Can't find my babies...

[Emmaxx]

Here's some pictures of our coop setup. It's a wooden bottom frame with cattle panels curled over it. Along the bottom 4ish feet is garden wire, and then along the bottom 2 feet we added a layer of chicken wire for extra predator deterrent, with a heavy duty tarp stretched on top for weather protection. These are after i went a little crazy and tore up all the old straw looking for the babies,View attachment 1354745 View attachment 1354746 View attachment 1354749 View attachment 1354750 View attachment 1354745 View attachment 1354745 View attachment 1354746 View attachment 1354749 View attachment 1354750 View attachment 1354751 so my 2 female ducks are finding new nesting spots

ooh, it's very nice!
Is there anything underneath? I know rats can burrow. They can also climb up to where your wire gets wider (cattle panels). I'm not saying you have rats but I do think they like to grab 'food' and take it back to their nest or somewhere else they feel safe, and then would keep coming back and taking the ducklings one by one. It could explain why they still kept going missing after you separated the chickens.

I wonder if it's just a muscovy thing or if others have been known to do it?

 

[happy duck]

I have never had a broody( kinda hoping tho). I hope that your babies will show up!!! I would be so sad to not know were they are. Just know we feel the pain with you.

 

[happy duck]

What are the updates?? Have you found them? We would love to hear from you.

 

[Jcothren]

What are the updates?? Have you found them? We would love to hear from you.

No sign of them, i think they died, so my girls are already starting a new clutch so ill give them one more attempt.

 

[happy duck]

So sorry. hope your new clutch goes well.

 

[lomine]

I'm so sorry this happen to you. If that large dog crate isn't being used, it would be a good place for them to nest. That way once it gets closer to hatch time you can lock them in. Ducklings can't get out and chickens can't get in. After the ducklings are a few days old and able to keep up with mom you can let them all out.

 

[Jcothren]

Thank you all so much for your support and ideas, you made this a little easier to deal with

 

[Duckstail]

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life


Hope this can cheer you up! Took this today!!

 

[hrmoore78]

Chicken wire isn't predator proof. Hardware cloth is and is a much better option.

 

[Jcothren]

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life


Hope this can cheer you up! Took this today!!

It took me a few lines to realize that's the song from the lion king lol thank you