Duckling Disappeared!!

[chardin29]

I rescued three wild ducks last night when their mom abandoned them for over an hour. I put them in a brooder, the same ones my other baby ducks and baby chicks were in when I first got them. I gave them food and water and a heat lamp. When I left for work this morning all three were in there, but when I got home one was gone. The brooder is in the chicken coop, which has a fence around it and is locked up. There is no way they could escape this brooder. They are only days old and can still barely walk. There is a latch at the top and is about three feet deep. The only animals in and out are chickens. What could have happened to this poor duckling?

 

[Amiga]

Is there a lid on the brooder? Some ducklings are amazing jumpers. If the fence around the coop has gaps bigger than an inch or two, if it's as young and small as I am picturing, the duckling could have gotten out.

 

[chardin29]

Is there a lid on the brooder?  Some ducklings are amazing jumpers.  If the fence around the coop has gaps bigger than an inch or two, if it's as young and small as I am picturing, the duckling could have gotten out.

 

[chardin29]

There is a lid that latches shut. The bottom of the fenced in area has chicken wire around it about two feet. Here is a picture of the babies from yesterday.

 

[Amiga]

Mercy. Very strange.

 

[localife]

I can't tell from the photo -- does the brooder have a solid bottom?

 

[Divine Ducks]

I have a very special bond with Gracie . She will be 1year old 6/9/15. & She started laying in December 2014. George & Gracie were inseparable. But on night in February this year, some critter made a Pekin duck dinner out of George. Gracie had never been by herself...she was very lost. I started spending time with her. Golly! What a personality! She is so much fun! We just received 11 Pekin ducklings.they aren't even 1week old. Gracie is really going to be happy!
I want to raise these organically. Any suggestions?

 

[chardin29]

I can't tell from the photo -- does the brooder have a solid bottom? 

That isn't the brooder. It's the box they came to me in. Yes the brooder has a solid bottom.

 

[duckmanjim]

Could a snake have gotten in?

 

[chardin29]

Could a snake have gotten in?

No possible way. I'll take a picture of what they are in, in the morning.