There was a tragedy last night. One of the ducklings managed to get out (through the crack under the door, I can only surmise) and was found dead. My heart broke. We were all doing so well on this duckling front. Mother-Ducky was beside herself and blamed me totally. She was right and I instantly blocked the door hoping it never happens again. It was such a small gap in the door too. Why? How?
And then this morning, I found Penthesilea’s nest had been raided – minus three eggs. Possibly hedgehogs, I wonder. I found the shells almost intact nearby but the contents had been eaten out. Penthesilea was in a state too and furious so I tipped her nestbox over making it harder to get into, added the last of the our duck eggs (no one is laying now), and made some steps for her to get in and out.
I left Penthesilea looking suspiciously at the new set-up and found her a few hours later happily settled again. Fingers crossed for Penty.
And then this afternoon I was in my shed making my Sheeple (the adult brown one on the end today to go with the lamb), while someone else was busy arriving.
Black-Ducky finally had her duckling.
And she was very protective and attacked my phone, giving me a hard whack with her beak.
So OH and moved them into a small pen, which was instantly too small (dammit), so we quickly made the ponies’ shed into a duck-house for them and moved them there. Here’s hoping they are ok. My life is very fraught at the moment.
