Lost my beloved Bambi tonight.

[Goat_Walker]

Thanks everyone. Im just....lost.

Its only been four almost five months since i had rehome all my ducks ( 50 or so ) but my scovies.

My mama and her six babies ( including my now....dead...female ) were supposed to be my final little flock. With it being winter and me not being home from 6 am to 5 pm and then it being dark here at 530 ... I let them free range with three geese for protection from predators and its worked wonderfully. Straight across the street from me - twenty feet between my yard and the neighbors yard - the neighbors have a pond that they said its fine if my ducks use, they enjoy watching them on the pond. Besides my yard thats the only place they go. And when i came home she way laying three feet from my yard in the road. She was crushed with her intestines burst through the skin and laying in a glob on the pavement.

Its my fault because i let them free range . I live in a small neighborhood back in the woods where everyone is on 5 - 10 acres. this is the first time in 4 years( since i got ducks ) that anyone has been hit, and i should be thankful... but.. she was my baby.. and now instead of 4 females and five males I have three females and 5 males. I thought i might be able to get away with only selling two drakes in the spring but... now i know i cant even do that...

I just... i can barely think straight.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Its not your fault because you free range. I'm so sorry that this happened to Bambi but you know what? What kind of life would she have had locked up day in and day out? My Muscovy's free range. The rest do not. Why? Because my Scovy's are free spirits, they hate being locked up. I know that if something happens to them, I'll feel horribly, just like you but you've given them a chance at having fun.

No one should ever berate you because you've done what you think is right for YOUR ducks.

Hugsssssssssss sweetie. I'm so sorry that your baby is gone.

Laurie

 

[sandcat]

so sorry for your loss x big hugs x

 

[Goat_Walker]

Thank yall. I guess i just thought if i posted that i free range id get badgered about how thats my fault for going that route. Scovies truly are a breed of their own. Very intelligent and as you said free spirited. I hate locking my scovies up because they always look like im putting them in time out or pace the fence till i let them out. I'm going to miss that spunky little girl...so much... her sister is alreay acting lost without her. they fly everywhere together.

 

[sonew123]

I free range my chickens all Spring Summer and Fall-when Im not home and at work. I have no loose dogs around me so its the chance I take everyday. I love love love coming home and seeing my girls block teh driveway so I will get out and say hi and give treats-my call ducks fly over head in a circle and land right next to me. I wouldnt give them any other life at this point. I'd rather them all be happy digging all over my 6 acres then being stuck in a coop with a run. Which I do do alot too. I just dont like to but for their protection I do it sometimes. It's not your fault its the risk of free ranging that we all have to accept. I have not lost a bird in two years except to my own puppy-he thought he was playing-um no killed my favorite polish girl that I was going to put in a project:-( Whole years worth of work gone!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

lots of

 

[Wisher1000]

Goat Walker, I'm sorry for your loss, truly sorry. I free range my birds and have lost one to the road, ix or seven to my own dogs (before I kept them up in daytime,) three to freak accidents, and several to wild preditors. With all that said, I still free range them everyday. You make a choice to let them be as natural as possible and that includes falling prey to various forms of demise. She was happier than many many birds that spend their lives looking at the neighbors pond (or field, or garden) through the wires all their lives.

I see you are from central Alabama. What part? I am from Buhl (the Tuscaloosa/Northport area.) Why did you downsize your flock and do you have any chickens?

 

[janastasio]

I am soo sooo sooooo sorry for your loss and the circumstances that it happened. I'm sure each and everyone of us on here has experienced this horror of losing a beloved duck and had to deal with the guilt as well. We feel your pain. I know for one I have had a horrid summer of it. We lost the most ducks ever this year to a predator. Tried every possible solutions and still getting attacked! So frustrating. Is there anywhere you can freeze your duck until spring when she could have a proper burial? We have done that when we have lost them in the winter months. Or possibly looking into cremating her, so you can have that memory and physical part of her. My thoughts are with you and hope you can find some relief in your grief and keep your chin up.
-Jaime

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

I am SOO sorry!

 

[Goat_Walker]

I dont know what id do without you guys

The tears are all dried up now. My dad said we could bury her in the morning. since our trashcan was empty i left her in there till tomorrow since the body is safer from predators in there than anywhere else. I just know im going to miss the squirt everytime i look at chipmunk ( her sister).




Quote:
Montgomery . I had to downsize because when i enlisted in the USMC in July my mom said she wouldnt keep them for me. She said the scovies that free ranged could stay but i had to rehome all my mutts, magpie, runner, cayuga , and everyone else that required being locked up and watched over. Luckily 2 of the 3 homes i found to take everyone are loving amazing bycers homes.