Hi, I am new.
I just returned from a week-long workshop out of town. My parents watched my 3 ducks.
When I returned home on Sat. evening I learned that my mom had unintentionally startled my ducks with her umbrella Fri. evening on her way out to the barn to feed the animals and put them in for the night. 2 ducks flew off and only 1 returned.
My parents could hear the other duck calling but could not find her.
On Sunday morning I took the remaining 2 ducks to the house for the day. It is obvious that both remaining ducks are very upset, but one acts especially strange. She quacks loudly for me to come outside, but once I go out there she puts her head down and "widens and flattens" her body, walking close to the ground, moving her head up and down, and puffing up the feathers on her "forehead." If I go inside, she quacks again, but as soon as I go outside her strange behavior returned.
Is she mad at me since I was gone for a week and her friend flew away?
Meanwhile... I spent Saturday night and much of the day yesterday walking the neighborhood, calling for the 3rd duck. I assumed she had not made it through the 1st night out alone. She is just learning to fly and sometimes has a hard time with finding her way around since things look different from above.
Then last night, after I had locked everyone up in the barn for the night, I heard a loud SQUAWK! I ran back down to the gate where I found my missing duck, looking a bit disheveled, but happy to be home. I scooped her up in my arms, hugged and kissed her, and cried with happiness. "God keeps his eye on the sparrows..."
Which brings us back to today... The ducks are back to a trio once again. Yet, the one duck who was acting so strangely toward me yesterday is still displaying that behavior today, every now and then...
I can't help but get the feeling that she is mad at me...
???
I just returned from a week-long workshop out of town. My parents watched my 3 ducks.
When I returned home on Sat. evening I learned that my mom had unintentionally startled my ducks with her umbrella Fri. evening on her way out to the barn to feed the animals and put them in for the night. 2 ducks flew off and only 1 returned.
My parents could hear the other duck calling but could not find her.
On Sunday morning I took the remaining 2 ducks to the house for the day. It is obvious that both remaining ducks are very upset, but one acts especially strange. She quacks loudly for me to come outside, but once I go out there she puts her head down and "widens and flattens" her body, walking close to the ground, moving her head up and down, and puffing up the feathers on her "forehead." If I go inside, she quacks again, but as soon as I go outside her strange behavior returned.
Is she mad at me since I was gone for a week and her friend flew away?
Meanwhile... I spent Saturday night and much of the day yesterday walking the neighborhood, calling for the 3rd duck. I assumed she had not made it through the 1st night out alone. She is just learning to fly and sometimes has a hard time with finding her way around since things look different from above.
Then last night, after I had locked everyone up in the barn for the night, I heard a loud SQUAWK! I ran back down to the gate where I found my missing duck, looking a bit disheveled, but happy to be home. I scooped her up in my arms, hugged and kissed her, and cried with happiness. "God keeps his eye on the sparrows..."
Which brings us back to today... The ducks are back to a trio once again. Yet, the one duck who was acting so strangely toward me yesterday is still displaying that behavior today, every now and then...
I can't help but get the feeling that she is mad at me...
???
