First death

[Kerr]

I've had my first death today and I'm feeling awful.
I have (had) 5 teenager ducks who always hang out by the chicken coop and their turtle pool during the day.

Today I finally let them go down to the creek.
They were back and forth all day from the creek back up to the house.

I came out to have my afternoon tea with them like I always do and there were only 4?

I went back down to the creek and heard rustling in the cattails -- look over to the shore and see my duck "Major Bedhead" laying on his back, legs straight but I couldn't see his head cuz it was in the weeds (sort of on shore)
Whatever it was, was trying to pull my duck up from the water. I watched it trying to drag him like a horror movie flick. Yet the entire time I did not see the predator?

I ran to grab my shovel ( I guess in the back of my mind I was going to pummel the murderer lurking amongst the weed bed....)

Alas my duck was just out of reach.....

So my son threw rocks while I ran and grabbed my black lab "Buster"

He's not a hunter but I said "go get my duck for me buddy, go get him"

In an instant- and it could only be a bit of instinct and his sense of sadness - he walked over and ever so gently grabbed Major Bedhead in his soft mouth, brought him all the way back to me and laid him at my feet.

Never retrieving anything for me but tennis balls and sticks I sobbed like a child. So sad I lost my duck, feeling it was my fault and having such a kind soul in a furry friend.

Thanks for listening
just feeling really blue

Kerri

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

I am so very sorry hun. We lost one of our ducks last friday, it was our first death also. We still have yet to find out what it was that got it. We searched all day, we couldn't find feathers, body, nothing. I guess I am still hoping she will come home. Our duckies do the same as yours.. go to the creek, come home, sleep right next to the chicken coop. BUT, since that day that we lost our little ones the others have yet to go back to the creek, personally I am not forcing them. I do feel your pain and send you a huge hug.

Take care
Tes

 

[Bubba]

You don't have to train a lab to mouth a bird and bring it to you. It is in thier nature. As much as a chicken starts dust bathing and scratching the dirt....

Sorry to hear about your loss, wonder what got him. How big was your duck? Most predators don't have to drag prey so maybe it was something smaller. Cat? Maybe

Bubba

 

[Kerr]

ya I know Buster is bred as a bird dog...
I think I was just amazed that he seemed to feel my sadness.
I guess it was just the way he laid the duck at my feet and just sat down close to me

I don't think it was a cat.
I think it was a muskrat.
That would be the only thing I could think of that would be in the water.
The coyotes don't come that close to my house and the cats don't go in the water...even the mean barn cats
It wasn't a chicken hawk cuz I hear them coming they are so loud
Pretty sure it was a muskrat
whatever it was - it broke my ducks neck and then took a bite out of

rotten thing

 

[Kelly FG]

awww

:aww

i feel your pain, i lost my beloved SLW hen just a few days ago.
What a good boy your dog is.

 

[chickbea]

Oh, sweet Buster. It's amazing how in tune dogs are to us.
I'm so sorry this happened, and that you had to be there to see it. Is it possible it could have been a huge old snapping turtle? I've heard of them attacking young ducks; I'm not sure how big yours were.

 

[Kerr]

Oh I never thought about a snapping turtle
Yes I guess it could have been but I think a turtle would have flattened out the weeds while he was dragging the body and I would have seen him..maybe...I dunno

My ducks stayed up at the coop today thou and just swam in their pool
No more creek and I only cried once today

I'm not actually sure how old they are
I've had them since they were wee little fluff balls

Major Beadhead was the poor soul on the end there

 

[Southern28Chick]

My first thought was a snapping turtle or a snake. I'm sorry!