Duckie question..

[obxcrew]

Hello from a newbie to the site. I have a question for all you in the know on duckies. We have a pond with Pekin, and Mallard Ducks, and Geese ( to protect our duckies, or so we thought) .. My question is... What is killing our duckies? We put up a 4 foot fence around the pond. Something is sneaking in at night, dragging the ducks over the fence, and killing them Just for sport. There are no other marks on them besides two puncture wounds behind the neck. Their feet are stretched straight out behind them, the same as our chickens do in the chicken houses when they have a heart attack from fear. I walked our hillside and picked up 4 dead ducks this morning. Only one duck was missing it's entire head (sorry to be so graphic). the rest were clean, other than the two puncture wounds. What do you think??? Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

obxcrew

 

[Willowbrook]

I can't say what is killing your ducks for sure, but the method of killing sounds like a weasel or Fischer. That is the way they kill chickens.

 

[Willowbrook]

If you would like to make a trap to cat the varmint, here is a link for you : http://www.trapperman.com/trapperman/The_Weasel_Box_Set.html

 

[obxcrew]

Thanks so much for the response Willowbrook !! but I wouldn't think the Weasel could carry the Pekin over the fence. do you? that's a pretty big duck.

 

[Amiga]

My first thought was weasel. Are there fishers in your area?

Sorry about your loss.

Can you set up a complete enclosure for night time? That is what I am building for my new arrivals.

 

[Amiga]

Fox?

 

[Amiga]

Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks indicates this is a weasel or mink.

The only thing to do is get the ducks into a secure enclosure at night that is "covered with 1/2 inch wire hardware cloth. . . mink and weasels can pass through holes as small as 1 inch in diameter."

 

[obxcrew]

Thanks all !! We had considered a weasel. the only problem is, we really don't have a way to contain them at night. I think we need to de-weasel our pond. I would have figured the Geese would protect them. We have lost 1 Goose. no sign of him. I appreciate the response!

 

[Amiga]

With great respect for you and your understanding of your situation, I want to suggest you reconsider a night shelter for the ducks. "De-weaseling" may or may not work - and you will never know if you got them all. And it will take some effort, after all. It may feel more like justice, but long term it's how to help the birds survive, I would think, is the priority.

Building some sort of very simple enclosure for the ducks, is a more certain and possibly quicker way to protect your waterfowl.

 

[obxcrew]

Thanks Amiga !! I will suggest this to my husband. All the birds have gotten kinda wild. They only come to us when we feed. But surely we can work something out. Thanks for the help !!!