Dolly, the new
Receptionist! Last year an odd little duckling arrived and was mixed with some other ducklings but it was obvious that she was small.
As she grew we realised that she was a Call duck. These are ducks that are smaller than the mallard and would be used in the past to ‘call’ other ducks into ponds or lakes for shooting purposes. Because they were white, they could easily be identified and therefore would not be shot. Their wings would be clipped (just the lead feathers cut off from one wing) so that they would be unable to fly.
They are always very ‘quacky’ ducks and have a very precocious nature so being put out in to our poultry pen, she was always very noticeable, being in the front for food and fuss. As the winter came she was brought indoors a couple of times because she did not seem to be waterproof and was getting cold. She took to living in
Torn Ear Deer
the ‘bird room’ like a duck to water!! Dolly, as she was named, would sit on the side, alternating between sitting in her cat tray filled with water, to hopping out and preening back on the towel. She became such a character that she ended up sitting on the filing cabinet in the office having quacky conversations to all who pass.
Dolly has now entranced people when visiting residential homes and hospices and is just one of those characters who chose to prefer to be with people rather than other ducks. She may be a ‘call’ duck sitting in reception, but as yet has not learnt to answer the phone!
Just after Christmas, we picked up a deer just a few fields away from us. The poor creature must have been attacked by a dog that had just literally grabbed his ear and torn the ear completely away.
The deer was in shock and we were able to get him back to our deer unit where he was given a couple of days to get over the shock. Once he was strong enough, Sara set to work cleaning and eventually stitching the ear as best she could. Another couple of days the deer was looking fine and as the stitches were dissolvable, he was fine to go.
That night we left the gates to the enclosure open and he was able to make his own way out to the fields. We shall certainly recognise him if we see him again, but it would be nice if he is one of the regular ones that we see at the top of our field.
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