lost two call ducks overnight....my first loss....i am heartbroken....

[Amiga]

Candida

trauma is trauma, and I think all us animals experience it.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Too bad the cayugas cannot talk it out. I reckon they will slowly get better, they just have to see for themselves that they are safe.

When my cats are spizzed out, I use Rescue Remedy. I cannot say this scientifically speaking, but it seems to help them calm down a little. It is flower essences that are supposed to help them feel more relaxed. At least it makes me feel like I am doing something to help them.

Maybe you could plant nice-smelling flowers in the spring, (duck safe, of course), that might help them.

 

[L0rraine]

I know about the head count thing. I usually try to always do it, but on rare occasions, when the weather is horrible and it's really dark, I just assume everyone is in when I close their 'safe' doors (and then always have to run out extra early in the morning to make sure everyone is accounted for

). I've lost two of my bantam ducks in the last couple of months and am just now getting over the pit in the stomach. The first time, the other pen mates walked around a bit shell-shocked for the first few days, but the last time nobody seemed to take notice cuz I'm guessing a hawk snuck in and grabbed him when they were free-ranging without anyone seeing what happened. I feel like I'm pretty protective and still have had losses (AND FEEL THE LOUSEY GUILT THAT GOES WITH IT forever!). I think it can be a bit difficult to keep these guys really safe without having an amazing set up for them. I've read that ducks especially seem to be predator magnets. More than with chickens, raccoons, et.al., sense/hear? the ducks' presence and their vulnerability and are regularly hovering hoping to be able to pull off a sneak attack once darkness settles in.