Easter Duckies Require Long-Term
Nurturing
 Nothing
says Easter more than cute fuzzy ducklings and little
bunnies.
But in a matter of weeks those miniature ducklings
become full grown, says Cindy Ciavaglia, who knows first
hand how much work it is to care for ducks.
"I cannot explain it enough," Ciavaglia said. "It's
like having a child. If you don't have the proper
setting for the ducks its not fair for them."
With the help of the Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary, a
nonprofit organization in Lebanon that rescues and finds
homes for domestic ducks and geese, Ciavaglia adopted
Phoebe. The Muscovy duck can weigh up to 6 pounds,
depending on gender.
Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary is run by Kimberly Link
and her husband, Tony. In November, they embarked on two
duck rescue missions on Spaulding Pond in Norwich's
Mohegan Park. Eleven Pekins and four blue Swedes, all
domesticated ducks, were trying to survive on the pond.
Link suspects someone purchased the Pekins -- the
white fluffy breed most commonly given as gifts at
Easter -- and discarded them when they were fully grown.
Link said the same thing happens every year. The
ducks at area ponds succumb to the cold and die from
frostbite or starvation. Or a predator attack, she
said.
The Links were able to find homes for all but one of
the rescued ducks. The duck they named Jonah still needs
a home, Link said.
So far, the couple has rescued 20 ducks. Ciavaglia's
duck Phoebe was rescued from another site with Link's help.
The Links believe Phoebe came from a farm because her
upper bill is broken. Ciavaglia said it was likely taken
off so it would not bite at other ducks.
Ciavaglia also has another duck, a mallard named Joey
who has just one leg. She took it in after a friend
could not care for it.
She named her ducks for characters on the television
show "Friends," who also had a pet duck.
With Easter just a day away, the Links and Ciavaglia
are stepping up their efforts to warn people against
purchasing ducks and other live animals, such as
rabbits, as holiday gifts.
But the Links don't wait until Easter to get her
message out.
Year round, they work with the House Rabbit
Connection, visiting PETCOs and PETsMARTs with their pet Pekin, Matthew, to
make people aware of how big the birds can grow in a
matter of weeks. Pekins can also reach up to 9 pounds.
"They are not ideal gifts for children; they are very
easily injured," Link said. "The animals really need a
safe, secure, large space. I mean we're talking at least
50 square feet per bird."
Ciavaglia has built her birds their own house,
complete with their own inside 220-gallon filtered pond
surround by picture windows and an outside enclosure.
The inside is also heated and lighted.
"It's like their own little condo," said Ciavaglia,
who lives in Oakdale. "But it's a work in progress. They
are very messy. What people need to consider is time. If
you have time to take care of an infant, then you have
time to take care of an animal. Don't consider how cute
it is."
Article originally published March
26, 2005 |
