Air Raid Shelters

[wildpeas]

My ducklings dont go outside without someone with them because they are still young. Lately I have been seeing more and more bald eagles flying overhead and now I am concerned about their duck yard that they will be living in. The house is already built and we are putting up our fencing this weekend. Its only 4 feet high though and 50' x 50'. We are using it as a winter/spring yard and it will be connected to a summer/fall yard that will be 50' x 100' with a pond. My husband feels that this is too big of an area to cover with netting and doesn't want anything that looks 'junky'. We will be planting apple and peach trees but they will take time to mature and how would we put netting around the trees while they are growing?

If we built some free-standing roofs will the ducks and geese think to run under them when the eagles show up? Are there any options other than netting that is nice to look at?

 

[Amiga]

We have a much smaller area for unsupervised time. It is 10´x16´,attached to the house and porch. It is covered top and sides with 2"x3" square coated woven wire, with additional coated chicken wire the first two feet from the ground on the sides. The bottom is coated chain link, sandwiched between 1"x6"s.

There is a long list of predators here, a number of which easily jump fence or could fly in. So, we restrict the ducks' freedom a bit in exchange for their safety and our peace of mind.

From what I have seen, my runners run into their porch and house if they get scared. But the overhead fence gives them time to react, as the predators that have come close cannot actually get to the ducks. If a hawk flew in fast, I fear she could grab a runner before the flock ever saw her.

 

[wildpeas]

I had another talk with hubby and asked him if he wanted to come home from work to two hysterical women and blood and feathers everywhere. We are getting poultry netting to cover the whole area. Its black so its wont be that noticeable from the house and we will put reflective streamers in places so the eagles can see something is there. I feel much better.

 

[Amiga]

I had another talk with hubby and asked him if he wanted to come home from work to two hysterical women and blood and feathers everywhere. We are getting poultry netting to cover the whole area. Its black so its wont be that noticeable from the house and we will put reflective streamers in places so the eagles can see something is there. I feel much better.

I am proud of you! Often I struggle to effectively communicate how important something is. You nailed it!

Another idea is to plant grapes or other fruiting vine that can hide the netting. It could then provide shade as well, and ducks would love treats occasionally falling into their pen. Our Day Pen is under a beautiful sugar maple. It provides shade and some protection from the elements, and the ducks provide food and water for its roots.

 

[wildpeas]

Great idea!

 

[billw]

You can run a piece of string overhead from one side of the yard to the other every few feet. If they don't have a perfectly clear path, they abort their dives. Works for us and we see several BEs most days.