Had a rough stressful night last night. When I went to lock the chickens and ducks up for the night, Diddy got spooked and flew off. It was almost dark, and I searched and quacked for her. She answered me twice, once was close when I was down in the road. I took the huskies out to sniff her down, and they got me closer to her whereabouts, but i think my panicked energy had them not as good as they normally are at finding things for us. (We have done some training with them both by hiding at night outside and having them find us along with a few other exercises.)Plus Diddy flew from the coup all the way over the yard, across the road, across the creek below, and into a field. (I did not know she went that far last night.) So they had no tracks to go on at all. They did get me closer than I was though. I hunted for 3 hours last night. I could not find her. She chose a horrible time to spook out and fly...at night can be so dangerous for a duck...and definitely a young duck. Once it got completely dark her survival defense mechanism kicked in, and she did not make another peep or movement. She burrowed down in the brush and dirt. I was so worried about her last night. Thankfully Hubby ran the huskies, because they were not allowed to be out last night like they normally are. They could not be trusted if they found her without us
This morning I waited down at the road until daybreak, and I quacked for her but I heard nothing. I was afraid something got her last night. So, I went and got Duddy out of the coup and released the chickens. I carried Duddy down to the road. He quacked one time, and she went off like a beacon! Lol Then I pinpointed exactly what area she was at using Duddy. I released Duddy and had to crawl through alot of brush to get to her. She finally started quacking back to me without duddy. I literally crawled on my belly through the brush to find her. I had briars in me last night, and this morning. I got a ton of stuff trapped in my hair, and burrs all over me. When I finally spotted her I almost cried I was so happy! I went through all that to find her, and can you believe she would not let me pick her up!? Lil brat!! Lol So I had to herd her up through an even worse brushy area than I came down through. After getting her so far up the hill I finally had to backtrack and follow the stream to my neighbors yard and cut up their hill to get out of where I was. At one time I actually did not know if I was going up, down, or sideways on the hill. After making it back to the road I heard her quack, and she was heading up our driveway! It was such a relief! Duddy was waiting on her at the top of the driveway
They were so excited to see each other. She is tired today. I guarantee she did not sleep much last night. I hope she never does that again! I hope I never have to do that again! I am thankful she is ok
