Disappearing Ducks

[teriz1091]

We set up a couple trail cams as well as a live trap baited with an egg. I’m not keen to try any other bait, as we have 4 curious barn cats that will be the only creatures caught if I use something smellier & better. I’m hoping an egg will be enough, as it’s been stealing plenty of them. The remaining flock have been given plenty of fresh food & water for their confinement, although I know we’ll have some grumpy, protesting hens. Hopefully we’ll be able to catch the culprit so we can dispatch it & not have a repeat killing.

 

[Flamens Farm]

That is such a shame. So sorry about your hen and ducks. I tried to free range mine but there are too many predators around here. I even had to lock up my guineas after 3 were killed one night.

 

[teriz1091]

That is such a shame. So sorry about your hen and ducks. I tried to free range mine but there are too many predators around here. I even had to lock up my guineas after 3 were killed one night.

We’ve been at this place almost a year & our flock is free ranged every day. We just lock them in their pens at night. Last fall we lost a young hen who didn’t go to bed with the others & accidentally got locked out. We also lost a young rooster last fall, I believe to a hawk.

My 12yr old Aussie is a fantastic farm dog, but slowed down quite a bit this past winter. He much prefers hanging out inside on his bed to being outside all day now, so we don’t have any deterrence from a dog anymore. Our other dogs are completely useless as any sort of guardians. Someday I want a livestock guardian dog to live out with the flock, but that is a ways in the future, once our dog numbers go down.

 

[Flamens Farm]

My neighbor across the field lost both his turkeys and 5 chickens to a couple of roaming dogs last month and the month before that he lost chickens to an owl. My other neighbor down by the highway lost all their chickens to owls, they did not have a coop, they let theirs stay in with the horses. I have several pens of chickens all completely covered with fence and I change up letting them out in the yard every other day but only when I am home and in the yard. I have lost plenty of them already to predators when I let them free range. 6 in one week was enough for me to keep them locked up, covered up and out only with me supervising in the yard. We are completely surrounded by woods and a lot of wildlife. Unfortunately, dogs can't do much about owls or hawks. I have 4 dogs also and they keep the coyotes, opossums, and raccoons out.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Update us with what you find on the camera. I'm so sorry

I've lost many so I know what you feel. I hope you catch the horrible culprit.