Overnight fears

[Saigey]

Cap and Downey took a quick flight loop this afternoon, as usual, but Cap didn't fly back around, like he always does. It was daylight, there weren't any hawks, I didn't hear any commotion, but he still hasn't come back. There were a lot of local wild ducks out this afternoon, and he does like to socialize. I'm freaking out. It's not supposed to freeze overnight, but he never gets far from Downey and Loki. Downey was looking for him, too. Maybe he got mixed up and followed the wrong ducks, but he knows where home is. We've got lights on everywhere but I'm a mess. I've searched all over the small lake and can't find him anywhere, or any feathers or evidence of anything bad. He's very vocal, and I haven't even heard him. Do they ever do this??? I've got an incubator with baby chicks going and I feel like such a bad mom, I'm staring at the incubator with dread.

 

[casportpony]

Oh no! What breed of duck is he?

 

[Saigey]

Oh no! What breed of duck is he?

Snowy call, 7 months

 

[Saigey]

Snowy call, but he's not a purebred, because he's the size of a mallard, pretty much

 

[Saigey]

I'm about to get out in the cold and listen for him again. It's like he just vanished into another dimension.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I had a domestic Mallard drake that disappeared out of thin air. I noticed him right before dark but then he vanished. I suspect an owl got him because there was no commotion, no feathers because he was small, nothing. That's been over a year ago. I'm so sorry. I hope he comes home. This is why Im too afraid to let my Calls free range or not keep their wings clipped. Please let us know. Do you have a recording on a hen calling that you can play?

 

[Saigey]

I had a domestic Mallard drake that disappeared out of thin air. I noticed him right before dark but then he vanished. I suspect an owl got him because there was no commotion, no feathers because he was small, nothing. That's been over a year ago. I'm so sorry. I hope he comes home. This is why Im too afraid to let my Calls free range or not keep their wings clipped. Please let us know. Do you have a recording on a hen calling that you can play?

She called him right after he went AWOL and he didn't come. It was still pretty light outside so I wouldn't think it was an owl? I don't let them free range without supervision, I had a migraine and was cleaning their cage and they slipped out past me.

 

[Saigey]

If he doesn't come home I do not feel qualified to take care of these babies in this incubator, or anything, really, even a plant.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

If he doesn't come home I do not feel qualified to take care of these babies in this incubator, or anything, really, even a plant.

Please don't think that. Sometimes we make mistakes or do something we wouldn't normally do and that's life. Nobody is perfect and does everything perfectly. That's just not realistic. These things are painful sometimes but we grow from them. It's obvious you love your ducks so that makes you more qualified than a lot of people. Be easy on yourself. There's still a chance he'll come back but if he doesn't, please don't beat yourself up (I know that's easier said than done )

 

[Saigey]