Gutted gutted GUTTED

[Southwellski]

I bought 4 duckings at an auction yesterday and put them in a dog crate - this morning there was only one left. I have a horrible feeling they squeezed through the bars and then got eaten by our dogs. Very upsetting. So beware if you are first time ducklings owners like us - they can squeeze through very small gaps

Can I keep one duckling or woul dit thrive better with mates....I'm feeling like an unfit parent at the moment but will get soem more if I have to.....

 

[Miss Lydia]

I bought 4 duckings at an auction yesterday and put them in a dog crate - this morning there was only one left. I have a horrible feeling they squeezed through the bars and then got eaten by our dogs. Very upsetting. So beware if you are first time ducklings owners like us - they can squeeze through very small gaps

Can I keep one duckling or woul dit thrive better with mates....I'm feeling like an unfit parent at the moment but will get soem more if I have to.....

I am so sorry a very hard way to learn a lesson. But you still have the one so please make sure the little one is in a secure pen. and they really do like to have company so if you can get it a mate I'm sure it will be very happy and less lonely. In the mean time if you have a stuffed animal or a mirror you could put in with it to help it get over the loss of its friends. make sure the mirror has no sharp edges. Again so sorry for your losses.

 

[QueenDuck]

Awww what a shame I agree with Miss Lydia, I think you should give it a stuffed toy or mirror.

 

[chickenreferee]

Aww, I'm so sorry. My first year with ducks and chicks I lost a couple to my little dog because I didn't secure them well enough. I know how you feel, but don't beat yourself up. If you can get another duckling or two he/she would do much better. As already stated, ducks are pretty social and enjoy the company of others.

Hang in there! It will work out. Lesson learned, you are better prepared now.

 

[Going Quackers]

aw, i am sorry! Honestly, take this as a lesson learned and move on... i recall our first go round.. we put our babies outside as it was time to 'graduate' from the brooder in my house (LOL) and wouldn't you know it within the first week a coon did a reach into our pen.. we secured the pen well so it never got in but we didn't know about reaching in! two got hurt one worse than the other.. it lived we patched it back up.. moved the birds to the the horse trailer for night and got to building a secure coop.

Point? it happens and it is most definitely part of the process of learning the ups & downs of Poultry keeping, i would bet few here can say they didn't have an oops at the start of this whole crazy process.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Very sorry for your loss.

Dog crates can be wonderful. However, not only can small chicks, and ducklings sometimes get out by squeezing through the bars....unwanted things can get in: Think rats, mice and if outside minks or raccoon paws.

If you need to use the wire type dog crate, carefully make hardware cloth panels to cover the exterior walls and zip tie them in place securely. That keeps everything where it is supposed to be, either in or out.

Good luck with your future ducklings.

 

[cskotek]

I have all my ducks in dog crates but their kept indoors and they are in an area that is blocked off with a piece of plywood so the dogs dont get over there. Ive expirenced the same thing just that it was a little bit diffrent but same outcome :/ It should only get better from now on, now that you know!

 

[Southwellski]

Thank you all for your kind words and advice. It breaks my heart to hear this little one constantly cheeping so I have taken to carrying it around in my pocket

We have put the dogs outside in the run so the duckling had the utility room to itself (dogs out - duck in lol) and blow me down if it didnt break out a box in the crate a few more times after we had wired around the outside and taken all sorts of precautions. We have now decided to put it's pen in the bath where if it breaks out it is completely safe and cant go anywhere. I NEVER knew ducklings were so much more agile than chicks - it's a houdini!

We rescued/bought 3 white khaki campbell yesterday and they are on the pond ready to greet little one when he/she is ready but I am going to bite the bullet and see if I can get hold of a similar aged duckling in the meantime Although 5 is more than I wanted initially.....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you all for your kind words and advice. It breaks my heart to hear this little one constantly cheeping so I have taken to carrying it around in my pocket

We have put the dogs outside in the run so the duckling had the utility room to itself (dogs out - duck in lol) and blow me down if it didnt break out a box in the crate a few more times after we had wired around the outside and taken all sorts of precautions. We have now decided to put it's pen in the bath where if it breaks out it is completely safe and cant go anywhere. I NEVER knew ducklings were so much more agile than chicks - it's a houdini!

We rescued/bought 3 white khaki campbell yesterday and they are on the pond ready to greet little one when he/she is ready but I am going to bite the bullet and see if I can get hold of a similar aged duckling in the meantime Although 5 is more than I wanted initially.....

Well congrats on rescuing the KC's but your lil duckling needs a buddy it's age hope you can find one for it..

 

[Southwellski]

My little lone duckling now has a friend, a 10 day old crested duckling that I tracked down at a local farm. They are an odd looking little and large pair (one i syellow an done is black which makes them look even more mismatched!) but the cheeping has stopped and they are blissfully cuddled up together. So now I have 5.....