Feeling sad :(

[e2311]

We got our two new ducks who were sisters only a few weeks ago and named them Rhonda and Frida. We returned home today to find one of them had been killed by what we are assuming was an otter, and nothing left of her but her beak. It's horrible!

I am now feeling terribly guilty that we didn't think more about this before getting them, as we live in a spot extremely close to the sea where otters are aplenty. However we spoke to someone recently who lives a similar distance from the water - he said his spot is also an otter hot spot and for years his ducks have been out all the time and never been touched.

When getting the ducks we really didn't want to put them in a run and wanted them to roam freely - in fact if we thought they would be in a run we wouldn't have got them. I don't want anyone to take offence to this, it's just my personal preference not to keep them contained. Now I'm not sure to do with our remaining duck - it's a shame to contain her now, and the risk of predators is a natural one for her. However I really don't want to lose her. They are just our pets so feeling really upset about this - especially for the duck who is now left on her own.

Has anyone got any suggestions at all? Any advice welcome.

EDIT: I should add that the ducks are let in when it gets light in the morning and put back in their house when it gets dark.

 

[MissNutmeg]

I am very sorry to hear about your feathered friends!! I know the pain.

This is actually the first time I'm hearing about otters killing waterfowl, I had no idea they would do that!

My brain is blank from any suggestions at the moment so sorry about that.


(Anybody else?)


Best of luck,
Meg

 

[e2311]

I am very sorry to hear about your feathered friends!! I know the pain.

This is actually the first time I'm hearing about otters killing waterfowl, I had no idea they would do that!

My brain is blank from any suggestions at the moment so sorry about that.


(Anybody else?)


Best of luck,
Meg

Thank you.

I am fairly certain it must have been an otter. Before getting our ducks we were questioning whether otters would be a danger to them or not. My partners mum later told us that in her experience otters do go for them and that when they do they don't leave much, which would seem right.

Maybe I am wrong as there are other predators such as polecats. But shortly after coming home we were watching out the window two otters playing in the water outside, looking suspicious! When we first got home our duck was hissing at us and clearly scared. Neither of them had hissed at us before! We opened the door to the duck house and she went straight inside and hissed at us from there so we just shut her in. Poor thing

 

[chickens really]

Not wanting to make you feel worse..Yes predation is high in some areas and if confinement is not an option?..Rehome the remaining Duck.
Sorry that happened.

 

[e2311]

Not wanting to make you feel worse..Yes predation is high in some areas and if confinement is not an option?..Rehome the remaining Duck.
Sorry that happened.

Hi, thanks for your reply. Confinement is still an option, but just looking for advice. How much outside space is needed for each duck? Also is it better to get more ducks for company for her or just keep her by herself? We got her from a home where her and her sister seemed to be picked on by all the other ducks who would not let them eat! So i'm unsure how she'd get on with new ducks now.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC and sorry for your loss. What predators do you have in your area?

 

[chickens really]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Confinement is still an option, but just looking for advice. How much outside space is needed for each duck? Also is it better to get more ducks for company for her or just keep her by herself? We got her from a home where her and her sister seemed to be picked on by all the other ducks who would not let them eat! So i'm unsure how she'd get on with new ducks now.

She would do best with another Duck..They are very social.
They handle confinement and do great being allowed out while you sit with them..Herding them is easy. As long as your space is big enough to flap wings and run around a bit with possibly a kiddie pool they do good..

 

[e2311]

Welcome to BYC and sorry for your loss. What predators do you have in your area?

Thank you. As far as I can think of there are only otters and polecats here which would go for ducks or chickens.

 

[e2311]

She would do best with another Duck..They are very social.
They handle confinement and do great being allowed out while you sit with them..Herding them is easy. As long as your space is big enough to flap wings and run around a bit with possibly a kiddie pool they do good..

Thank you for the advice. We are definitely considering a run for her now and would consider more ducks if she'd be happy.

 

[casportpony]

Thank you for the advice. We are definitely considering a run for her now and would consider more ducks if she'd be happy.

She would probably be very happy with another duck.