When a duck goes bad!

The surviving ducks ( from right to left)
Hersel,Carol,Polenta,Maggie,Michonne, Sophia  and Beth)


Yesterday, it was with a very heavy heart that I culled one of my original runner ducks. Dale had been with me for a few years before he was bought by a chap over on Dyserth hill as a companion for his single Muscovy. Around six months later the chap brought Dale back stating that the Muscovy had mysteriously died under " odd circumstances" and could I re home the runner.
Looking back at the facts, I suspect this was the start of Dale's murderous career, but I overlooked the odd attack on a weak hen or the over zealous " beaking" of one of the other drakes, putting it down to hormones.
The truth, however, was just a little more unsavory
Dale was a serial killer.
Like Miss Marple, in sleepy St Mary Meade, I started to put the clues together.
An old buff Orpington with her feathers pulled out.
A bloody headed female runner called Maggie hiding away by herself in the stream too frightened to join the rest of the ducks
And only yesterday the frantic calls of Jo the goose as she was cornered and attacked by something which turned out not to be any larger than an average wine bottle had me running from the cottage clutching a broom.
It was then when I caught Dale pecking at all and sundry.
A murderous look in his eyes
Bang to rights.
Guilty as charged.
And ten minutes later dead as a dodo.
The bad seed needed removing
Oh lord....perhaps I am watching a little too much Walking Dead?


83 comments:

  1. It needed to be done. It's the downside to caring for birds and animals, you HAVE to look after the majority even if it means the end of one of the characters.

    Since LH culled the white fluffy bundle of feathers that was our young Silkie cockerel peace has reigned and all our girls and the other two cockerels live in a very well balanced harmony.

    We caught him working in unison with Flash one of our remaining cockerels and cornering the hens and terrifying them in turn, without his white fluffy side-kick Flash has copied off our other cockerel and turned into a perfect young gentleman.

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    1. I have noticed this before, two males, testosterone and non stoppable aggression...

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  2. Males are all the same under certain conditions - as you say - testosterone. Attacking a goose? Little man syndrome. Yes, you have to harden your heart sooner or later John.
    The farmer has no nonsense over putting down anything which doesn't fit in with the scheme of things. Sometimes I hate it.
    Last week he found mice in a bale of silage - they had burrowed their way in (ie eaten) and were nesting happily. He killed the lot. When I asked how (I shouldn't have asked) he said he killed them with his foot. When I said 'oh no' in a despairing voice he remarked 'can you think of a quicker, more humane way?' and the answer was no I couldn't.

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    1. Pat,,,
      It's not nice but I can harden myself when the need arises
      You have to think of the majority

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  3. is that a common problem?

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    1. Not really Kylie.... In spring drakes in particular get very sexually violent with the female ducks. New duck keepers always make the mistake of having as many drakes as ducks and in spring a female can be killed by gang rapes.
      I have never seen a drake be so aggressive with other species before though

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    2. WOW. Glad you protected your flock.
      Even though this is about ducks, the serious responsibility is one of the main reasons I never got chickens, though I would love the eggs. Some folks here in the US hopped on the "cool to have chickens bandwagon" only to abandon them after realizing it was not all a Disney film. These are animals and nature can be cruel and some unpleasant things are necessary. Livestock is not for the fainthearted.

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  4. The Welsh Ripper. I suppose ducks can be as nasty as people!

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  5. That duck had it coming. Fowl play, etc.

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    Replies
    1. (P.S. I watched 'Unforgiven' last night, so my attitude to your duck is coloured by Clint Eastwood.

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    2. I didn't make the duck it's day

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    3. 'When a duck goes bad' could have been a title about the bottom of Cro's fridge.

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  6. The mark of a true animal lover, not pleasant but necessary for the greater good.

    Wine bottle on legs... guess he gave himself a heck of a hangover.

    LLX

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    Replies
    1. No meat on him either
      Another meal for the badgers

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  7. Anonymous10:50 am

    The Walking Undead Ducks. I just figured out the names. ;-)

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    1. Only polenta, doesn't quite fit eh?

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    2. Anonymous1:20 pm

      I've never seen the show. I recognized "Carol" and looked up the cast.

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  8. Oh no!
    Hope Jo has recovered.

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    1. She's a big girl
      Should have renamed her bunty

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    2. My problem today is the pheasants. Ptolemy and Ptolemy Too are both in the garden. I've had to break up one fight already. They are currently in their respective 'corners', one either side of the rhododendron bed, staring each other out...

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  9. Zombie ducks? Ha! Just what we need. "Look at the flowers, Lizzie...er Jo!

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  10. Anonymous11:20 am

    Just checking to see if people hate you as a duck killer.

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  11. I take it that the drake was consumed and not totally wasted even if you didn't eat it yourselves? Seems a shame otherwise of a life?

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    1. A meal for the badgers I am afraid
      I left the body outside their sett

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  12. the duck should have ducked.

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  13. A serial killer named Dale; it could only happen at yours x

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  14. Like with all killers you can't change the DNA or the taste for blood. It had to be done.

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    Replies
    1. that gets me worried about John now...

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  15. Oh I'm sorry you (and the other feathered menagerie) had to suffer this, John. I am like you, soft as butter where animals are concerned but very practical and very FAIR when needed. Hope next week is a better one for you. xx

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  16. Sad, sad sad. I become so heavy-hearted when I read stories like this. Maybe I ought to keep a black armband on hand here, just in case - or, more accurately, on arm.

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  17. Anonymous12:55 pm

    Your only other alternative was segregation...I think the bird would have preferred death.

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    1. They are flock birds
      They don't do well alone

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  18. It's a duck-eat-duck world alright! x

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  19. Picolo meets magnum, the end.

