Monday 18 May 2015

RIP Little Duckling


It is a sad fact that is well known by any livestock owner: If you have livestock you also have dead stock.  Here at Eco-Gites of Lenault that was the case this week. Sadly, I found one of the ducklings, who hatched last week, dead when I went to shut them in a few evenings ago.  It was just outside the door and looked for all the world as if it was simply asleep rather than dead.  My suspicion is that it didn't follow it's 2 Mums into the shelter and as the warm day turned to cool evening it got hypothermia.  Young chicks and ducklings need heat for the first few weeks of their life, either from warm sunshine, a heat lamp or their mother (adoptive or otherwise) and without this they can quickly die.

I can however assure you that the other duckling is doing just fine.  It now has only one Mum, Baptista, as I thought 2 Mums for one duckling really was a touch excessive so put Bianca back with the chickens!  Baptista is very protective of her charge and trying to get a decent shot is nigh on impossible so you'll have to make do with these:
 
Errmmm - no pictures please

I'll lead the way Mum


OK Mum - you lead the way and I'll follow

If you have an animal tale to tell please do come and link up with the Animal Tales blog linky.  It opens this on blog every Tuesday and more details can be found here.


 

11 comments :

  1. Ahhh sad news Rosie, RIP little duckling x

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  2. So sad hearing the one little duckling didn't make it...but I cheered up when I saw the gorgeous and kooky pictures of the chicken watching over her adopted duckling!

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  3. Oh sorry to hear that. I'm glad the one left looks so well and is staying with his 'mum'. Too cute!

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  4. poor little duckling, let's hope its sister/brother lives a happy full life!

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  5. Very sad to hear, nature a can be so cruel! But also kinda amazing - I love odd ball pairings of animals. A chicken and duckling! So cute.

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  6. Bless your little remaining duckling and her Mum, life is harsh, we have lost all our ducklings this year

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  7. So sad, we have had ducklings before and it is heartbreaking to lose them. I try not to allow the mummy ducks to sit on their eggs now, I can't cope with the stress!

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  8. Oh no! :( That's so sad to hear. I'm glad the other one is OK though!

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  9. Oh so sad :( Pleased that the other little darling looks to be thriving though :)

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  10. Such a shame, but this happens. The others look very cute and fingers crossed they now all make it.

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