Chick Mom's little Joe and Milly

Little Joe,
You brought sunshine and happiness into our lives
with your feathers of snow white and bright blue eyes
Your cute little waddle and soft quack
Those nice close cuddles and wet duck smacks

We had good times and bad
and When you were hurt we were sad
You brougt us so much laughter
and that we will remember forever after

We walked down the road of life together
and stuck with it no matter the weather
Mom, Dad, you and peekaboo
Happily meeting each day a new

Now you go get those bugs bountiful
And bask in God's Glory
Sit in his lap and tell him your story
Of bygone days so beautiful
And the Humans that loved you dearly

We love and miss you

My 3.5 month old muscovy drake, Milly, died last night. When we got up Sunday morning, Milly had been hurt and was standing by the pond dripping wet and standing upright with his head pulled down in his neck. We brought him in and he had a small flesh wound in his bib (and it really had not gone into any muscle or trachea or anything else) but no other marks. We cleaned him up and put him in the shower to rest. His breathing was very labored. He could breath in okay but it took 6-7 seconds for each exhale. My husband thinks perhaps he was held under water and inhaled a lot of water. We put Milly in the outdoor pen so he could see his friends and walk around a bit. JJ came to sit next to the pen. Milly spent a lot of time 1/2 way sitting in a tub of water. His breathing seemed more regular although shallow. Around 8PM he became very off-balanced and I brought him inside. We held him for the next hour and he died about 9. It was an awful death and it's hard not to think about it. I wish I could have spared him all the pain. We thought about putting him down around 8:30 but thought he still might pull through. It was just so hard to imagine that he would die when he was so unmarked and so large and healthy. Now I'm crying again.

Milly followed me around whenever I was outside. Saturday he followed me across the yard, the swinging bridge over the pond, the barnyard and into the barn and then back. This is a long way. He came when I called him if he was not already with me. He loved to sit on my lap. I would sit on the stoop and he would come and tap me on the back or side with his bill to say he wanted to sit on my lap. He loved to eat cheetos and popcorn and streudal and poptarts and anything that his humans ate. He shared my sub Saturday night. It was odd Sunday not having him follow me and now it will be even worse.

I assume it was Muskerman who hurt him although I never saw them fight and I know Milly was afraid of Musk and tried to keep out of his way. But no one but Musk is big enough to hurt Milly. Milly was over 7 pounds and tough. On the other hand, why the little flesh wound on the bib? Seems like any wounds from Musk would have been on Milly's back or neck. And Milly was much younger and more agile than Musk. Sigh. It's always such a mystery when they get hurt.

I'm sorry to report bad news. Milly was my baby (born on my Birthday) and I'm terribly sad. I miss you and I'm sorry, Milly

To Mom and Dad from Milly
I'm not much on rhym'n
Like the other ducks were a try'n.

So I will just be my sweet and simple self
And lay it down like a good book on a shelf.

I came to great you on your Birthday.
With allot of love and happness
To bring your way.

You and Papa took me into your Life and Hearts
Gave me playmates and friends in JJ and Wild One
You let us poop and let farts
And treated us all like your sons

You never complained when we miss behaved in the house
All though we tried to be as quite and good as a mouse
You sung to us wonderful songs
and cuddled us when things went wrong
(like when the lights when off and we were scared)

No fowl could ever have as great a life as I did
So full of love and kindness and all that super junk food
The very best place to live
But was no way any of us knew

That time here for me would be so short
And that God would call me home
So I go to meet all the others and
Say a big hello to Little Joe

They are all there waiting for me
on the other side of Rainbow Bridge.
So remember the good times and how much
I loved you both...
And please give a cuddle to JJ and Wild One for me.

Thank You for a wonderful life here on Earth.
Milly



Unfortunately, our sweet JJ was missing this morning. We assume another bobcat attack. The ducks made a big racket yesterday around 6:15 (it doesn't get light until 7:30) and my husband and I both got up and looked with binoculars but couldn't see anything. The same thing happened this morning around 6:30 and I got up to look again. Nothing. But when I went out at 7:20, he was gone. JJ was very much like his father, Little Joe - big, fluffy, gentle, calm, very handsome.
When my husband got home I told him about the chickens and how I thought perhaps they saw something. So he went to look in that area some more and he found JJ's body. It was the work of a bobcat. We were able to bury JJ beside his pal, Milly. It was good to have closure and know what happened.
To Mom and Dad

from JJ Duck

I am close by you with Milly and Papa here

So dry your eyes and put a smile on your face

This place is beautiful and void of any fear

Blue skys, cool clear ponds and grass good to the taste.

We love you both and thank you for your love of us

Think of the happy times and we will always be alive to you

Love JJ, Milly and Little Joe