I just picked them up on Tuesday and we retrofitted a chicken tractor to house them. Today was the first day we opened the door to let them free range and hopefully find the kiddie pool. They were half way out when they saw my husband and retreated. Then he tried to force them out. Needless to say they were traumatized and never came near the door again.
I had my son give them water and close the door and we went to watch a movie. A huge windstorm is going on and after getting the boys to bed we heard a loud crash. Wondered what it was, and after a few minutes Scott said I bet it was the chicken tractor. The thing has a massive heavy roof on hinges. So we can lift it, but no predator has ever gotten in. And frankly I'm afraid of it falling on me. There are no feathers and no ducks left from the trio.
We have heavy predators living by the river, you name it we got it. I so desperately want to keep ducks. They're so cute. I drove a long ways to get good Cayugas that were just going to start laying, and they were beautiful! See my youngest son and I are allergic to chicken eggs, but can eat duck eggs. But our neighbors said they could never keep waterfowl due to heavy predators. I wanted eggs, meat, pretty feathers, gorgeous birds, and cute ducklings. Now I'm wondering if it will be impossible.
They wouldn't leave the house of their own accord today. So if the top was blown open would they get out? Would they hide? Their quacks are so quiet, and the wind is horrendous. I'm so worried, but I haven't even named them yet. I think if they had names I'd be crying. What predator takes birds without a trace? At night? We have raccoon, coyote, skunk, ferrets, weasels, rats, and an occasional cougar. Though we trapped a ton of animals lately, and have had nothing but rats bothering the chickens lately. And people are taking coyote in left and right, we really haven't heard any this year.
Please let them come back! We left the duck door open with food inside, and a brick or two on the roof. Does bad weather keep animals in bed like me?
I had my son give them water and close the door and we went to watch a movie. A huge windstorm is going on and after getting the boys to bed we heard a loud crash. Wondered what it was, and after a few minutes Scott said I bet it was the chicken tractor. The thing has a massive heavy roof on hinges. So we can lift it, but no predator has ever gotten in. And frankly I'm afraid of it falling on me. There are no feathers and no ducks left from the trio.
We have heavy predators living by the river, you name it we got it. I so desperately want to keep ducks. They're so cute. I drove a long ways to get good Cayugas that were just going to start laying, and they were beautiful! See my youngest son and I are allergic to chicken eggs, but can eat duck eggs. But our neighbors said they could never keep waterfowl due to heavy predators. I wanted eggs, meat, pretty feathers, gorgeous birds, and cute ducklings. Now I'm wondering if it will be impossible.
They wouldn't leave the house of their own accord today. So if the top was blown open would they get out? Would they hide? Their quacks are so quiet, and the wind is horrendous. I'm so worried, but I haven't even named them yet. I think if they had names I'd be crying. What predator takes birds without a trace? At night? We have raccoon, coyote, skunk, ferrets, weasels, rats, and an occasional cougar. Though we trapped a ton of animals lately, and have had nothing but rats bothering the chickens lately. And people are taking coyote in left and right, we really haven't heard any this year.
Please let them come back! We left the duck door open with food inside, and a brick or two on the roof. Does bad weather keep animals in bed like me?
