Rescued Duckling... newbie

[Raenh]

My poor baby got seriously super scared twice by the rat, im not sure if it just was where she was or if it tried to hurt her. But she came running into the bathroom - feathers all ruffled and crying, fancy hot on her heals, she jumped straight into my arms and buried into my neck crying... i just held her and petted fancy. Calmed her down after an hour, freshened their area, food and water. Gave them clean blankets to roost on, and i went back to working in bathroom. And two hours later it happened again only this tine i heard a crash and ran out to see what happened, she had flown and landed ontop of dishwasher again, she just knocked a cup off, but she was crying and shaking again. I picked her up and cuddle her to me she climbed up under my shirt and buried against me again. We stayed like that most of the mornijng, she would peak out and cry and go back in. Fancy stood guard from a top the loft, but i never saw a damn thing. I text thenpest lady and was like when are you coming? The rat just attacked my female duck twice and is biting my dogs paws i think. I don't see any true evidence of that, but he's favoring them, so that might just be the cold. Even so, this is getting seriously out of hand. She said she'll be here with her mgr between 9 and 10. They better do something before i go buy a bb gun and tear this house apart! Ive tried glue traps- they got out of it, electric traps- only caught one, professionals came in put down snap traps - came back to check and they were all still empty. I sealed off every remotely possible entry with great stuff foam, i went out and bought poison bait traps and extra bait - i think some of them have eaten that. Cats and dog get food and as soon as they stop eating, i pick it up and put it in the container or microwave. Grrrrrrand i think i sucked one up by accident in the shop vac, but im kinda to scared to check. I hate hurting any animal, and i really dont want to hurt these guys but my speedy!

 

[Miss Lydia]

My goodness poor thing. I sure hope the pest patrol shows up and you can be rid of the rats.

I can't imagine having them in my house.

 

[Raenh]

... they didnt show, and i had to text her to find out if they were on the way @ 1015a when she told me between 9 and 10.

She said im sorry, that their manditory meeting started late and they would be out first thing tomorrow - aka today. Blah.

 

[Raenh]

On another topic, is this normal cause fancy's aren't like this.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wings crossing? natural. having a hard time seeing what's wrong other than wing crossed.

Gosh I hope they come so you can get back to normal living, if there is such a thing as normal living any more. lol

 

[Raenh]

Yes, the crossing. Thank you

 

[iluvsedward]

I just read this whole thread! Speedy sure is cute. I have to say though, if you're thinking about letting her hatch ducklings you should consider moving them outdoors safe from manmade hazards such as rat poison, or at least until you have a real nice setup in the living room prepared when you get the pests under control. I believe rats are carnivorous and would take a young duckling without a second thought. Its also good to think about the long run, those babies could make more babies and you dont wanna take on more than you can handle. Your muscovy wont be upset for long if you dont let her nest, they dont have the memory humans do. Not trying to knock the idea, just making a suggestion. Im glad to see someone who so honestly cares for these creatures and desires whats truly best for them! Kudos to you for not re-dumping speedy.

 

[Raenh]

I do, I love them so much that it out weighs anything I've ever felt for my cats even.
I'm trying to figure out an adjustment to make so that fancy can get down off the loft without serious injury because he always jumps off when speedy goes out of sight because he gets worried, i think. She's my lil brave guard duck most of the time, and goes looking for trouble, ie she gets this look on her face sometimes kinda like a *this and starts hunting for the rat or mouse. So, fancy always has to be on her tail incase she gets into trouble and if she gets into trouble that she can't get out of - ie stuck on dishwasher cause she landed in the only space available and is afraid to move- he comes looking for me to get her. I think im gonna have her wait til we move to a bigger place to have more. But that means the harem will have to wait to nest too.

 

[Raenh]

And fancy is limping a little now, i made some adjustments, so he isn't hurting it more. I put the ex lrg dog pen pan under the 'hammock', so its not so wavey when he walks on it, and i took down the front rail, he kept slipping a lil and his foot would slip down between thw rail ans hammock. Im trying to get an actual wooden loft bed, imstead of metal<its to slippery>.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your determined I am pretty sure you'll find a way.

Did the exterminators finally get there?