My ducks are gone :(

[aw4919]

So this was my first experience owning ducks, and I made a huge mistake. Please be gentle, I'm already beating myself up over it. My fiancee's parents have had chickens for many years, and about a year ago, we decided to try our hand at owning some of our own. We got six chickens and two ducklings, which were especially for me. We built them a little house and enclosure, and when they were old enough, moved them outside to their new home. At night and when we weren't supervising, they stayed in their enclosure, but for a few hours a day when one of us was working in the garden, we would let them run around the yard, which is fenced in (they were able to get over the fence sometimes, but never went far and it didn't happen often). Yesterday was one of those occasions, but I went inside for lunch around 2pm, and since it was such a nice day, I let them in the yard unsupervised. I came back out to three dead chickens and some (exclusively chicken) feathers. No tracks. The three that were definitely killed were were intact, but their necks were broken. Everyone else, including my precious little ducks, were gone without a trace. I'm thinking it had to be a dog, since I can't think of another predator that would kill for sport, not that it matters much.. I looked everywhere for the rest of them, but its a fairly large property with some meadow-y areas of tall grass and some woods. I am so heartbroken over this! So my question is (and I know I'm hoping against hope) if they ran away because they were scared, is there any chance that I could find them, or that they'll come back? Is there a way to encourage them to return if they're hiding? Like I said, I know it's a very slim chance...

 

[karenatlisarow]

Oh I feel so sad for you :0( I just brought home 4 ducks this week and lost one through a small gap in the fence on the first morning - I haven't found it since.

 

[aw4919]

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry for your loss as well. It's killing me that I don't know what happened to them, I can't think about anything other than looking for them, or looking for what took them.. they were my special little buddies. I feel so guilty.

 

[AlohaDuck]

Loosing a pet is never easy, especially if they are little ones.

It seems obvious that a four legged animal got to them. To be optimistic, it also seems as if they did get away, because if they didn't you would have found them where you found the chickens.

The best thing to do is to scope out your property with binoculars using a duck call. Pay attention to areas around bushes or shrubs where they may hide. When they get freaked out and run from predators, they don't usually like being out in the open. Seems obvious I know and it is, but particularly with ducks they have a tendency of wanting to be up against something. Wall, bush etc... Also, definitely look in ponds or any near by lakes. Chances are you'd find them here out of all places.

This is probably your best and only option. (Binoculars and Duck Call that is...)

I hope this helps. Best of luck and let us know if you need anything else.