Thank you. That’s exactly what’s weighing on my mind. I see both the adults hanging around on the waterfront. As I write this I’m thinking I might try feeding them as a solution. If I throw a hook in the water I catch a catfish right away. Maybe they would be happy with that. It’s not like feeding them is what’s going to encourage them to stay - they seem pretty settled in. Thoughts anyone?
Now that he's come once, he'll come back till they are all gone. Basically, your ducks are "The Old Country Buffet" for him. Go to Premier 1 Fencing. They have electric netting that will at least keep them safe from everything but Hawks/Owls. I would strongly advise to get higher than the 42" ft poultry netting. We got the deer netting with 3 inch space between them that is 68" tall. See: https://www.premier1supplies.com/deer/fencing.php?fence_id=115 You can get solar or electric charger. It MUST BE ELECTRIFIED to work! We got enough to fence the garden for when we want the ducks there and it's a HUGE area, 165' X 55'. They are totally happy. But even then with the Hawks, we sit out there. We're waiting on a Pyrenean Mastiff, giant sized guard dog. The other thing we use when we aren't going to sit with them is a movable Chicken run from Stromberg's. See: https://www.strombergschickens.com/product/walk-in-chicken-run-13-1-ft-x-9-8-ft-x-6-6-ft It's really not safe for Foxes, but we have a dozen dogs that keep foxes away in daylight hours. Ducks are happy little dudes, and they don't sit around and think that they have no life because they aren't loose. Ours are so happy with being moved daily.I’m so upset.A fox got one of my ducks. We live on the Potomac and he ALMOST made it into the river. There’s a den of a mated pair and 3 Kits in the neighbor’s yard. I have been diligent when my ducks are out and about but clearly not diligent enough. I take these creatures lives into my hands and let them down. I want them to live like ducks, not caged up. I have to come up with a strategy. I’ll try to sleep on it. Advice welcome.
This is GREAT info - thank you muc , especially for the "happy dudes" part! So here's a dumb question: How well do the ducks tolerate getting zapped, because surely they do. Incidently, just this morning I was eying one of their hang outs and resolved to fence it in. I started racking up the expenses in my head - for the pet ducks that "I got for my grandkids." Seems like the netting is the perfect economical solution. Another question: Obviously I can't bury electric fence, so do I need to add any kind of digging barrier or is the zapper enough? This is just a daytime place for them - they have a large pen that's locked inside the boathouse for overnight.
Using welded fencing make an enclosure around the area and put an electric fence around the fence. Because foxes jump and climb trees they can climb over a fence without touching the wires if you don't have a top on it.Once they've killed one they'll be back for the rest. Until you come up with a better plan they are high risk of being attacked again. Foxes have small stomachs, eat often and sometimes kill every bird and carry them off one by one if not caught. My condolences for your loss but Ducks are hard to protect out in the open.They need to be kept in a pen.
Sorry but any duck would be a "sitting duck" the minute it swam ashore or landed near beside a den of sly foxes with hungry kits. They stalk their prey quietly and are quick on their feet. Lessons learned the hard way aren't forgotten.
I hope he keeps them fed well so they won't be tempted.
Please don't blame yourself. Your predator situation has changed. Unless you intend to stay outside 24 hours a day watching the ducks, you cannot possibly control what happens to them. I love when domestic ducks show up on the river, which is now rare since fortunately Easter ducklings are no longer considered good gifts. Their presence adds diversity to the wild duck population, and the idea possibly mating with mallards would badly affect the mallard population is totally ludicrous. Believe me, the last standing duck on the face of the earth will be a purebred mallard.
