Lemon the Duck

2011-12-22T22:42:00.000-08:00

Duck the Halls

Merry Quackmas

Have a Quacktastic New Year too!

Lemon 2011

2011-11-13T18:53:00.000-08:00

Spooky! This one is mine!

New Feathers...

Helping out in the garden

Snoozin' in my baby buggy

Laura: The summer was great, wasn't it, Lem?

Lemon: We went camping, swimming, and even to Story Land!

Laura: And don't forget, you grew a whole new set of feathers.

Lemon: I do that every year...don't I?

Laura: But every year I'm just so amazed! They are a work of art.

Lemon: This fall has been pretty fun too.

Laura: We went to King Richard's Fair, picked out pumpkins, and went on some fun book events.

Lemon: Don't forget we met Grayson, our new swan friend.

Laura: He was a true gentleman. At least I think Grayson is a "he".

Lemon: So, what are we doing this winter, besides snuggling of course.

Laura: Well, there's a list of events on your website, plus all the fun holiday stuff we're doing as a family, like going on the Polar Express next month.

Lemon: Will I get to see Santa?

Laura: You just want to make a nest out of his beard, you can't fool me.

Lemon: Quack!

2010-12-18T18:30:00.000-08:00

Another free greeting by Smilebox

2009-12-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

Lemon: Hey! Here we are on Reading with Robin!

Laura: Our first time in a radio studio. What did you think Lem?

Lemon: It was just ducky. Robin was really nice and my new friend Elvis is just so handsome.

Laura: Elvis's mom, Mary, has a new book out about Water Dogs. It's called Winston the Waterdog.

Lemon: And, Elvis is a therapy pet too---like me!

Laura: Yes, you two have some things in common.

Lemon: Do you think Elvis and I could take a swim together this summer? After all, he has webbed feet, and I have webbed feet. Maybe we could have a race.

Laura: I know what you're up to. You want to slide down Elvis's back like a waterslide---just like with Bandit.

Lemon: Maybe...

What a Lucky Ducky!

2009-08-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

Lemon: Look at the shoe that Lucky the Duck is wearing!

Laura : I wonder why Lucky needs it.

Lemon: Well, Lucky had a broken leg and had trouble walking so she needed a little help. Now she can swim and hang out with her peeps!

Laura: She looks like one happy duck!

Lemon: Happy and lucky!

If you would like to see a video about Lucky the Duck, please click here!

2009-07-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

Lemon: What are you reading?

Laura: "Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them"

Lemon: I see there is a dog with a scooter on the cover ---I have a scooter too. Does he have challenges?

Laura: Yes Lem, all of the stories in Almost Perfect are about animals with disabilities and the people who love them. Each one brings so much joy and inspires the people around them---just like you do Lemon!

Lemon: Is it hard work to take care of a pets with challenges?

Laura: You bet, and they’re worth every second. People tell me what a lucky duck you are to have me to take care of you, but like the people in this book, I feel lucky to have you in my life. All of the stories in this book show the wonderful animal-human bond. These stories illustrate what you and I already know---that we can all be happy, no matter what are challenges may be.

Lemon: Sometimes we just need a little help from our friends.

Laura: Right.

Lemon: Is this a book a duck would enjoy?

Laura: Every duck (and person), young and old will be inspired by these stories.

Lemon: Will you read it to me?

Laura: Of course Lem! We’ll start with Tuesdays with Tux….

Lemon: quacks... J

PS... If you'd like to have a copy of "Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them" send Lemon YOUR almost perfect pet stories. We'll pull the entries out of a feathered hat. Please submit entries by August 31, 2009 to caseycoco @ yahoo.com

Remember to take the spaces out of the e-mail address when you send your entry!

Molting

2009-06-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

Laura: Good Morning Lemon.

Lemon: I have a secret to share.

Laura: Let me guess....your are going through a full molt?

Lemon: How did you guess?

Laura: Look at you Lem, you're covered in haze of white and look at the floor! All

those feathers in only a few minutes!

Lemon: I didn't mean to make such a mess. I see you've been vacuuming a lot.

Laura: Mess? This is great news Lemon! You are getting rid of your old feathers and soon you'll have some beautiful new ones!

Lemon: I will?

Laura: Yes! It'll be like a beautiful new outfit.

Lemon: I can't wait!

Laura: Neither can the vacuum...

Lemon: quack...

Lemonart

2009-05-28T17:28:00.000-07:00

Lemon: Who is that Perfect Pekin?

Laura: It's you Lemon!

Lemon: Am I really that cute?

