devistated: my mallard is gone :(

[mystkblu]

Quote:
I hope that is her!!! Have you taught your critters "calls" yet? My hubby calls them my "hog calls" but each of my animals has a particular noise or word or nonsense sound that brings them running to me. The chickens get a "CHEECKchickchickchick!", my ducks get (don't laugh) 'DOOK DOOK DOOK DOOKIE", the goats get "Gootie gootie gootie" and the horses come to a deafening wolf whistle! Did you use a particular word or noise when you fed the babes? Maybe she'll recognize that and come to you. The rattle of a feed bucket brings every animal on my farm descending upon me like a hooved and feathered apocalypse! Is there something familiar like a feed tub or bucket or crate you could put in those places to lure her back to the same place each night?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I am so sorry! I didn't mean to imply that your comment in particular offended!

My comment was directed at clipping wings in general and that it may make her feel bad if she hadn't clipped. I do apologize. I am new to the forum and forget that I need to apply a filter between my brain and fingertips when replying!

mystblu, you don't know how many times I have needed that filter between my brain and fingertips.

 

[mystkblu]

Quote:
Oh thank goodness! It makes me feel so much better to know that I'm not the only keyboard spaz here!

Any new news on the missing fowl?

 

[PAchickenlover]

Hi I'm new to ducks but i can't immagine what you are going through. I sure hope that is your girl that you and your hubby thought you saw and I hope you can get her home. I have quite a while before I have to wory about my duckling flying but this def. gives me something to think about for the future.......Hope you find her!

 

[duckking]

Do you know what caused the original kerfuffle? It could have been a predator.....I have to keep my ducks and chickens under netting, for fear of hawks and eagles and any other of the many critters that could jump the fencing. We still don't clip wings as they are able to fly around within their confines. I do hope she finds her way home.

 

[dumb_cluck]

Because it's a mallard, ANYTHING that disturbs the "peace" is cause for flying.

My mallards took off when my mini horse decided to rub against their pen.......

 

[Annie75]

I am so sorry you've lost your Mallard. I lost my Mallard on Tuesday last week. I'm heartbroken. Her wings were clipped but I'm wondering if they grew back and I didn't notice. I've got a fantasy that she's sitting on a nest somewhere secret and that she'll be back with babies in tow.

I totally understand how you're feeling and please don't worry about whether you clipped her or not, these things happen regardless of all the foreseeable measures we put in place to ensure their safety. We can only hope they're ok and not think too much beyond that moment you realised she was gone (gotta stop guessing all of the awful possibilities and cling to my nest theory).

Lets think babies together