I have seen coons eat just the crops and neck, often a way to tell the difference between owl/coon victims. Somewhat unrelated, but to the reader who didn't know!
It is weird, even when it is 10 or 20 below in January my birds stay on the water. They sleep with their bill under their wings and just float. I keep them fat and just sit in amazement.
Perhaps all the perfectly placed down works well! I do notice they trade off feet to swim; they tuck...
I have kept ducks outside on ponds for about 15 years. The most inexpensive and effective way to keep them happy in the winter (to prevent ponds freezing) is to use a large pump to continually move water. Moving water won't freeze-- which is why ducks that fly winter on rivers.
What I have...
I also have ducks that seem to love winter. They seem much happier during blizzards than in the heat of the summer. I also seem to lose fewer birds in the winter than in the summer!
What about gators?
People often take birds too if there is no evidence.
Coyotes and foxes tend to take the birds with minimal trace.
Never had birds of prey of any kind eat my birds when they are full grown.
With your enclosure-- be careful, raccoon can get in to professionally-built...
I can't multi quote on my phone apparently but thank you for the kind words. Also, drakes are weldome feel free to being him by!
Mallards have joined my flocks this winter anyway! :)
Thanks man,
I appreciate the kind words. You are more than welcome to visit and feed them, I never turn down affection for them. The hoa told me they're not interested in a public feeder area because it's unsightly and against their hoa rules like chicken coops. Signage I will need to run by...
Thanks I feel like I was pretty irritated with him but really his opinion of my practice should be completely irrelevant!
15 years of history has taught me well my birds thrive!
They're fat and healthy as horses, and there are two pumps on the pond keeping water from freezing- how anyone could...
The op did take my emden goose but returned him to me he is safe and home I should have eluded to that.
The other thread has the details: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/842476/pilgrim-gander/20#post_12481453
(Go to page one when you follow link)
We exchanged some frustrated words and...
That's awful I've never had anything like that happen! I can say though that I don't place females I this setting anymore because they attract predators when they lay eggs in a nest and train coyotes foxes raccoons and ravens (the worst egg destroyers!) to inhabit the lake more often. Coyotes...
I am going to approach them about this, I would be happy to pay for it myself the hoa just has to agree to let me. My only concern again is the troublemaking people that just find out someone made a decision without them and want to cause trouble for various stupid reasons. They're always one...
That is a great idea too.
The only problem I've had with even the level of education I do provide is that once "that neighbor" (like the one who is causing all of the trouble that has nothing better to do than make all other home owners lives heck, ammunition because since they sent wild it...
I would be happy to but I'm the past no one seems to care or consider it newsworthy. I passed out information to all homeowners in my neighborhood though I will give it more thought. :)
Waterfowl are contained by water now. It's also a good thing my hoa owns the land. Animals aren't running at large they're confined to two retention ponds. Stealing is a crime regardless of the activity there's no gray area.
For someone that cares about animals so much you sure like to cause...
That detective is the one who wanted to charge you with theft and I told them in the case file to note to your city police not to press charges if I get my birds back, FYI.
You can still be charged I just don't deem it necessary.
Also you may not know this but waterfowl live in the water. Snow...
Again, with all due respect after I told you the hoa owns both this pond and the birds and I also own the birds and explained they are not abandoned and even took time to tell you about my 15 year history and how we care for them you still didn't agree to return my bird(s) you basically not only...