Yesterday morning, I ventured out in the rain to release the ducks from their house. But - no ducks in there! I was 100% certain I put them there the night before, and sealed their gate. Then I saw, the gate had been pushed open from within. Uh oh. I'm careful because our area has incursions by raccoons and weasels, even rats. Other ducks have been murdered. Sad and gross and frustrating. I searched and searched. In the past, the female has made hidden nests and laid eggs there, although she doesn't sit on them most of the time. like this. Then I heard quacking. It was the drake. I found him. But no female. It's pretty much a jungle in there, and there are lots of good hiding places. They usually walk close together, with him quacking. I think he's being bossy. I found two nests, each with two eggs. But no duck. I resigned myself to the possibility that she was gone, probably eaten by a predator. But encouraged that at least there were no "duck parts" lying around. Took Rufus for a walk. On returning, there she was! (actual ducks, not AI rendition). Whew! Last night I was careful to double latch their gate. And this morning, there they were, safe and sound. No murder of ducks. I was relieved. But last night, it was dark and rainy. I went to put the hens into their house and collect eggs. The hens were fine, but the wind had blown their gate shut. They were standing in the rain by their gate. I opened their house and they entered by themselves. One was especially reluctant to enter. I counted hens. Only five. And they looked especially nervous. There should be six! Was it a murder most fowl? Not another mystery! Just as with the ducks, several hens and a couple of roosters have been killed by predators, over the years. My neighbor recently told me that a raccoon got into his henhouse. (not really an actual surveillance photo) Looking into the henhouse, there were scattered big feathers, on the recently changed straw. No hen, and no other hen parts. Usually a hen murder results in feet and head laying around. The hen yard is also pretty big, and has trees and a grove of bamboo. I searched in the dark, flashlight in hand. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. If it's not one thing, it's another. I resigned myself to one less hen. But this morning, I opened the gate to enter their yard, and there she was! She even let me pet her. So, I opened the hen house door and they all gathered around their wayward sister. Another mystery! And another fowl safe at home, after all. I don't know what is the story behind those scattered feathers or the hen nervousness. Country life can be interesting.
Wow....that was a tale and half @Daniel W ...... It's like a real mystery drama serial on TV and this is the first episode. I am totally hooked and can't wait for episode 2.....please keep posting. It's a gripping ' Who done it' that's for sure... who pushed the gate open from within ,who scattered the feathers, who made them nervous.........
Today I put them away a little earlier. If it's too early, they will refuse. They weren't thrilled about it - it was raining heavily, a few were in their special "tiny houses" (actually dog houses) and had to go out into the rain to get to the hen house. But all were accounted for. One of the hens is seven years old. She sits on the perch looking like a golden feathered Jabba the Hut, and doesn't lay eggs anymore. I don't mind. Each hen gets to retire in peace, when she's finished laying eggs. I think we will start a new generation of hens next Spring. These are doing pretty well, but They are nearing their henopause and there can be some attrition due to predators.
Another cute story and happy ending. AI pics are great of the ducks and the raccoon is helarious. You got skills…
Aww what a lovely life they get to enjoy with you @Daniel W .....a ducks retirement home that awaits then after a much appreciated productive life. Lucky ducks.
Been there, done that. We found our hens at the top of a 60 foot tall tree after a fox visit. Our ducks left home and never came back. We saw them on the Lake in the nearby Mansion house for years afterwards.
Our hens have been such good escape artists, flying over 6 foot fencing. So we clip their wings until they become too big to fly that high. I think the one that spent the night outside must have been in a tree, anyway.
I'm sure happy that everyone is accounted for. That is a mystery. And I'm very glad that I do not have raccoons. You tell a great tale Daniel. ( henopause...HAH).
