their mallard foster parents were under the shelter, but being terrorised by Ducky and Titch McDuckface. Poor Pablo had a sore head, evidence that he was being bullied. This was not good at all, but we did not feel we could turf the sisters into the fray so soon after their arrival. It was late, so Pablo would probably have a chance to recover overnight and we could consider our options.

Checking out the accommodation. Note Geoff lurking and the chicken ladies watching for food

This morning, Geoff went down to feed and water the ducks, change their bathwater and collect any eggs. Pablo was looking wretched and one of the ducklings, who had sprained his foot a couple of days ago was still not fully recovered.

I am afraid I did not have the video camera documenting Geoff’s duck herding exploits, but I can imagine it was not an easy job to round up the ducklings, Pablo and Louisa and return them to the cordoned off area. The Beverley Sisters apparently waded into the larger area and let the runners know they were not taking any rubbish from anyone and then settled for a group hug, ignoring the complaints of the runners.

As if they have always been there

A new order seems to have established itself, thanks to a bloodless coup from the Beverley Sisters. We shall go down in the next day or so and move the partition so that the ducklings have more space to run around in. Once they are fully grown, we can try removing the partition and hope they all shake down together nicely.

Skulking in the shade

In the meantime, the runner ladies have returned to their one egg each every day routine. I hope the coup does not put them off their stroke. We are eagerly anticipating our first eggs from the Beverley Sisters. They should be larger, whiter and have a soft sheen to them. I can’t wait!