I would be protecting them too just like you are. They are choosing to come back on their own so IMO keep up the good work. We need more people like you in this world! 
10 Baby Wood Ducks (1st thought they were Mallards)
- Thread starter ThreeOfSeven
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- #212
My wildlife person is not concerned. We agreed the other day that nature, instinct, hormones, or something else will eventually kick in. I'll continue "releasing" them with my pullets. At any time, they can fly off. They may return again. Who knows.
Taking them to a far-off location is not a good solution. There are laws preventing that. (Not sure if they are state or federal.) Nonetheless, it can upset the ecological balance, i.e., a picture-perfect location gets all the rescues and becomes overpopulated.
I can't leave a door open for them 24/7. The ducks are housed with my pullets, and getting my DH to build another pen is not going to happen. (Took 4 months for me to get the extension for the pullets, and he finished it days before me having to move the chicks out of their brooder box.)
But they do get out so they have plenty of opportunity to leave. Just enjoy them while you have them. Maybe the last will now show up. That is so cool after how many days this one came home.
I would be protecting them too just like you are. They are choosing to come back on their own so IMO keep up the good work. We need more people like you in this world!
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- #215
Went with DH to pick up some duckweed. (The same pond where the fox was stalking near the acorns.) Saw one duck at the far end of the elongated pond. Too far away to tell if it was a WD. Maybe that's #5, and he's found himself in nature. <grin>
How’s it going today?
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- #217
All is good. Still only 4. The glass-half-full part of me is sure that baby #5 found WD friends.
Busy day today, but I hope to get the babies (pullets and ducks) out this afternoon. Others might say I'm over cautious, but ... Earlier this summer, my DH and I were talking with someone while standing on the east side of the house. I heard my hens squawking and realized that a hawk was trying to attack my hens on the west side of the house (saw the hawk fly off when I ran over). Only a few weeks ago, a friendly wild turkey was visiting while the hens were out, and she kept looking up into the trees. It was a hawk "lying in wait." I shooed it off, screaming like a crazy lady. It circled around the house and snuck back into the trees. That sweet wild turkey saw it, and I chased it off again.
I have a number of bird feeders, and every so often I find bird feathers on the ground nearby. I removed the feeders for a while, but brought them back when I realized that the disappearance of birds is a good indication of a predator. I had a hen attacked and killed while I was standing in my kitchen, almost right in front of me. I've seen red tail hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and great horned owls in my backyard. Yeah, I'm a little over cautious with my hens, and now I let them (pullets and hens) out only when I can stand guard over them the whole time.
The babies will have plenty of opportunities to fly. I just can't lackadaisically open the pen and let the hordes have their way in the backyard.
Busy day today, but I hope to get the babies (pullets and ducks) out this afternoon. Others might say I'm over cautious, but ... Earlier this summer, my DH and I were talking with someone while standing on the east side of the house. I heard my hens squawking and realized that a hawk was trying to attack my hens on the west side of the house (saw the hawk fly off when I ran over). Only a few weeks ago, a friendly wild turkey was visiting while the hens were out, and she kept looking up into the trees. It was a hawk "lying in wait." I shooed it off, screaming like a crazy lady. It circled around the house and snuck back into the trees. That sweet wild turkey saw it, and I chased it off again.
I have a number of bird feeders, and every so often I find bird feathers on the ground nearby. I removed the feeders for a while, but brought them back when I realized that the disappearance of birds is a good indication of a predator. I had a hen attacked and killed while I was standing in my kitchen, almost right in front of me. I've seen red tail hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and great horned owls in my backyard. Yeah, I'm a little over cautious with my hens, and now I let them (pullets and hens) out only when I can stand guard over them the whole time.
The babies will have plenty of opportunities to fly. I just can't lackadaisically open the pen and let the hordes have their way in the backyard.
I agree totally. I just lost a tiny OEGB hen and she was one that would not stay inside the fence property. There are just way to many dangers out there.
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- #219
Which is why DH built this. It's annexed to the "hen" house (versus pullet area). My 2 hens use it, and I'm hoping the pullets will find their way there to enjoy. Problem right now, the hens are waay bigger than the pullets and not being very nice to them. All in due course ...
P.S. It's not 4-legged predator proof. Chicken wire along the bottom and not buried.
P.S. It's not 4-legged predator proof. Chicken wire along the bottom and not buried.
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- #220
This morning.
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