Bold Herring Gull getting aggressive with my ducks

[Mum]

My ducks free range my garden; nesting on a nearby house are a pair of Herring Gulls.

A few days ago, I went to give the flock their corn treat and one HG was trying to "blend in". I chased it off.

This morning, as I have my morning cuppa, I saw my little flock marching past the patio doors; Liz had a small snail in her bill and then from nowhere, a HG run up to Liz and pecked at her!!

Herring gulls are a protected species; as such they are now becoming bolder and less scared of humans. This one has decided that my duck flock will lead it to an easy meal and if I'm not out there to provide it (snack time) it is going to challenge my birds for morsels they find for themselves.

Not quite sure how to approach this challenge. Any thoughts?

 

[Miss Lydia]

My ducks free range my garden; nesting on a nearby house are a pair of Herring Gulls.

A few days ago, I went to give the flock their corn treat and one HG was trying to "blend in". I chased it off.

This morning, as I have my morning cuppa, I saw my little flock marching past the patio doors; Liz had a small snail in her bill and then from nowhere, a HG run up to Liz and pecked at her!!

Herring gulls are a protected species; as such they are now becoming bolder and less scared of humans. This one has decided that my duck flock will lead it to an easy meal and if I'm not out there to provide it (snack time) it is going to challenge my birds for morsels they find for themselves.

Not quite sure how to approach this challenge. Any thoughts?

Ambush, I have been teaching my chickens to stay out of parts of my garden by turning the hose on them but it is done so fast that they have no idea where it comes from they just know they better run for their lives. The hose has one of those nozzles on the end so it's full blast from a distance. You might try that a few times and see if it helps.

 

[Mum]

Thank you Miss Lydia, that's a good suggestion.