Help me, please

[Helitorian]

It's been a bit since I've posted and it's time for an update.

My ducklings are growing like weeds and their personalities are so adorable! I enjoy having them around and learning what they like and watching them play. I even built a large pen on the shore of my lake so they can enjoy the sun and water as they chase the schools of minnows which they love to eat. All in all, having my ducklings has been a great experience and loads of fun until this morning.

Last night was the second night I left the ducklings in their new pen. I'd spent hours making sure no turtles or fish could get in so they'd be safe. I even camo'd their little house so it'd blend in with the reeds. This morning I woke to my neighbor knocking on my door. One of my ducklings was in his ard and hurt. It was my Cayuga. After I gathered the scared baby, I hurried to the pen. Their house was uncovered and all the shaving out and my mallard and one muscovie were huddled across the pen by their food dish. My favorite muscovie was gone. I found his organs in front of my backdoor but no body. After making sure the others were safe and putting them in my bedroom, I took another look at the pen. From the prints I found in the wet sand, it was a dog that did this. The people on this lake are supposed to keep their dogs on a leash but they never do and this is the second time I've lost an animal because of it. First, one of my cats; now my little George.

I don't want this to happen again, so I have a favor to ask. If you live in nebraska, in the columbus, grand island, york area and have room in your flock for 3 5 week old ducklings (a muscovie, a cayuga, and a mallard) please let my know. I want them to go to a good home where they'll be safe and can be ducks and splash and play. They can't seem to do that here and I don't want them to die one by one.

I'm sorry if this isn't where this post isn't supposed to go but thank you for any help.

 

[duck boy mo]

It sounds like a raccoon did it. Is the top of the pen closed?

 

[Helitorian]

The prints in the sand were dog prints and no there is no top. I fenced in part of my lake shore using our retaining wall as two sides of the pen.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's been a bit since I've posted and it's time for an update.

My ducklings are growing like weeds and their personalities are so adorable! I enjoy having them around and learning what they like and watching them play. I even built a large pen on the shore of my lake so they can enjoy the sun and water as they chase the schools of minnows which they love to eat. All in all, having my ducklings has been a great experience and loads of fun until this morning.

Last night was the second night I left the ducklings in their new pen. I'd spent hours making sure no turtles or fish could get in so they'd be safe. I even camo'd their little house so it'd blend in with the reeds. This morning I woke to my neighbor knocking on my door. One of my ducklings was in his ard and hurt. It was my Cayuga. After I gathered the scared baby, I hurried to the pen. Their house was uncovered and all the shaving out and my mallard and one muscovie were huddled across the pen by their food dish. My favorite muscovie was gone. I found his organs in front of my backdoor but no body. After making sure the others were safe and putting them in my bedroom, I took another look at the pen. From the prints I found in the wet sand, it was a dog that did this. The people on this lake are supposed to keep their dogs on a leash but they never do and this is the second time I've lost an animal because of it. First, one of my cats; now my little George.

I don't want this to happen again, so I have a favor to ask. If you live in nebraska, in the columbus, grand island, york area and have room in your flock for 3 5 week old ducklings (a muscovie, a cayuga, and a mallard) please let my know. I want them to go to a good home where they'll be safe and can be ducks and splash and play. They can't seem to do that here and I don't want them to die one by one.

I'm sorry if this isn't where this post isn't supposed to go but thank you for any help.

I'm so sorry this has happened, it's so heart breaking when we do everything right we think then this happens, Is there not a way you can fortify your pen even more, It's a shame that because of others dogs you can't have and enjoy your pets. But if you feel you can't do any more then try posting on the Rehoming thread here on BYC down towards the bottom and also look up your state in the "Where am I Where are you" thread. again so very sorry

 

[Helitorian]

What's worse is the people with the dogs don't live on the lake like I do yet they think we're the ones out of line cause we're complaining about the dogs attacking our pets and us. There isn't much I can do with the pen. I'd have to build something permanent and I can't do that. As of right now, my Cayuga can't even stand and they're all exhausted. It hurts to think that just yesterday evening I was teaching the muscovies to catch minnows. George was having a blast. Thank you for the advice Miss Lydia.

 

[Britesea]

If the neighbors are letting their dog run loose when there is a leash law- it sounds like an issue for the police. Especially if this is the second time you have lost animals because of their negligence.

Find out if there is a triple indemnity law in your state- If there is, I don't think it would take too many instances of them having their dog taken away and destroyed and them having to pay you three times the value of your livestock to teach them that they need to keep their dogs locked up.

 

[Helitorian]

Britesea: that's some awesome advice but I'm wondering if it's applicable where I live. I'm in the country on what use to be a private lake until the owner started selling the lots. At 18,000 for 1/2 acre, we haven't bought ours but our neighbors own theirs. I'd have to talk to the sheriff I think and since I don't have proof on who's dog did what, my dad says I'm out of luck. It's frustrating because I feel I can't do anything.

 

[Britesea]

Sigh, probably right. Nothing you can do about the duck that's already dead if you don't have proof. But it might be a good idea anyway to talk to the sheriff- have a deputy go around to all the nearby people with dogs to remind them that they are supposed to keep their dogs under control, and livestock have been attacked recently. Sometimes having the law show up like that is all it takes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What's worse is the people with the dogs don't live on the lake like I do yet they think we're the ones out of line cause we're complaining about the dogs attacking our pets and us. There isn't much I can do with the pen. I'd have to build something permanent and I can't do that. As of right now, my Cayuga can't even stand and they're all exhausted. It hurts to think that just yesterday evening I was teaching the muscovies to catch minnows. George was having a blast. Thank you for the advice Miss Lydia.

probably in shock too, what kind of injuries does Cayuga have?

 

[Helitorian]

Sigh, probably right. Nothing you can do about the duck that's already dead if you don't have proof. But it might be a good idea anyway to talk to the sheriff- have a deputy go around to all the nearby people with dogs to remind them that they are supposed to keep their dogs under control, and livestock have been attacked recently. Sometimes having the law show up like that is all it takes.

I think first I'll speak with the owner of the lake, again, and let him know what happened and that I'm going to call the sheriff about it. I know, for sure, that it was a dog. A coon can't tear up the reeds and leave prints that large though I know they'll just tell me it was a coon. I'm not a fricken idiot but because I'm a girl, they'll assume I don't know a dog print from a coon's.

probably in shock too, what kind of injuries does Cayuga have?

None. I've checked him over and there's no blood, dried or fresh, but he is missing a few wispy feathers and one leg won't support his weight. I've felt all up and down it but can't feel anything out of the ordinary and he doesn't show any signs of distress while I'm checking him other than not being happy that he's in my lap.