i have no idea what's going on, but I'm scared more ducks will die. In both cases, the ducks were fine at breakfast, out with the rest of the flock and dead by dinner.
Tonight, I was putting the ducks into their shelter for the night and only found eight. My beloved Quinn, my first runner hen, was lying dead on the ground. She was my favorite, the most personable duck I've ever known. Quinn would jump up and down with joy whenever she saw me with feed or treats, and this morning, she was trying to get into one of the chicken coops to steal their food. I had to push her back -- like always -- because she was always an enthusiastic thief.
Yesterday, Skylar, one of my original drakes, was dead in the shelter at midday. Neither he nor Quinn have any visible marks nor were they acting differently. Suddenly, they were just dead.
Both were from the same breeder, same hatch and about 5 1/2 years old. The weather has been significantly colder and wetter lately. They were eating the same feed for the last several months, a duck feed by Nutrena. They sleep in a semi-enclosed shelter, where they've been living since they were ducklings. During the day when I am home, they range freely with chickens and geese.
I have no idea what's going on. I'm sad about Sky (only one of the original four is still alive), but I am heartbroken about Quinny already. She was so special. Quinn was the only one of my runners that laid green eggs, and she once laid a completely shelled egg within another shelled egg. I miss her already.
Tonight, I was putting the ducks into their shelter for the night and only found eight. My beloved Quinn, my first runner hen, was lying dead on the ground. She was my favorite, the most personable duck I've ever known. Quinn would jump up and down with joy whenever she saw me with feed or treats, and this morning, she was trying to get into one of the chicken coops to steal their food. I had to push her back -- like always -- because she was always an enthusiastic thief.
Yesterday, Skylar, one of my original drakes, was dead in the shelter at midday. Neither he nor Quinn have any visible marks nor were they acting differently. Suddenly, they were just dead.
Both were from the same breeder, same hatch and about 5 1/2 years old. The weather has been significantly colder and wetter lately. They were eating the same feed for the last several months, a duck feed by Nutrena. They sleep in a semi-enclosed shelter, where they've been living since they were ducklings. During the day when I am home, they range freely with chickens and geese.
I have no idea what's going on. I'm sad about Sky (only one of the original four is still alive), but I am heartbroken about Quinny already. She was so special. Quinn was the only one of my runners that laid green eggs, and she once laid a completely shelled egg within another shelled egg. I miss her already.
Quinny and Skylar sound like they were very special ducks! You gave them both a wonderful life! 
Sounds like you provided them a good life.