Laura: Of course you are! Marissa created this portrait of you to show everyone.

Lemon: She's talented. Thanks Marissa!

Cuteness Alert!

2009-05-25T14:56:00.001-07:00

Lemon: Awwwww!

Laura: We went to check on the incubators at school today and look who decided to hatch a day early! Lemon loves to listen to the little chick sounds. They're already starting to peck and explore their world.

Lemon: Why do they keep pecking at the freckles on my bill???

Laura: They're hoping it will be something yummy.

Lemon: Well, that's ok then...

Eggs, Eggs, and More Eggs!

2009-05-21T17:28:00.000-07:00

Lemon: Who put all of these eggs in my basket... was it you???? Pretty soon there won't be enough room in here for me! Besides, some of these aren't even mine!

Laura: Calm down Lem, remember, we're doing this to send your body the message that it's time to stop laying eggs. OK everyone, this is not a silly duck joke. Let me explain...

Lemon has been laying for about a month now and it's time to to put the brakes on! It takes a lot out of her to lay all of these eggs.

Instead of taking the eggs away from her each day, I hard boil them and put them back in her basket (remember, they're not fertilized and will not hatch into babies).
When they get all dented and crumbly, I replace them with wooden eggs (less messy). You can see in the picture some are real and some are wooden.

Here's the scenario I'm shooting for:

Once Lemon has a full clutch (10-15 eggs) she'll stop laying and become broody (want to sit and protect her eggs).
So far, she just keeps laying (she can be a very stubborn little girl).
But, I did see a good sign today. While she was in her Lemobile she was preening and pulling out some of her breast feathers.
Maybe for a nest, Lem?

Lemon: Maybe...

EGGSCELLENT!!!

2009-05-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

LEMON:

Look at the adorable little egg I laid this morning. Isn’t it the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? It was as easy as pie to lay this little egg! This year, I started laying eggs on Easter Morning. Why Easter? Well, the Easter Bunny shouldn’t have all of the fun!

LAURA:

The amount of light affects egg production in ducks. When the days get longer they start laying. In the past Lemon was having too many laying cycles throughout the year. Pekin ducks have been bred to lay and lay and lay. One of my ducky expert friends told me about the light affecting egg production. Lemon lives in the house with me. The lights go on when it gets dark. Could it be that the house lights were confusing her about how long the day was?

This past winter we did a little experiment. In the fall, as they days got shorter, I put her to bed when it became dark rather than keeping her up with me until I went to bed. I put her to bed every night by 6PM (no exceptions) and made sure the room was completely dark. No light was allowed! Even the hall light had to be off before I entered the room so she wouldn’t see even a sliver of light shining into the room. I missed cuddling with her at night and I did a whole lot of bumping into things as I felt my way around in the dark---but, it was soooo worth it because she didn’t lay at all this winter! One laying cycle a year is plenty for Lemon.

QUESTION: Will Lemon’s eggs hatch?

ANSWER: No, Lemon’s eggs are not fertilized so they’re just like the eggs you buy at the grocery store. People can eat duck eggs (they're great for baking with) but what I do with Lemon’s eggs is hard boil them. Some I put back in her basket and some I feed to her. It helps replace things like calcium and protein that she used to make the egg. She loves to eat them. By the time she’s finished we’re both covered in eggy mush! This duck definitely needs a bib!

2009-05-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Feet!

Lemon: Look at these delicate little webbed feet. They are perfect for paddling through the water, walking in my "Lemobile", or getting a foot massage!

Laura:

Q:Why do ducks have webbed feet?

A:Like a pair of flippers on a scuba diver, webbed feet help ducks paddle through the water. Each foot has three claw-like toes and in between each is a stretch of web which is flexible. A duck waddles instead of walking because of its webbed feet.

Lemon the Duck

2009-05-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

My very first book has been published. Lemon the Duck is a story-----about yours truly. If you would like to learn more about my book, please click here!

2006-09-23T00:20:00.000-07:00

Lemon the Duck
Hi, my name is Lemon. I am a very special Pekin duck. I was born with some balance issues so I cannot walk or fly, but I sure can swim!

2006-09-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

My favorite thing to do? SWIM!!! Do you want to race?

2006-09-23T00:12:00.000-07:00

I do enjoy preening in the sun. I'm the cleanest duck you'll ever meet!

2006-09-23T00:07:00.000-07:00

My friends have come up with a way for me to stand up. I really enjoy mucking around in the mud!

2006-09-22T23:50:00.000-07:00

I love to go for walks in the stroller! Sometimes we visit children at the park or go to the beach for a swim!