Bye bye Blue. Then there were two.

I found Blue this evening when I wet to put the ducks away. Ben and ranger wouldn't go back to the hut. I found blue badly damaged by a raccoon. I said sorry and good bye and put him to sleep. Sorry blue.

Dommminnoooooo!

An individual in our flock has disappeared. 

Damn. Thursday night Domino, one of our girl ducks, disappeared. No signs or clue of a raccoon attack, no mass of feathers, no trail, nothing. It's like she was plucked clean from the yard by a hawk or the hand of someone, that would be pretty amazing. No loud quacks or upset by the group. D. went out to put them away, and could not find her. 

*sigh* 

She was my favorite. I know, I know, I shouldn't be attached, but damn, she was the best little hunter, independent (probably her downfall) yet social with the group. Not the easy girl in the group. She was quiet (another downfall) and had a pretty soft little quack.

Friday morning the boys were clearly looking for her. D. said as he put them away they immediately ran to the hut. Not their usual behavior. Usually they quack about and you have to walk them to the hut like a bunch of social middle school girls. We have a little hope that she found a way out and is somewhere in the neighborhood. I even walked around the following morning for signs of a duck somewhere in the neighborhood. Nuthing'.

I want to shout from the rooftop, Dommmiiinnnooooo! just like Stella and hope that she may come ambling down the sidewalk. I guess if you really love something, set it free. If this was her fate, I will accept the cycle of life and let her go. This is hard. 

Well there's your problem

Ben and ranger found their way in but couldn't get back out.

Morning ducks

Fresh eggs for breakfast, still warm from a duck sitting

This morning was one of the few times when I've quietly walked up to the duck hut, and still find everyone in the hut. Typically when I let the quackers out in the morning, I walk to the hut talking to the group, and the quacking conversation begins. This morning I was hoping to peek into the hut from above to see who might be sitting on the eggs. Some days the egg(s) are still warm-one of the girls sits on the eggs in the morning. Perhaps it's both, but I have a belief it is Domino. Ranger just seems too involved with the boys, but I could be wrong. I have observed when the group is in the main duck run in the morning, Domino saunters out of the hut just as I walk up or open their door. So I believe it's time to quietly walk outside, and aim for a peek to see who is sitting on the eggs in the morning.

Both D. and I have observed that Ben is a water hog. Fresh water in the tub? Ben's in! Which duck flies/hops to the goldfish pond? Ben! What about the little black tub with fresh water? Ben is the first testing the waters. The girls appear to be content to hunt with Big Blue keeping watch as Ben takes his time in the water.

Bamboo Fence

But the shade garden is so tasty!

Bring to a boil, simmer 3 minutes

Www.goldfishgarage.com

A New Egg Basket