Preparing for the Worst

[katgoldin]

Our three 3 week old Khaki Campbells escaped from their shed tonight. DH found them (happily) paddling in a puddle, but when he went to round them up, he lost 2 of them. We've been looking in the dark for three hours and can't find them. They can't have gone far and it's possible they have gone to hide in another barn, but I just can't see how they will survive the night. It's about 46F here tonight, but very wet and they aren't feathered out yet.

I just feel awful as I knew they could get out of their pen and had asked DH to look at it, but I must not have closed the barn door fully when I left them. It doesn't get light here till 9am so we have a long night ahead of us.

 

[Frank Phinster]

Oh, that must feel terrible...how wet is it? Is it actually raining? At three weeks of age, ducklings don't need an external heat source and will not necessarily freeze to death and they still have each other to cuddle. Rain, on the other hand, can become a serious problem.
I raised ducklings outside during the winter two years ago and they went happily swimming on the frozen pond.

I wish you the best, there is still hope

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

I'm so sorry! that must be a tough place. I have had to wait for some runaway birds at night, and it is very nerve racking. There is a chance they will come back...i have had chickens come back after being out all night. I will be praying that they come back safe and sound.

 

[sourland]

Can you put the one duckling in a cage near where the others were last seen? If she begins calling, they may answer/come to her. Good luck.

 

[needlessjunk]

Oh no! Hopefully they found a good hiding spot and stay warm with each other. Keeping my fingers crossed that they come up in the morning.

 

[sourland]

Update?

 

[Crazy4Fowl]

Hopefully they will come back... if not...

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

Update?

2x

 

[Crazy4Fowl]

2x

Update?

3x