Did my ducks fly the coop or a preditor?

[Chickiemom25]

Well its been a few months now I have had muscovies. I find the math worse than chicken math. I had 2 vanish in a storm a couple months ago. Never figured out what happened but they seem to fly when it rains. One was a non flying drake. leaving me with 2 hens. the hens were rather smart. They have been roosting on top the chicken coop nightly and avoiding the coyotes which have been more visible at night. Yesterday morning I saw them at the pond in the front yard so I know they made it through the night. By 3pm there was serious rain and wind and no ducks to be found. I';ve seen these to girl fly around the yard but they know at 5:30 they get fed either at the pond or by the house daily. They could take shelter at the pond at the base of the trees or at the house in the bushes or next to the garage. No hail.

Have not seen day time predators in the area and there is a decent size pond in the front yard. I expected them to return for dinner ( although they have never left the yard before) but still no sign this morning. Any ideas? I hate to get more if they are just going to leave every time there is a storm, or worse, keep feeding the predators. No feathers anywhere.

 

[jofanx]

I have muscovies--they really should have their wings clipped and locked in the coop like chickens at night--they aren't predator proof animals. Of course, they could still get out if they really, really wanted to.

I had one scale a fence into the neighbor's yard the other day and I thought I lost it to a predator, but I kept the coop light on and a few hours later, it came back.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Coyotes are sneaky and will come during rain or sunshine day or night and they will grab and run. All our birds need to be inside a fence during the day and secured inside a house at night. At least during the day with fencing that can slow a pred down.

 

[Chickiemom25]

Well its been a few months now I have had muscovies. I find the math worse than chicken math. I had 2 vanish in a storm a couple months ago. Never figured out what happened but they seem to fly when it rains. One was a non flying drake. leaving me with 2 hens. the hens were rather smart. They have been roosting on top the chicken coop nightly and avoiding the coyotes which have been more visible at night. Yesterday morning I saw them at the pond in the front yard so I know they made it through the night. By 3pm there was serious rain and wind and no ducks to be found. I';ve seen these to girl fly around the yard but they know at 5:30 they get fed either at the pond or by the house daily. They could take shelter at the pond at the base of the trees or at the house in the bushes or next to the garage. No hail.

Have not seen day time predators in the area and there is a decent size pond in the front yard. I expected them to return for dinner ( although they have never left the yard before) but still no sign this morning. Any ideas? I hate to get more if they are just going to leave every time there is a storm, or worse, keep feeding the predators. No feathers anywhere.

UPDATE: the hens are back! got home from work yesterday and they appeared next to the car as if to say.. "we've been waiting for a snack.. took you long enough". Gave them some scratch and they hung around the garage until sundown when they went back to roosting on top the coop. They were headed for the pond this morning. I am considering getting another dog run for the guineas and ducks, to come back to at night, but not sure how I would convince them to go in.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Try putting food in there at night.

 

[jofanx]

I feed them only at night and in their run--when they see me come out, they start running for their pen lol because they know I only put their food in there.