Well, I'm both angry and very sad at the same time.
My beloved Sunny died tonight. I'm trying to type through tears.
She was her comical, sweet self all day til Aric went outside after dinner to give a treat to the pig. He came in and told me to come outside because there was something wrong with Sunny. She was just laying there and not quacking whenever she saw someone and one of the call ducks was picking on her face, generally a sign of a weak animal if they don't pick back. I went up to her and pet her and she didn't get up. So I took her out into the yard and she wasn't standing or anything. Things got worse pretty fast and she died 15 minutes ago with me holding her.
I am mad because I know what it is. Not long ago I had a cayuga that was a mess because our 3 Swedish mix drakes have a bad habit of tag teaming the hens. But once I put the cayuga in the extra large dog crate for a few days she was fine. Thing is, Sunny can't fight back because she didn't have a top beak. As I sat with her tonight I knew she had a neurological issue by the way she was flailing her head around and couldn't control it.
We have sat there and watched those 3 tag team hens while they're in the water, to the point that I think they're going to kill them. I've told Aric they need to go but he likes them. Sure they're pretty but now I'm just downright angry!
He says he'd rather find a place where they can all go together. Not sure if that's an excuse because no one would take on 3 drakes. I'd just be happy to re-home 2 that would certainly help!
I'm going to miss her following me to the barn, being louder than all the rest when it's time to eat (no forgetting to feed everyone because she was a great alarm clock!) and her jumping for treats. Today was treat day so at least she got her favorite...grape tomatoes!