Chickens Until BobCat, Now Just Ducks

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:welcome :frow So sorry for your loss. We are rural on a dead end road. We had a bobcat kill 14 birds one night. It made the mistake of coming back for more so we eliminated it. I have seen other bobcats since. Sad to say that is the risk you take free ranging. Lessons learned the hard way. Now all of my birds have nice large covered pens for protection from aerial predators and electric wires around the coops and pens and concrete under the gates for ground predators. Nothing has gotten past the electric wires. Some have tested them and once they do they don't try again. I think the predators teach their young that whatever is on the other side of the electric wires isn't worth getting zapped for. You will find a lot of good information here BYCArticles.jpg Good luck with your ducks and have fun...
 
Wow. Thank you for all the feedback.

Yes to those who said "be careful." We are careful with the ducks. If they are out early or late then someone is sitting out with them and very close by. I've tightened up their overnight quarters with more wire and even a camera. We are off grid so doing a bunch more electrical intervention is difficult but so far so good.

Funny thing is that our chickens were fairly far from the house when taken, and the duck never liked going that far with them. She would complain when they wandered. Now she stays closer to home, often in the pond we built, and with the 2 new additions they are less prone to go anywhere. Problem is, as stated by others here and by our own experience with a cougar at a friend's house years ago, is that cats are brave and creative. We are being careful. I just don't want to lock the birds up all day as they really enjoy ranging in the yard.

Strong community of compassionate avian friends here I guess. Will have to check my posts more often.
 

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