What happened to him??

[KikiDeAnime]

Note: Everyone was free ranging for today only so they weren't stuck in their yard.

An hour ago I went outside to make sure everyone was in the coops and I normally have to put Colonel and Duchess in the coop as they still do not go into it as they should.
Anyway, I found Duchess by herself in one of the corners of their yard but no sign of Colonel anywhere. I started freaking out thinking something had gotten him but I decided to search the whole backyard just in case.

I found him huddled against one of the large trees in our garden, not moving at all. I thought he was gone until I picked him up and he let out a tiny raspy noise. I quickly brought him inside and put him in the bath tub, as our temporary cage was dirty, and got him to slowly drink some water that had a sav-a-chick electrolyte packet mixed in. It was 12oz of water and he drank it all, slowly but was able to drink it all. I also checked him over but found no injuries or anything else.
He wasn't ice cold either, aside from his bill.

He's doing a bit better now and has more energy but I'll be keeping an eye on him

What could have happened to him??

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Forgot to add that I didn't put much electrolyte powder in the water since it wasn't a lot of water

 

[ValerieJ]

That is a mystery. Perhaps he was scared by a predator, and lucky enough to escape it.

 

[drumstick diva]

ask Miss Lydia

 

[Miss Lydia]

I appreciate the vote of confidence but not being there to examine him I don’t know either. How is Colonel this morning?

 

[KikiDeAnime]

I appreciate the vote of confidence but not being there to examine him I don’t know either. How is Colonel this morning?

Doing much better but being an annoying butt. He wouldn't let me set the fresh bowl of water down without spilling most of it

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s good to hear. Do you have any idea what happened? How’s Duchess?

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Best wishes for this ducky to recover smoothly! Poor thing.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

He's back outside and doing way better than last night. He'll be sleeping inside for the next couple nights though so that I can make sure he's okay. Duchess wouldn't shut up until I put Colonel back outside. Luckily most of the morning, she and the chickens were locked up so her quacks were muffled. Now she's quiet as a mouse.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They sure get attached. Sounds great he is much better.