FowlBlog.com

The Valentine’s Day movie is packed full of celebrities which cater to all demographics and tastes.  From Patrick Dempsey and Jessica Alba, to Julia Roberts and Jamie Foxx.  However, the real stars of the movie are the little ducklings which make perhaps the most picturesque shot in the movie.

While Valentine's Day was packed full of big Hollywood stars, the ducklings were the ones to steal the show.

As the movie draws to a close and the topsy turvy convolutions of characters and subplots are being resolved, we see the lovable floralist (played by Ashton Kutcher) tossing the unsold flower petals into a stream from a bridge.  He is reflecting on the transpirations of the day, when he sees 4 little ducklings swim through the petals on the water.  While the ducklings’ moment in the Hollywood spotlight is brief, they definitely steal the show with their cuteness.

Where did the producers of this film obtain the ducklings they sought after to convey the film’s emotions?  They purchased their birds from eFowl.com – the web’s leader in ducks and chickens for sale.  The breeds of the birds which swam by were 2 Pekins and 2 Rouens.  These are both domesticated breeds, and what domestic ducklings would be doing in an LA creek on their own in the middle of the night is perhaps a detail left best unquestioned.  From the size of the birds, they look to be about 3-4 weeks old when the filming took place.

eFowl.com frequently supplies animal training companies with animal actors for everything from major Hollywood movies to local commercials.

Ducks are thrilled that they are now allowed in Huntington, NY

A few weeks ago we explained a legal battle where Huntington, NY duck owners Nina Tam and her daughter Ava Post were battling local regulations to allow them to keep their small, domestic flock of birds.  Like many duck owners across the country, they utilize their egg laying ducks to provide them with a safe and healthy alternative to chicken eggs.  Nina Tam has a food allergy to chicken eggs, and duck eggs have offered the perfect nutritional solution.

We are happy to report that this brave duo succeeded in going through the appropriate legislative channels to have their local regulations changed such that up to 8 ducks can now be owned in the town of Huntington, NY.  Through the use of social media such as a Facebook page and an online petition, Nina Tam and Ava Post were able to garner enough support to form a cohesive argument as to why their flock is not a nuisance, and should be allowed to remain.

This victory follows a rising trend of legalizing backyard poultry.

We at FowlBlog.com would like to congratulate Nina and Ava for opening the door for so many to enjoy this environmental and engaging hobby.

The Duck Amendment will be announced at a Town Hall Board meeting at 7pm on January 12th at 100 Main St. Huntington, NY.

There are several ways to help me find a good home! Don't just leave me!

We occasionally read or hear about tragic stories of people dumping ducks, chickens, and other birds in dumpsters or outside.  There is absolutely no reason to ever dump birds in an environment where they cannot survive.  All birds, especially domesticated ducks and chickens, have value and can be given a good and purposeful home.

Many people do not realize that most ducks and chickens one comes into contact with are domesticated breeds.  Thus, they had their wild instincts bred out over time in order to achieve the most desirable farming traits.  They will not adapt to a wild environment in most situations, and certainly should not be killed or dumped simply because they are unwanted.

If you have ducks or chickens which you cannot care for or do not want, please do not destroy them.  These are several key options which you can pursue to find them an adequate home, all of which require little effort.

How to find a good home for unwanted ducks or chickens -

• Post an ad for free ducklings or chicks on Craigslist.org .  People all over the country raise ducks and chickens for a variety of beneficial purposes including egg production, pets, and as meat.  If you simply advertise on Craigslist that you have some free birds available to be picked up, you will receive plenty of interest.  Often time times, a good home can be found within a few hours.
• Look for people seeking ducks and birds in your area on farming message boards, such as BestFarmBuys.com or AgriSeek.com . If you find the right person, you may even be able to sell you birds and make some money.
• Contact a local farm or hatchery and ask them to take the birds.  There are countless places which raise birds for a variety of purposes all around the country.
• Contact a local wildlife rehabilitater or waterfowl rescuer.  While this a great option and a valuable resource, these valuable people are very busy.  Thus, it may be better if you attempt one of the options above prior to contacting a rescuer.
• Contact your local Fish and Game department.  Again, this option should be used only when you’ve attempted the first three options.

Raising chickens and ducks in one’s backyard is a practice that is undergoing explosive growth in the United States.  Countless people find it to be an engaging hobby, an environmentally healthy pursuit, and a tremendous joy.

Ducks aren't just for the farm. They make great pets and wonderful friends.

This has been dubbed the Backyard Poultry Movement, and it is occasionally at odds with city ordinances and municipal codes.  Officials cite health, odor, and noise concerns.  However, while it may not be feasible to raise fowl on a large scale within city limits, it is certainly possible to keep a small flock for personal purposes, even when in close proximity to neighbors.

There is a trend of legalization of backyard poultry in cities where it was once banned.  Examples of cities where the citizens have successfully overturned ordinances prohibiting backyard poultry include Fort Collins, CO, Madison, WI, and Ann Arbor, MI.  However, this is usually only after a small skirmish between proponents and opponents of the Backyard Poultry Movement.

Such a skirmish is currently taking place in Long Island, NY, where Huntington Station resident Nina Tam and her daughter Ava Post are fighting to keep their ducks on their urban property.  Nina Tam suffers from allergies to chicken eggs, and thus duck eggs serve as a wonderful, healthy alternative.  The family is raising a small number of birds both as pets and for egg production, and they’ve found them to be a tremendous joy.

Here are Nina and Ava's backyard ducks. They appear to have a Pekin, two Black Runners, and a Fawn & White Runner.

Furthermore, the ducks are very quiet and do not disturbed the neighbors.  They are totally fenced in, and do not create a public nuisance.  They even serve as an exciting treat for area children who come observe these entertaining birds.

However, one neighbor has complained and thus the city has sprung into action to have the ducks removed from their property.  There is currently a hearing scheduled for November 5th to move closer to resolving the issue.  Nina Tam and Ava Post have garnered hundreds of signatures on petitions to encourage their city to follow the increasing trend of legalizing backyard poultry.  Also, their story has evoked an outpouring of support from poultry enthusiasts and sympathizers in the form of Tweets and Facebook messages.

Check out the social media efforts related to this story -

• Facebook Group – Help Me Save My Ducks
• Petition to Legalize Backyard Poultry in Huntington Station, NY