Disappearing Ducks

[teriz1091]

Our pair of 3 month old Pekin ducks disappeared today. They free range with our hens, & stick like glue to the young hens they’ve grown up with. I let everyone out of their coop this morning, but when we got home today, there’s no sign of them.

What is the likelihood that one duck would stay close to the other if one was killed by something?

Is it like them to wander far? These ducks have never left our yard, & are usually stuck to their buddies like glue. We went all around the property & couldn’t hear or see them anywhere. I’m worried that if they don’t turn up by dark, when I lock up everyone, that they’ll for sure be dead by morning. :/

 

[teriz1091]

Note - all hens are accounted for. Just the ducks are gone.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Hope you find them. Do you have a method to round them up or do they just go back to their coop on their own?

 

[BullChick]

I can only guess they went searching for a pool. Mine did eventually start wandering off. It’s the pains of “teens”.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Is there's a body of water anywhere near you? My ducks would travel a half mile to find this small stream, then make the trek back around dark. I had to lock them up permanently because they were leading coyote packs and skunks back to my chickens.

 

[BullChick]

Mine prefer to sleep outside on occasion, but only inside a run. They seem to know it’s safer than in the wide open.
I really don’t want you concerned, but if you can’t find them by 9:00 pm... well, see what morning brings. They will come back for food.

 

[teriz1091]

Update - my husband found both ducks dead, as well as evidence one of our friendly young hens. (I counted someone twice, it turns out we are missing one). They were down a steep draw behind our chicken house near a creek. There is a large stash of broken eggshells down there as well, which is why we haven’t been finding any for a while.

Our best guess is that something grabbed the hen, & the ducks were trying to protect “their” hen, & the animal killed them, too. They were killed by injury to their head, but were not eaten or otherwise touched. There is only feather evidence of the hen, he did not find her remains, it appears she was taken farther down into the timber.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Oh. So sorry to hear that.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Oh. So sorry to hear that.

X2
So sorry for your loss

 

[BullChick]

Oh my goodness. Oh! I am so very sorry!!!