Just Lost My Breeding Pair Of Mandarin Ducks

[jack-percival 25]

Come home from work at 4 got a shower had an early tea, fed my breeding pair of mandarins that are both hand tame and housed in a large converted dog run went out lamping around 7 and just got in at 10, usually when you go in the back garden the ducks make a really quite soft whistle at you, noticed it was quite so opened the shelter to find the pair of them huddled together dead, I'm really wounded by this because this is there seconded year paired up and the first year the male has been in full breeding colour, last year he had nearly all his plumage and they paired and laid eggs ( they pair for life ) first off didn't notice anything unusual when I fed them earlier, haven't changed there food, and nothing can get any where near them ie fox or cat, there's no physical marks, lumps or bumps..... Does anyone have any ideas to what could have caused them to both huddle together and die like this so suddenly, there around 2 and a half years old if this helps any.......

[vfr400boy 3,666]

Could some thing of frightend them ?

[budharley 945]

That a shitter mate beautiful ducks , we have a large pond on are land and it's something I've been interested in having a couple if pairs of mandarins and Carolina wood ducks but fox proofing the pond would cost a fortune

[Astral 253]

Thats really sad sorry to hear that, I spoke to a mate on FB who keeps different fancy birds (Not ducks but might be applicable?) He said sudden fright or chemical smells. (He lost nearly 6 birds when his next door neighbour decided it was cool to burn a load of plastic crap on a bonfire next door to his avery.)

[jack-percival 25]

There not that bad budharley they either roost on the water or they climb up into the trees, mine would come over to you to be put away. Could have been something to do with next door I suppose as there pen back onto next doors fence but they have a large duck pond also and there's are alright.