Emergency wounded drake - lost him

[Amiga]

Thanks, 70%cocoa, and thanks for checking in.

 

[Apyl]

Aw I'm sorry.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i'm so sorry, Amiga.

Sounds like you did all you could. He was such a beautiful boy. So, were any other ducks injured in the attack? Was it a matter of a pen not being secure enough?

We haven't had a predator attack here yet (knock on wood). But they can come at any time, even after years of not having issues. All it takes is one hungry raccoon. This makes me want to be even more diligent in securing our pens. You can't be too safe.

Sorry again.

 

[fried green eggs]

Sorry for your lose.

 

[galgo98]

Please don't beat yourself up... you did everything you could for such a severe injury!

 

[Amiga]

Thanks, again, all.

This was a friend's drake, and it was a terrible loss of lives. He had been the only survivor, but apparently he was mortally wounded. The pen was thought to be secure, and had appeared so for two years.

Structures deteriorate over time. That is one of my concerns . . . that I would miss a piece of rotting wood or weakened fence. So, friends, if you don't already include this in your maintenance routines, add "check duck shelter security" to the list.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm so sorry Amiga, if nothing else you have helped us all be more diligent about the safety of our flocks. We sometimes get careless or lax about things when everything is going good. But you have shown us we can't be, whether it's building our duck house and runs for the first time, or keeping up with the mantience on them over time. He sure was a beautiful duck..

 

[Missy60]

Rest in peace.

Wow he was a beautiful guy! I'm so very sorry for the loss it's just heart breaking. Did you figure out how the predator got in? This really scares me...just the thoughts of it. My grand daughter left mill worms on top of our pen and something had eaten a hole in the bag. Something also carried a new 5 pound bag of cat food off our porch. You all will be in my thoughts and prayer, I'm so sorry!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wow he was a beautiful guy! I'm so very sorry for the loss it's just heart breaking. Did you figure out how the predator got in? This really scares me...just the thoughts of it. My grand daughter left mill worms on top of our pen and something had eaten a hole in the bag. Something also carried a new 5 pound bag of cat food off our porch. You all will be in my thoughts and prayer, I'm so sorry!

Sounds like the work of a raccoon around your house..

 

[Amiga]

Wow he was a beautiful guy! I'm so very sorry for the loss it's just heart breaking. Did you figure out how the predator got in? This really scares me...just the thoughts of it. My grand daughter left mill worms on top of our pen and something had eaten a hole in the bag. Something also carried a new 5 pound bag of cat food off our porch. You all will be in my thoughts and prayer, I'm so sorry!

Missy60, as far as I can tell, there was a weak spot between the top of the chain link and the heavy mesh across the top. Lesson for me: Posts must be strong, fence must be strong, and all the joints and seams must be strong as well. I am reexamining the coated fence I use across the top of the day pen. The night pen has half inch hardware cloth secured with poultry nails and screws through one inch round metal discs, and that seems secure.

And regarding food, I continue to work at improving my pick-up-before-dark routine. There is so much to do in the hour or two before dark, and from time to time I fail to pick up a soft-shelled egg, or leftover food in a pan, and once a bag of cat treats. Sometimes they are left alone, but I know that every time a raccoon finds food here, it is much more likely to return.