Decimation of pet ducks leaves gran distraught

AN Angus woman has been left d i st raug ht a fte r her pet ducks were decimated in the last three weeks.

Elspeth Fyfe, who lives near Arbroath, fears human i ntruders have stolen or killed the white ducks, which were her pride and joy.

The 71-year-old bought them last year to join hens which she keeps at her rural home.

The ducks’ waddling had been a huge source of pleasure for her during the Covid crisis.

And they delivered dozens of eggs.

But a few weeks ago Elspeth came out to their pen in her back garden to find three of the birds missing.

Another of the birds died of what she believes was shock.

And a week ago she discovered another duck covered in blood before it also died.

The grandmother has now been forced to relocate her last remaining duck after discovering it badly injured yesterday morning.

“It had a huge mark on its neck and is completely traumatised,” said Elspeth.

She is convinced it is human hands which have done the damage.

She said: “We are devastated and feel sick” said the grandmother.

“It’s horrible.

“The ducks were completely safe in their pen out here in the country.

“When avian flu came on the go we put netting all over the top of the pen and more fencing around it.

“There was no way in without opening the gate – nothing could get in from underneath or above.

“Even the wild birds weren’t able to get in.

“So I’ m convinced it couldn’t have been a fox, a weasel or something like that.

“There were no feathers left lying in the pen and if they got in they’d tear them apart and leave a mess.” She added: “We can’t believe someone could have done this.

“The grand-children loved the ducks and we’re all so upset.

“The ducks were really friendly and very vocal so it’s horrible this has happened.”

Elspeth has contacted police over the matter and wants to warn others.

She said: “I just wanted people who might have ducks or hens to know that this has happened and maybe keep an eye out for their birds.”

Police Scotland were contacted for comment.

It is a far cry from last August when Elspeth hit the headlines after one of the young ducks produced a one-in-25-million egg.

It turned out to be a triple-yolker.

British Egg Information experts say that although double yolk poultry eggs are not unusual, the odds of a triple are around 25,000,000:1.