Black swedish ducks and hawks

[AGeese]

Patio umbrellas, Avian netting, you can also pin reflectors to it. I've got Hawks, and once or twice a season Bald Eagles. Before the AI scare I was feeding wild birds which included Blue Jays and Cardinals.

The Blue Jays are still here, not sure about the Cardinals. There were a lot of Red Wing Black birds, but they moved on. All very territorial.

 

[Rafnel]

Probably worth updating this post since it's been about 3 and a half months. I started free-ranging the ducks during August, probably when they were 5 or so weeks old and starting to get pretty big.

I bought a decoy owl and filled it with rocks and I move it to a couple different spots in the yard every day or so. I also have strips of scare tape dangling around a few spots in the yard which shine in the light. I also work from home, so I'm outside at random hours of day visiting the animals for a couple minutes here and there, which probably creates uncertainty for the hawks.

Anyways, haven't had any issues. I see them ALL THE TIME overhead in the farm field behind us and even directly above us sometimes. I have never witnessed them try anything and they seem relatively uninterested. No issues for basically 2 months of free ranging. They also seem to have good instincts. Whenever something flies overhead, they start looking up and will instinctively move to cover (patio chairs/table, their coop, etc).

We even had one cool experience where some pigeons flew directly overhead, maybe 15 feet above us and the ducks were in the pool at the moment and let out a loud warning quack then dipped underwater for like 3 seconds synchronously. Really cool to see their instincts in action. Anyways, there's enough random stuff in the yard for them to hide in IMO that I don't think there will be issues.

 

[Rafnel]

Adding some pics. Some sad news though, the runt of the three, Poppy, recently died. She got sick randomly last week and stopped moving and eating. I took her to a vet and they thought it was pneumonia.

Tube fed her for 2.5 days and gave antibiotics and she continued to decline. On one of my tube feedings, she wrestled out of her towel burrito while I was holding her head and her neck snapped. Really awful experience, and I feel dumb, but I'm getting over it. She was on her way out anyways from what I could tell. Also got 2 muscovies recently at a bird swap so it helps ease the pain.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

I am so sorry for your loss, I know that pain.

I have lost too, and I am confident that the reason she was suddenly wrestling to get out is the final death spasms, something happens at the very end and you hold them in your arms to calm them (not hard, just encircling) and then they sigh and go.

I am so sorry your last moment was tainted by guilt, but you did a lot, you cared for her at the end of her lovely (if short) life and you spoiled her all the days she was in your garden. That is a wonderful life you know, focus the memory there, not on the last moment.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very sorry for your loss.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I'm sorry you lost your little Poppy in such a traumatic way.

Your Muscovy look lovely, I'm glad you were able to help fill the void.

 

[Rafnel]

Thank you all! Yeah the muscovy are settling in well and they already eat out of my hand and know I'm the bearer of good things

 

[AGeese]

Thank you all! Yeah the muscovy are settling in well and they already eat out of my hand and know I'm the bearer of good things

Just great looking birds, would like to see updates, and sorry for your loss.