Hawk eats Cheese (the duck)

[DuckyDonna]

And this is why we've got a fortress for my ducks now. I lost Daisy just like this to a falcon. Can not even begin to express the horror of finding the death scene.

 

[johntfs]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10219196372531918

So how long does it take for a hawk to kill a duck, longer than 8 minutes. The hawk started eating him before he was dead. I took his lifeless body into the house to die warm, comfortable and loved. It took several days but after the swelling in his neck went down he made a full recovery. A falconer said this hawk was a juvenile. If it had been a full grown hawk the duck would be dead.

A juvenile makes sense. It looks like the main reason Cheese survived is that the hawk didn't really know what to do with him once it had him. Maybe there were bite wounds, but from watching the video it looks more like the hawk is just kind of nudging/probing Cheese with his beak to see if there will be a response. The hawk is also focused some on the other duck in the pen as a possible threat/food.

But yeah, you probably need to think about some kind of top netting. The hawk was only chased off. Once it gets a little more experience, it will probably come back for another try at getting lunch.

 

[Raenh]

I can't get the video to play... :/

 

[aart]

A juvenile makes sense. It looks like the main reason Cheese survived is that the hawk didn't really know what to do with him once it had him.

That was my thought too. Kept waiting for the hawk to tear the neck open.

Thanks for sharing the vid @IndyGail glad your duck survived.

 

[DiYMama540]

Can you open it in a new window and play it @Raenh?

 

[casportpony]

@Raenh try this (click here)

 

[IndyGail]

I ordered a net to place on top of the whole pen. It is suspended from a tree limb like a big top tent. It works real well. We are able to stand up and do duck chores.

 

[2 many chickens]

I ordered a net to place on top of the whole pen. It is suspended from a tree limb like a big top tent. It works real well. We are able to stand up and do duck chores.

Good move!

How is Cheese?

 

[Mimi13]

I stopped the video several times. Seeing this part of nature is just not my cup of tea. But then I thought I needed to watch it to experience the behavior of a predator so I finished watching. (I have no more fingernails now.)

I’m very thankful I have been fortunate in my almost four years of chicken keeping to not have lost a bird to a predator.

Please, please add things to your ducks’ run for them to be able to hide under or in. Better still would be a net covering the whole area.

I am very happy that Cheese is recovering and doing well, but my heart is still broken that he had to endure the attack.

Hugs to you and him!

ETA: I’m glad I read where you have gotten netting. Your babies will thank you for it.

 

[Raenh]

Can you open it in a new window and play it @Raenh?

No, it wasn't doing anything... I use the app to get on forums if that helps.

@Raenh try this (click here)

Ohkay, I was able to open it, but then facebook said I had to login first. I did that and get you dont have permission to view or its currently not available!

I'm gonna try to skip the login bit and see if I can just play it.