Ducks Fighting; very distressing

[Miss Lydia]

Well, I can my girls were fighting this evening when they went into the coop 2 of my older [9yrs] Runner females while the drake stands and watches. My goose broke it up.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Well, I can my girls were fighting this evening when they went into the coop 2 of my older [9yrs] Runner females while the drake stands and watches. My goose broke it up.

Ah, that's what we all need - a goose! But don't you think the stress of losing the drake might cause more fighting between females?

 

[loofa]

We had a rat problem about 3 yrs ago and they would be bold enough to come out during the day. A friend told me about cornmeal and baking soda. You have to make sure all feed is put away so you might want to go the route of just feeding a couple times a day till you don't see them any longer I mixed the jiffy corneal and baking soda half and half mixed it real good then I bought the cheap plastic food containers with lids cut a hole into the lid large enough for a rat and mice to get into eat I sat them out of the way of my birds but in areas where I had seen them on the shelf under the wood shed ect. It says it won't harm out birds or pets it will kill vermin because they can't pass gas. I didn't want my birds or dogs eating it anyway. It only took about a few weeks till I didn't see any more rats. We know they will
Always be around since they are a part of nature but they weren't coming around during the day. I know they are eating this mixture because I see poop in the container. Be worth a try I worried about putting out poison and a poisoned rat or mouse come hobbling out sick and one of my dogs or birds eating on it.

I appreciate the idea. I actually just ordered the Contrpest rat birth control system as we are a no kill property (it has come down in price btw; I had looked into it in the past but it cost too much). And I think that with the secure new coop and run we are building I'll move to them eating in the run in the morning and again in the evening on their way to bed, and give them some food maybe once or twice a day while they are free ranging.
I'm saying "they", but actually yesterday we had an extreme tragedy that renders this whole conversation moot (not the rat part, but the rest). A coyote got into our yard and killed all but one of my ducks, and my little frizzle rooster (meaning I now have one duck, one rooster). I'm still reeling from it and my new problem is that I have one very traumatized lonely duck - she was very bonded to her sister, and they were my two wildest/skittish-est ducks, so she doesn't take comfort from me. When the new coop is done I will get her new friends, but the bond she had with her sister was so strong that I am really worried about her. All day yesterday after the incident she was just dazed and statue-like. If you have advice for caring for her I am all ears. I put some liquid B vitamins in her water yesterday and have been giving her peas as she is not eating otherwise. Even the peas, her favorite treat, she was pretty slow to nibble.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh my gosh how horrible. She is most likely in shock and you too. I'd keep her close in a small area for a couple days to give her time to recover from the shock. They don't eat when in shock but keep feed and water close by. She will be lonely, maybe the little rooster and her can draw comfort from each other. I'm sorry I am just now responding. I haven't been able to get on BYC for a couple days.
Do you have fencing you keep your flock inside of?

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

 

[loofa]

hi, yes, entire front yard about 1/2 acre, is fenced, and for 9 years it kept the coyotes out successfully - and we have a LOT of coyotes around here (we love them too, just don't want them eating our friends). But a section that was hidden behind some blackberry bushes was compromised and we didn't realize how much. We are fixing it now of course. We are indeed all in shock. I've gotten her to eat some thawed frozen peas and corn, but mostly she isn't very interested in food. I have her confined in a very large dog crate right now, with a heating pad in one corner - I know she can generally take cold temperatures, but I figure being in shock she might need a bit of extra warmth. I'm looking for another duck to adopt quickly so she won't be alone and will think about where we go from here after that.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's a perfect idea to get her a friend. Glad you are fixing the breach seems the predators always know before we do. Keep us updated on how she is doing and I hope you can find her a friend.
Take care of yourselves too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@loofa hows your duck and roo doing today?

 

[Jenbirdee]

Until you can get her a friend put a mirror and a stuffed animal in her crate with her

 

[SixBabies]

Oh my goodness!! So sorry for your loss! TT^TT the poor babies…

Yeah good to know you are getting a new duck friend asap for her. Duck and Chicken can keep each other company I’m sure they will probably rely on each other a little bit because of how incredibly traumatic this was for everyone even if they are a bit confused and missing some of that same-species comfort they rely on so much.

Especially after the loss of the drake, too. What an absolute shock! Glad you’re keeping her warm and comfy as possible. Hope the fence gets rectified soon and make sure to take a warm bath and let yourself rest and cry a little bit to release the shock and stress, I know I would need to.

For rats I also recommend getting a deep tall box or planter boxes and planting peppermint in them. Just be careful not to let it spread all over! But it’s very effective. There are also bags of very strong “mouse mint” that will keep out most rodents. Very good no kill and much less toxic way of handling those sorts of things.

Sometimes I also spray a spray bottle of water mixed with Dr Brawner’s natural peppermint dish soap around the perimeter of my fence. It will keep many predators a little more wary than before- very strong smell.

Shouldn’t mess with the ducks too bad, but don’t go crazy with it, just a bit on the perimeters and grow some plants. Maybe leave some strong bags of mouse mint on the tallest parts of the fence like tie them to the posts or something.

Wishing you and yours lots of love. Keep us updated!