Ducks in mourning??🥺

[Kelster65]

Hi all, I lost one of my beloved Rouen hens on Tuesday. She flew over the Kennel Fence and into the yard where one of the dogs found her. I saw this on the security camera . She wasn't eaten but was bitten. Now her brother and 4 sisters have been so very quiet when they would normally be very chatty and loving life. I'm assuming they're all in mourning (me too). How long does this last with ducks (momentary/ lifetime) and is there anything I can do to help them? Silly question maybe but they're not "just ducks", they're family. I've replaced the netting on top of the run so hopefully it will keep that from happening again. They're about 8 pounds and have maybe gotten 3 feet in the air before but she was so full of joy that she breached the 6' fence.

 

[arwoon]

I am so sorry for your loss
When one of my roosters died from internal injuries after a fight with a dog, his favorite hen sat beside him on the ground all night and wouldn't let me take him away.

 

[Kelster65]

Oh man. I'm so sorry. That's love, loyalty and family right there - and some people say animals don't have souls. Their souls are really more beautiful than most people.

I found her in the yard about an hour after she flew over the run- she was still warm and I held her until she was cold. I showed her to them but now I wonder if I should have left her with them for a little bit so they could really mourn her. I know they saw what happened.. they were all squawking on the video. I think we're all traumatized.

 

[Quatie]

When I lost one of my Welsh harlequins to a hawk, one particular duck was very effected by it. The others moved on much faster. It took a few months for her to really bounce back. We brought her in to keep our disabled duck company. She got she indoor pampering and personal bath. It had a huge impact on her and she was happier than I had seen her in a long time.

 

[Canadian Wind]

They know, and they do mourn. There's actually someone on here that witnessed a duck funeral.

When I rehomed a few of my ducks a month ago, the next day all of them were skittish around me and looking at me accusingly. It made me feel like a character from Hitchcock's The Birds.

They will get over it, but give them a bit of time.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Kelster65]

They know, and they do mourn. There's actually someone on here that witnessed a duck funeral.

When I rehomed a few of my ducks a month ago, the next day all of them were skittish around me and looking at me accusingly. It made me feel like a character from Hitchcock's The Birds.

They will get over it, but give them a bit of time.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Should I have left her with them awhile?

A friend of mine said they might try to peck at her (can't imagine this right knit bunch doing that) and didn't think that was a good idea. I was devastated and felt I failed to protect her and thought they'd be more upset smelling the blood of their sister.

They're looking at me the same way right now.. like I've got an axe in my hand.

 

[Canadian Wind]

No, you did the right thing. And you can't question your actions after the fact. They will have their own mourning time, then life will return to a new normal, like we do when we lose someone.

 

[Kelster65]

No, you did the right thing. And you can't question your actions after the fact. They will have their own mourning time, then life will return to a new normal, like we do when we lose someone.

Thank you!

 

[ruthhope]

Sad for you and your Rouen

 

[Bigandlittles]

Mdee88 is right this is a comrant. We have them in south louisiana. We call them something else though that I will not post so as not to be disrespectful.