Keeping my ducks safe.... opinions please!!

[mylittlezoo]

I've been given a dozen muscovy ducklings, which are about four weeks old now. (Pics later for those who seek the Ahhhhhh factor!!)

Eventually, when they are nice and big, they will be going to the creek on the farm to hang out and swim. I plan to clip their wings so they stay, as we are surrounded by woodland and enthusiatic hunters and I don't want them becoming someone's dinner.

I'm worried that a raccoon may come in and cause carnage, especially as they will be some way from the house. Initially I thought getting a dog to guard them at the barn down there would be the way forward, but I don't think I can cope with another dog. So now I'm thinking geese or guinea keets.... what does everyone think? I'm a newbie to ducks, but I love these guys and hate that they could come to any harm!

Thanks for any advice......

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

I think if you release them by a creek, they are going to leave, unless they know its home...

I dont really think there is a way to protect them besides penning them up at night...

Good Luck with whatever you decide!
Jason

 

[mylittlezoo]

They have a big brooder that they're in now which can go down there and they'll hang out in that until they're old enough to go loose. Then they'll have their duckie house to be shut up in at night and they'll be fed there too, to show them that it's home. They're pretty tame and look to me for food, so I'm less worried about that than them being racoon food or something, I just need to find out whether geese or keets would be the way to help protect them as I know little about either!