Curious if anyone has experienced this with their ducks...

[CoDucks]

So, I am fairly new to ducks (about 10 months in). We have an all female flock, 2 Anconas and 2 Golden Hybrid Layers. They free range during the day and tend to stay pretty close to the house. The Anconas are especially good at watching for danger and will head for cover when they feel threatened and the other 2 will follow. Yesterday I was inside the house and could hear them squawking loudly by the side door. They do this occasionally when they want a treat and it was snowing all day yesterday so difficult to forage. I threw them a snack and noticed only 3 of them were there (they stick together, but sometimes one is slower to join the others). The first sign that something was wrong was that they kept squawking at me and wouldn't touch the snack. I mean, they were YELLING at me.
I started looking around for my 4th girl (I call her Turkey) and after about 10 minutes I found her about 75 yards from the house. I could see paw prints in the snow so assumed either a fox or bobcat got her. She was bleeding from the back of the neck and very lethargic. I got her inside and cleaned her up and got her comfortable, but sadly she passed about 3 hours later.
I knew the risks given where we live and letting them free range, but never imagined the other 3 would act like they did. They were very distressed and I got them into their coop so they could rest. Surprisingly, all 3 laid eggs this morning and seem fine today. Has anyone else experienced something like this?

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

Sorry for your loss.
They were probably just stressed about the predator . Most animals don’t care a dime if another one in their flock dies.

 

[neo71665]

When we had mallards on the pond they would all start up if something was wrong with one. When I was building my shop all 50ish of them were making such a racket I climbed off the roof to go see what was up. A snapping turtle had one of the half grown chicks by the tail and couldn't drag it under. All the ducks were on the other side of the pond but they were hollering just as loud as the chick.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope you know what got your duck will be back. I would keep them penned for a while unless you can be out with them.

Very sorry for your loss.

 

[ruthhope]

Sorry for your loss.
They were probably just stressed about the predator . Most animals don’t care a dime if another one in their flock dies.

I disagree with ducks that have been raise together. Last September, I took three of mine on road trip and left 2 at home with a pet minder. The two left behind were confused and clearly looking for their friends for the week we were away. They only started behaving normally when we got back. This year, I have brought all of them with me as I am away for 4 months.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

I disagree with ducks that have been raise together. Last September, I took three of mine on road trip and left 2 at home with a pet minder. The two left behind were confused and clearly looking for their friends for the week we were away. They only started behaving normally when we got back. This year, I have brought all of them with me as I am away for 4 months.

They may have been missing you too

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I disagree with ducks that have been raise together. Last September, I took three of mine on road trip and left 2 at home with a pet minder. The two left behind were confused and clearly looking for their friends for the week we were away. They only started behaving normally when we got back. This year, I have brought all of them with me as I am away for 4 months.

I also disagree
I have 16 ducks
They are a big flock but also a flocks within the big group
My mom and dad ducks he will freak out if he can’t see her. I had her inside for a break and tried ti keep him with the flock and he ran to the house door and was banging with his beak ti get in
My first 5 hatched are also very attentive to where each other is
When I had to bring dasher inside those two brothers wouldn’t go to the coop no matter what. I was trying to guide them and they would run straight back
It was dark out and they didn’t care
I had ti carry each one
First thing in the morning they both bolted right back ti the house door
They definitely know when a member of the flock is missing

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

I had a hen come get me to tell me one of the others was ill. It was a whole production of playing charades. It was a lot like an episode of Lassie when Timmy has fallen down a well.

When I have small flocks of ducks I can't take one out without pandemonium erupting. There is panic if one is missing. If one passes away there is a noticeable depression.

For hens, if one is sick I bring her inside and then back, so they accept that if one is sick and I take her away, that means she is in the house being spoiled, so no worries.

The one and only time I had a hen taken by a predator it was daytime, in front of the rest of the flock. The rest of them were a search party looking for her and calling out for a long time. They would go to where the hawk took her and screech out for her. They thought she was lost and needed guidance coming home.

 

[bhaugh]

I had a flock of runners. Too noisy for me and I placed them but when I had to vet one, the others stood at the gate and quacked the entire time she was in the house. It was endearing to me to see.

 

[Painted Calls]

Yeah, ducks are definitely different from other poultry in that they form actual attachments to each other. They were likely acting that way because of the predator and because of their flockmate.