[Daisys Mum]

Mother duck and her 7 babies were shut in a stable last night and when I opened the door this morning there were only 5  . There is a way in from the next stable just under the roof and there is also a hole in the door where a rat chewed it's way in a couple of years ago.

[bloomer]

my first guess would have been rat unless you have proof otherwise...

[little bo peep]

How old are the ducklings? I would think rat as well, unfortunately, horrible things. I would move them otherwise it might be back for more.

[Brucklay]

Definitely a rat - we keep all our ducklings in weld mesh pens, 1 quarter inch, top, bottom, side. Once in a similar pen on concrete in the hay store then was knaw mark and blood on the timber frames but the ducklings were safe!!!

[Fleecewife]

We had a chicken wire cage, tiny size holes, including the floor.  Made the mistake of siting it on dug earth.  A big fat rat burrowed underneath and pulled the tiny ducklings one by one down through the mesh, until we realised what was happening.
Our first terrier when she was still a puppy taught that big fat rat a lesson - it was the same size as Lucy  but she killed it in one bite and shake.

[Daisys Mum]

Just found them  , they must have squeezed through the hole and wandered off, a bit wet and hungry they had fallen down into a breeze block. Thank goodness I heard them,

[Mammyshaz]

Oh goodness, that must have been a shock. Glad you found them safe and sound 

[goosepimple]

Five little ducks went swimming one day .......   

A happy ending, not that common for ducklings at this time of year 

[Fleecewife]

Oh brilliant 

[Brucklay]

Yippie..... Duckling win 

[mowhaugh]

That's brilliant news, phew!

[waterbuffalofarmer]

That is very good news. Our dogs love hunting rats and of course we have a farm cat, who adopted us, and sorts out any rat problem, also I can leave her in the garden with the hens and she leaves them be, quite gentle really.