Had a bit of bad luck
with the Ducks
Lost a cherished duck and one of the last two I
had here. The white male drake has disappeared and that only leaves the female
of whom I had captured and placed in the greenhouse till spring or until the
ponds are unfrozen enough to allow her a chance at escaping the predator who
keeps making the farm here a smorgasbord.
The only thing I can
think it would be is a coyote as whatever it was completely removed the duck as
there are no traces visible where there are feathers or blood. It saddens me as
he was quite a character and always very alert. If anything I could imagine him
sacrificing himself to save the female.
This has been a
hard winter on all animals especially the ducks. They refuse to be part of any
attempt to domesticate them like being in a building, preferring instead to
over winter in the ponds in what I thought was a safe area where they were
sheltered and the spring water coming out of the hills provided them some
warmth. It was overhung with trees and briars also protecting them to some
degree. But apparently their cove of security had been breached as something
stumbled across them in the daytime. I returned home to hear the yells of the female
and when I went to check on her. Found her alone and wanting her companion. Their
hole in the ice had shrunk significantly and allowed them no escape by water. I
should have put them in the greenhouse before this as I did the chickens who
took to roosting in the tree in the front yard by my window as something had
been bothering them also.
taken just a couple of days ago.
Catching the
female duck proved to be quite a venture and resulted in myself ending up in
the pond with a foot soaked as I busted through the ice. I am sure I was
intimidating to her as the only thing I could find to shoo her away from her
hole and enclave was a pitchfork. I would bust twigs and toss them at her
eventually getting between her and the pond I was finally able to capture her
in a snow bank. I was completely winded after the ordeal and she was to, but
relented as if she had a choice to the capture and allowed me to place her in
the greenhouse . Conditions there are much more favorable as the chickens can
attest to.
The chickens have
found a favorite roost and enjoy all the creature comforts from their perch
high above. It is neat to walk in and here them cluck when talking to them. They
always let me know they are alright. I figured they would provide companionship
to a point to the duck till I can find her a replacement. The farm would never
be the same without the ducks daily journey from the pond to the house seeking
their duck food, alias fish food. I just loved how they would talk to me as if I
was going to forget them as they would waddle ahead of me to take their place
at the feeding table which is the surface of the pond. The male duck had a good
life and will be missed. That’s the trouble with pets , so soon they are gone
and you are left with memories. I need to focus on getting her another mate, as
I am sure she will miss him. I already have.
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