Yesterday, (on my birthday, just my luck) I lost my poor special needs duckie. I got her from Metzer Farms in Spring, and she has always had seizures and was blind in one eye. I believe this was due to her large crest, and she could never be a normal duck. It broke my heart, but every day I would let the rest of the flock down to the pond and she would have to stay in the backyard. I let her roam around on the grass with the chickens, with food and a pool, without any problems for about 6 months. She found her way around okay, but sometimes she would have terrible seizures that could last as long as a minute. I felt so helpless. Yesterday morning I left in a rush, and I didn't even have time to pet her goodbye. I got home that evening, and she was simply gone. I couldn't even find one of her feathers. I feel so bad, like I should have protected her better. But, I have never before lost any of my ducks, chickens, or geese during the day. The dogs usually are there to ''patrol'' the yard, but they had been in the house. I am guessing a hawk got her, but why wouldn't it have taken the bantam chickens by now. It just deosn't make sense. We have hawks, coyotes, raccoons, mountain lions (but that seems unlikely), and foxes. *Sigh*, I am feeling really sad and guilty. RIP Angel, I hope now that you really are an angel, you can run and swim around with the other duckies.
