Chapter 1: A Surprising Start to Duck Farming

When I embarked on my adventure as a duck farmer, I had no idea what challenges awaited me. Breeding Muscovy ducks on our quaint little farm on Vancouver Island sounded like a fun idea at first. However, I quickly learned that the romance of duck mating is anything but delicate.

In the world of Muscovy ducks, the courtship ritual is rather aggressive. The drake pursues the duck relentlessly, seizing her tail feathers with his beak before mounting her. She has little choice but to submit, sinking into the mud as he exerts his dominance. The sheer size difference—where the drake often outweighs the female by a factor of two—adds to the wild spectacle. With his formidable talons, he can easily inflict damage if angered.

Once he's atop her, he grips the back of her head, bouncing awkwardly as he attempts to align himself. It can be quite alarming, especially when this vigorous mating ritual unfolds in their wading pool, where she is repeatedly submerged.

As spring arrived,