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    Replies
    1. It took a while Joanne,,, but I get you

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  20. Truly John, I have to keep Buddy away from Bandit; Bandit the kind loving soul he is would not hurt a flea, but Buddy has too much Male Ego, and two unaltered dogs, I do not need to have either hurt (especially our Bandit). The girls are the same, as Mercedes can be a relentless Alpha Bitch. Good thing you put him off, as it wouldn't have been fair to pen him by himself. Serial Killer series ended now for awhile? xx

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  21. You're the boss-alpha-man there, John. You have to do what is necessary as you said.

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  22. bet you get night mares to night about ducks comeing after youneed a good stiff brandy before bed time

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  23. Anonymous2:17 pm

    I take it you are not in favour of the death penality?

    U

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  24. Like Lizzie, it needed to be done. No regrets! (though I still need to learn how to properly cull - I shipped my last two hens away to be slaughtered. )

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  25. If you cook him slowly he will be quite the meal.

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  26. Very nice post. And many person love your post. Trees Planet

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  27. Trees Planet?

    Sorry you had to do that. I have been learning on my course, sacrifice one to save the many.

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  28. So the title wasn't referring to something no longer fit for consumption?
    Or then again. . .

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  29. Interestingly enough, my buddy and I are having duck tonight. Brined for 12 hours, smoked over very low heat overnight, then finished in a 450 degree oven for a half hour. Buddy's doing a bordeaux reduction sauce and we'll have wild rice with it.
    I'm very fond of ducks, very fond.

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    1. Bet it isn't a runner duck. As much meat on that as a butcher's pencil

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  30. I would be scared of culling a bird in case I did it incorrectly and it suffered. I couldn't live with myself if that happened. I am sure you have had to cull a few in your time John?

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    1. It's a job I hate doing. But I was taught by an old poultry farmer who lives in the village

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  31. Are you running your chicken course this year? Would love a quick tutorial before we move to Spain!

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    Replies
    1. Yes I hope to Hannah
      Perhaps I'll mention ducks too!

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    2. Great! I want ducks, too.

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    3. Spanish ducks eh?
      El quack

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  32. Next time keep the carcass for stock at least. I'm impressed that it was 10 minutes from arrest through conviction to execution. No dithering when the deed has to be done, eh?

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    1. I was miffed, he gave poor Jo a battering

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  33. As Spock would say " the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few...."
    Barb

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    Replies
    1. Live long and prosper ( oh perhaps not!)

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    2. Anonymous8:39 pm

      ...or the one."

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  34. Well, you gave Dale every chance, John, and when you couldn't deny it was he, you did what needed doing. The dark side of husbandry, but necessary.

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    1. I debated relocating him to the village pond in gwaenysgor,... But that wasn't fair either

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  35. If I were you, I would stop watching the telly for a bit...not quite sure what your life will emulate next...but I would be careful this week on what you watch!!!

    xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Oh yes episode 15 airs here tomorrow night!

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  36. What? No due process with a trial by a jury of peers?

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  37. I'm afraid I wouldn't make a very good farmer, when it comes to dealing with culling I would sit him on the naughty chair and try "Luv-a-duck" therapy.
    Damn testosterone.
    ~Jo

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    1. Jo
      Testosterone is the root of most evils

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  38. Nope. You did the only thing you could, John.Things should go better now.
    Have a wonderful week! ♥

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  39. You know how people say "boy, I was a dead duck"? Helloooo Dale! (Sorry, I should not laugh but......well RIP, Dale) (LOL)

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  40. Perhaps, the rest of the flock will breathe a sigh of relief. Wasn't Dale the first of the group to go down in The Walking Dead?

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    1. Amy, Jim, jaqui and Sophia went before him!

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  41. It's good to know when it comes to it you step up to the plate and do what needs to be done. You've just earned yourself a place on my team after the zombie apocalypse.
    Too many people would just let him live thinking it was cruel to cull him but you've done the right thing there! I remember an old cockeral I used to have attacking a friends girlfriend for no reason. The .410 saw to him.

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    1. Not everything is homes and gardens is it kev?

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  42. That's one sad story. I guess you had no choice.

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    1. Well, I think I needed to do the deed,
      Didn't like it
      But it needed to be done

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  43. I find it ironic that you named the "late Dale" after the first survivor who served as the moral compass of the group & yet, ducky Dale turned out to be the most immoral & corrupt creature in the barnyard. Oh! The shame ducky Dale has brought upon his name sake. I hate to see any animal killed, but I feel worse for Jo, Carol & you than I do for Dale. In hindsight, The Governor, might have been a more suitable namesake for the killer duck. We all know how things ended for the Governor, don't we?
    Only 30 minutes until I get to watch the latest TWD. I just know that when season 4 ends next week, it is going to make it seem like a lifetime until next October when season 5 starts. It will be a painful withdrawl John, as the rest of TV land is a vast wasteland here. I am bidding on a TWD DVD set tomorrow on ebay, so I will have something to watch for the next 6 months. I wouldn't feel too bad about the culling of Dale. Everything works out the way it is supposed to.

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    1. "Us" shows here tonight..... , I wonder who will get the chop?

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  44. JUSTICE FOR DALE! Dale had coping problems that could be traced back to his upbringing. His aggressive behaviour was connected with childhood abuse and early family tragedies including the sudden death of his Uncle Donald. Other creatures at the Ukrainian Village ostracised Dale and made his life a misery with their insinuations. The execution of Dale without a proper trial or defence is an affront to justice. Gone but not forgotten.

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  45. Oh my word! Restorative justice, that's what that duck needed. I know all about that: would you like me to tell you?

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  46. Dare I ask.......did you eat him afterwards???? Now, that would be Walking Dead style :)

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