Duck predators

[LaceyBird]

Last summer my 8/yo son raised two beautiful Pekin ducks. It was our first experience with ducks, they are SO sweet! One day one of the ducks went missing (we let them free range a bit around the house where we have a small pond and several drainage ditches). My son came back to the house extremely distressed with his duck who had been obviously attacked by something. It was horrifying because the duck had only the lower half of its bill! No other obvious injuries. We cried over this gentle animal! It was one of the most sickening things I've ever seen. My question is what could have done this? The only thing I can think of is snapping turtle.

This spring my sister-in-law gave us four ducklings as a gift. I'm still so traumatized by last summers experience that I'm planning on keeping these babies in a pen ALWAYS, but I feel bad about keeping anything in a cage. How much room do 4 ducks need to be content? If I do allow them to free-range a bit how can I better protect them from snappers (assuming that is what hurt our duck). I want these guys to have a happy, safe life. Thanks for any and all feedback.

 

[Going Quackers]

Welcome, i am sorry that would have been horrifying. A snapper is a possibility though i would think often they would take legs, with smaller ducks they just take them though sizes of theses turtles vary massively.

I don't have any real ponds which i am grateful for, snappers scare me, we found one years ago that had wandered in after a storm it was HUGE and near my horses! usually their are professionals who can aid with the dangerous creatures roaming on your land.

As for pens, big as you can is always best.. even more so with Pekin(are they the same breed?) i have half a dozen of these myself and know how messy they can make an area. I would suggest secure home and fence an area with trees, pools and try and get varied grounds if at all possible...

Free ranging is best BUT not always possible, for instance i don't free range my calls much to dangerous here for that, so you do the best you can ducks don't know what they don't have and with plenty of room will thrive as well, i'd do a search on the forum, so many wonderful pond and pen ideas here.

Myself? my pekin are in my large scovie flock, they free range during the day and i have a 1/3 of an acre penned for night with secure housing that they get shifted into.

Best of luck with the new babies! would love to see them! i am not breeding nor getting babies this year so i will live through others lol

 

[LaceyBird]

Thank you for the advice. We have two Pekin ducks and two Rouen ducks. They are already lots of fun even though they are quite young. I will try and get a pic or two of them