Ducks got attacked last night

[DuckWhisperer06]

I had multi Ducks attacked it is a very time-consuming event and devastating... But what I did was I washed up all the injured Birds and I put antibiotic ointment on them and the worst ones I did twice a day! Also wanted to let you know that we killed the first weasel and then it was a month later its mate showed up and we caught and killed that in a live trap to so keep your traps set! I selpt little knowing those bastard were around.

@Tilly6

You should keep the traps out for a while. Even if it was only one that attacked your ducks, there is a good chance there may be more.

I would even set multiple traps for better odds of catching them.

And make sure you kill the mink or whatever you catch (raccoons, possums, etc. they can still be a threat). I understand it may be hard, but if you release it, this whole thing will happen all over again and your ducks may be in greater danger since the mink knows how to get in even if you rebuild the coop/pen.

 

[Tilly6]

@Tilly6

You should keep the traps out for a while. Even if it was only one that attacked your ducks, there is a good chance there may be more.

I would even set multiple traps for better odds of catching them.

And make sure you kill the mink or whatever you catch (raccoons, possums, etc. they can still be a threat). I understand it may be hard, but if you release it, this whole thing will happen all over again and your ducks may be in greater danger since the mink knows how to get in even if you rebuild the coop/pen.

Since a mink is a fubearer and not a nuisance animal I won’t say I killed it, but it didn’t survive. I bought 2 large traps at TSC and one is defective :/ it keeps releasing just from the wind. We have multiple squirrel size traps already so I can keep traps out as long as it takes all around the yard to get all the rest, however many it may be.

The injured 6 all seem interested in food and water today. There was actually an egg in their nurse pen this morning. I’m getting them set up for long term care in the detached garage so I can expand their space and give them a swimming tub. The way the worst of them holds their neck just looks so awful I am seriously reluctant to handle them too much.

 

[HeatherlovesherBirds]

@Tilly6

You should keep the traps out for a while. Even if it was only one that attacked your ducks, there is a good chance there may be more.

I would even set multiple traps for better odds of catching them.

And make sure you kill the mink or whatever you catch (raccoons, possums, etc. they can still be a threat). I understand it may be hard, but if you release it, this whole thing will happen all over again and your ducks may be in greater danger since the mink knows how to get in even if you rebuild the coop/pen.

I agree she definitely should I have gotten two weasels since the night mine were attacked also need to fix any whole in their safe place...we kill anything that is a threat to our girls and we don't want to make them someone else's problem.

 

[Tilly6]

I agree she definitely should I have gotten two weasels since the night mine were attacked also need to fix any whole in their safe place...we kill anything that is a threat to our girls and we don't want to make them someone else's problem.

Finally looked at the trail cam pictures, bad news is that there were 2 animals around last night, there is a picture of the trap closed with an animal by the fence. The dog caught and killed a muskrat today that we have a picture of up by the pen in daylight about 10 minutes before the dog got it. I really hope the muskrat is critter 2. Anyway, it’s tonight’s bait, and it’s another sleepless night for me.

 

[Tilly6]

I have a basset hound puppy

You are very lucky then! It was like petting velvet, he was soooooo soft

 

[HeatherlovesherBirds]

Finally looked at the trail cam pictures, bad news is that there were 2 animals around last night, there is a picture of the trap closed with an animal by the fence. The dog caught and killed a muskrat today that we have a picture of up by the pen in daylight about 10 minutes before the dog got it. I really hope the muskrat is critter 2. Anyway, it’s tonight’s bait, and it’s another sleepless night for me.

I know the feeling I was out in my coop every hour after my weasel attack... The first morning I discovered the bloody bath I evacuated my coop.. I brought all 38 birds in my home..I love them all... that night I went to out at 830 and the weasel was in the coop I went out to sprinkle flower to pick up track ,because our snow melted..my husband shot him in the face with a 22. A month later..it snowed and I went out to let my girls out and noticed tracks going around the coop and stopping at both doors. We got that one too . Took sometime. Daisy my duck is still in my home after 7 weeks she is doing well and has most of her eye sight back. If I didn't have my flock mixed I would let her go back out , but my chickens would open her head back up.... I do let her out to free range with her sisters.. I wish you all the luck and hope all your ducks heal... May you catch them all. I am sorry you have to deal with this...it is hard....but love from you will get them through.

 

[Tilly6]

So we didn’t catch anything last night and we didn’t have the camera out because we were gong over the pictures. Any recommendations for bait? It’s going to be warmer today and the deceased muskrat isn’t going to attract anything that prefers live bait like a “weasel”

I need more help, I hope some of you are still following the post. The ducks who are keeping their necks tightly curled and close to their bodies have shown they WANT to eat, made moves towards mealworm and ate a bite from my hand, but can’t bend down to eat or drink!! I could hand feed, but the healthier ducks will interfere. And what about water??!! I am going to go look for a raised feeder for dogs and see if that helps. Meanwhile, what is super palatable and super nutritious that I can get in her. I will bite the bullet and give her the oral pain med and see if that helps, I could dose her with straight nutridrench too. Any better ideas PLEASE

 

[cymbaline]

So we didn’t catch anything last night and we didn’t have the camera out because we were gong over the pictures. Any recommendations for bait? It’s going to be warmer today and the deceased muskrat isn’t going to attract anything that prefers live bait like a “weasel”

I need more help, I hope some of you are still following the post. The ducks who are keeping their necks tightly curled and close to their bodies have shown they WANT to eat, made moves towards mealworm and ate a bite from my hand, but can’t bend down to eat or drink!! I could hand feed, but the healthier ducks will interfere. And what about water??!! I am going to go look for a raised feeder for dogs and see if that helps. Meanwhile, what is super palatable and super nutritious that I can get in her. I will bite the bullet and give her the oral pain med and see if that helps, I could dose her with straight nutridrench too. Any better ideas PLEASE

Mine had the same problem. I put a box under the feed and water to raise it up and make it easier on them, but they still didn't really start eating more until after the second vet trip. I doubt having their feathers plucked improved their appetites that much so I'd have to say it was the Meloxicam that made the difference. If you have some I'd definitely try it; just be careful they don't aspirate. Someone shared a link in my thread to a great lesson on hand-feeding/medicating birds safely.

 

[HeatherlovesherBirds]

My husband and I used deer meat. Yeah I know kinda wasteful on a good meat that you only can get with hunting license but damn we got him and his mate.....bloody is good also had luck with a package of cheap chicken legs...it was a good month in between my catches but it was snowy and cold in that month. May the odds be forever in your favor GOOD LUCK... I am pushing for you!

 

[HeatherlovesherBirds]

My ducks wouldn't eat or drink til I put them in a tub ducks will dry out faster so water is a must I would try pain medicine then maybe bath so they can get there bills wet....if not I had to syringe feed water and vitamins...ect to them so they didn't die....