Lost two of my babies :(

[Whisper]

Really sad and upset. We left my four ducklings and fifteen chicks out in their "playpen" this afternoon, to enjoy the last of the warmth before the cold front came through tonight. While no one was watching, my handicapped daughter snuck out of the house and apparently "played" with one of my Cayuga pullets and our little Khaki runner. We found both of them dead, still warm.

Ugh. She's never messed with the chicks before, but I guess she thought the ducks were cute, or toys, or something?? Bleh. Now I'm going to put a lock on the brooder pen, to keep her out. The two remaining ducks are peeping nonstop, missing their buddies. It's REALLY hard to get mad at her, since she's so disabled that she doesn't understand that they're not toys. I'm mad at myself that I didn't remind the older kids to set the door alarm that tells us when she does go outside. I remind them ALL the time. We've raised twenty four chickens to adulthood without a single lost chick, I guess the ducklings were just different enough to catch her eye.

No flames, please? I just wanted to vent at how sad I am, no one else really understands how much I loved watching my little duckies swim and play and race around their brooder. They were inside a locked yard, inside a double thickness of wire cage, just not locked up. My mistake, one I won't repeat again-- the henhouse is getting a lock on it, too, now. I don't want to find my lovely layers dead as well. Anyway, I dunno. Just feel awful.

 

[Shel'sChirpChirps]

So sorry to hear your loss, Whisper. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

 

[duckyfromoz]

So sad for you, And I m sure if your daughter could understand duckies like gentle pats she would have played so nicely with them.

Accidents do sometimes happen and Im sure we have all made plenty in our lives- Dont be too hard on yourself-

I lost my first little one when I was only twelve- and it took me so long to except that sometomes you will loose them through a variety of ways- It may not always seem fair-

You have a lot of people here who do understand what these little duckies meant to you and how much joy they brought you.

 

[lovesduckies]

i'm sorry

like duckyfromoz said, don't blame yourself, addicdents happen, sometimes we slip. and even when we don't slip things still happen. there is a reason for everything.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I'm so sorry... As the others said, it was just an accident, so try not to blame yourself. That just makes mourning harder, when you go into all those "What if...?"s. It's hard to avoid them, but instead we should just try to learn from our mistakes (as you did) and continue forward. I'm really sorry to hear that you lost your ducklings--it's extremely sad losing babies unexpectedly like that.

Many hugs to you.

On a happier note, I just have to say that I have an adorable splash OEGB hen named Whisper! I named her that because she's constantly making cute, funny little noises, practically all the time.

 

[JROOSTER]

 

[veronicasmom]

So sorry to read about your loss.

 

[chickboss]

I am so sorry for your loss. Let yourself off the hook. You sound like a good mom, and a responsible duck owner, things happen. I have had near misses with my own children whom I feel I watch very well. None of us can be "on it" 100% of the time.

again.

 

[vlapinta]

My heart goes out to you. I have tears in my eyes. It was an accident, dont blame yourself. Life can be harsh sometimes so treasure the rest of them and learn from a sometimes awful experience.

Vicki

 

[kysilkies]

He who has never left a cage open around dogs that only see furry snacks, dropped a fuzzy butt from their arms to the ground or had a similar accident as they tried to act in their fuzzy baby's best behalf shall cast the first stone...I'm sure you're safe here...

I'm so sorry to read about the little ones...