The other day as I was indisposed from, you know how malaria can be sometimes — I hope one day it’s eradicated from the globe like polio. Anyway, I woke late and straight away took a chair and sat under my favorite shade tree, avocado at the center of the yard, where I see every activity taking place.
Everything was out and active, except me of course. The livestock munching; poultry was out and already scratching and pecking — in the order of course — and even the ducks were out. And then my little sister brought out a karai used to prepare ugali meal and filled it with water, a perfect environment for the ducks.
The two little duckling aware that the scene would soon be thronged by the chicken, kept at bay and continued grazing. But two adult ducks, a male and female came sauntering right there and dipped their beaks in. They had not enjoyed for a minute when a little two week chick got wind of the feasting. It was interesting to note that even the big bossy — to his kind — male duck was forced to flee, of course after pulling off a few stunts to impress his queen who at the moment was running like her life depended on it. And it was even worse when adult chicken showed up, the ducks had to walk away defeated.
The whole thing left me wondering why are ducks so inferior to chicken! And not only in physical strength by the way, but in almost every aspect with exception in body size and egg size, both of which by the way have no space in the market. But maybe its us who are underrating this birds, making them almost valueless in many markets across the globe, while they can be worth more. Let us show the ducks some little love, and maybe even the chicken would stop treating them like shit.