cats?

[Going Quackers]

Well, to me, 14 cats ( taken care of or not) sounds like hell on earth. But then I HATE cats. They are no different from rats or cockroaches. I'd much, much rather have snakes for rodent contriol. No snake found in Michigan would take my ducks!

Hell on earth? lol Some probably think the same of poultry

 

[Sinister]

Whenever the neighbors cat tries to cross my yard, all 7 ducks will walk over to the property line and keep pace with him, escorting him past our borders. He walks around my yard now. I have no idea if they ever had a fight, but he has no interest in the ducks.

They challenge the other neighbors dog regularly. Its a little Pomeranian yipper, but if she sees the ducks outside she will charge. The ducks will charge right back and meet her at the property line, get all puffed up and flappy. The dog backs down every time and runs for her door.

I've watched them chase off a hawk even. I was looking out the window when it flew in and landed in the tree right above where they were napping. I started for the kitchen door to save them when the sentry duck sounded the alarm. I noticed them all wake up, stand up tall, stare right at the hawk, flap like mad and quack for all they had. The hawk left after about 30 seconds.

When they first moved outside we lost one to an unknown predator before we had our system down completely. I think they had a flock meeting after that and decided to start up their own neighborhood watch. The biggest problem I have now is that they are getting cocky and trying to expand their territory. If they start charging the other neighborhood animals protection money, I hope I get a cut.

Wait... they just started laying, so I guess I do get a cut.

 

[chooniecat]

Things are very different out in the country. As long as they are being taken care of I don't see why it would be a issue.

Its the "taken care of" differences.Some people think "taking care of" is just feeding/ignoring. They need our intervention(like cows,ducks,ANY domestic animal) so their numbers don't get so drastic.And that dosen't mean killing them off like you do whitetail populations in the fall. Very sad because they do serve a great purpose and even when NOT touchable, ie feral, they need human intervention(spayed/neutered) I personally don't care for dogs(as a rule-I obviously have an exception!!) but I help them whenever I spot a problem. We created them-we need to help.

 

[Imp]

Whenever the neighbors cat tries to cross my yard, all 7 ducks will walk over to the property line and keep pace with him, escorting him past our borders. He walks around my yard now. I have no idea if they ever had a fight, but he has no interest in the ducks.

They challenge the other neighbors dog regularly. Its a little Pomeranian yipper, but if she sees the ducks outside she will charge. The ducks will charge right back and meet her at the property line, get all puffed up and flappy. The dog backs down every time and runs for her door.

I've watched them chase off a hawk even. I was looking out the window when it flew in and landed in the tree right above where they were napping. I started for the kitchen door to save them when the sentry duck sounded the alarm. I noticed them all wake up, stand up tall, stare right at the hawk, flap like mad and quack for all they had. The hawk left after about 30 seconds.

When they first moved outside we lost one to an unknown predator before we had our system down completely. I think they had a flock meeting after that and decided to start up their own neighborhood watch. The biggest problem I have now is that they are getting cocky and trying to expand their territory. If they start charging the other neighborhood animals protection money, I hope I get a cut.

Wait... they just started laying, so I guess I do get a cut.

How funny- A Duck Gang!

Imp

 

[Khelfrich]

My Cat attacked my chicken and left it for dead. I nursed the chicken back to health. It was a full grown chicken! The cat bit the chickens neck. BE CAREFUL. Some cats will get comfortable and attack.

 

[DuckLoverJake]

When I had my ducks the meanest cat we had actually liked them and they liked her back. They used to follow her around the yard and she'd let them they were the only things she had never hissed at. At night when I put them up sometimes she'd follow me home and back to make sure they got home safe. It was so cool.

 

[TTeddy]

Really though that is NOT cats fault that is humans! i grew up around horse boarding stables, you know how many people drop off cats and even dogs? The quantity of cats people own is not the issue, poor care/bad ownership is.

People do it with ducks too, how many stories to we hear of people getting a cute duckling only to toss it onto a pond somewhere? again all falls back onto people. Irresponsible people.

Exactly my point. It's not the cat's fault I know. It's these things we call humans. People who own them and don't get the sterilized etc to control the population of them.

I think it should be the law to license them, with a minimum of 2 per household..worldwide!

Anyways, enuf about cats....
My ducklings are doing great. They are 4.5 weeks old now and i'm starting to hear the quack come through

 

[archil]

I have to cats and three four week old muscovys
Those duckling boss the cats around like they own the place
I actually have to take the cats away to feed them because the ducklings chase them away and steal their food
My cats can be pretty wussy though
I guess it depends on the cats
Most shouldn't be a problem though I would think, based on the almost sad level of respect and fear my cats have for these baby flufballs

 

[ducksinarow]

None of my 8 cats bother my ducks. They actually seem afraid of them. My cats are all fixed but my ducks are not.