Making Lemonade [Selective Culling Project - very long term]

[U_Stormcrow]

One chick, two ducks, third still in the egg. All from under a duck brooding in the corner of the barn. She started attacking the eggs under her, had to remove these for their own safety. This is decidedly **NOT** the best way of hatching a pipped egg under a heat plate (moved for purpose of photo), but my incubator is in use and I lack for other alternatives. Both the ducks shown finished pipping in this way, so I have reasonable hopes (though one seems weak).

 

[Sally PB]

 

[U_Stormcrow]

and, momma barn duck has settled down and is back to sitting the nest - I only mentioned here because momma duck was broody for one of my project chicks. I have 8 other eggs (largest of those laid in the last four days) in the incubator.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Just watched a crow - which we've been encouraging to keep the hawks away - fly into one of the nesting boxes, poke around a bit, and fly off with _________

You guessed it.

Now I know where my eggs are going.

and if I can catch whatever doesn't like marshmallows, occasionally scraps with my cat, and killed one of my ducks last night...

...I might have something.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I am way behind, stopped getting notifications

 

[Sally PB]

Well, crap.

As my mom used to say... If it's not one thing, it's 500 others. Sigh.

 

[NanaK]

Just watched a crow - which we've been encouraging to keep the hawks away -

Crows do a good job keeping hawks away. It's funny to watch a hawk trying to get away from 2 crows tagging his behind.

Now I know where my eggs are going.

They will do this too. I have heard of crows taking chicks.

and if I can catch whatever doesn't like marshmallows, occasionally scraps with my cat, and killed one of my ducks last night...

Makes me wonder if you have a large 0possum???
They will usually eat anything but might possibly leave marshmallows in a trap and definately will fight with cats.
Could take chicks or ducklings, maybe kill an adult if dark? Not sure.

Recently caught a large opossum in my garden with canned mackeral. Mackeral is cheaper and stinkier than salmon or tuna. Cage was baited in back with a chuck of fish. Poured a bit of the stinky oil just inside the door. Anchored the cage with 2 small pieces of pipe. I've had cages rolled over so I anchor. I also pulled some dried bean vines to hide the cage a bit. Next day BIG mean possum! No more digging up potatoes from him!

If you loose another duck/chicken. Bait the cage with the body.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Makes me wonder if you have a large 0possum???
They will usually eat anything but might possibly leave marshmallows in a trap and definately will fight with cats.
Could take chicks or ducklings, maybe kill an adult if dark? Not sure.

Recently caught a large opossum in my garden with canned mackeral. Mackeral is cheaper and stinkier than salmon or tuna. Cage was baited in back with a chuck of fish. Poured a bit of the stinky oil just inside the door. Anchored the cage with 2 small pieces of pipe. I've had cages rolled over so I anchor. I also pulled some dried bean vines to hide the cage a bit. Next day BIG mean possum! No more digging up potatoes from him!

If you loose another duck/chicken. Bait the cage with the body.

I have trapped, and removed, about a dozen possums so far. I have a trap set up w/ sprats, which they are very fond of.

 

[NanaK]

I think last year we may have removed a dozen or so here. Always seems a new crop each year. We have more problems with possums than raccoons. Neighbors down the rode have lots of raccoons and rarely see possums. He has fenced and pad locked his outdoor trash containers. His birds free range but he has built locked runs for broodys and young birds because of so many losses over time.

It seems you can take out the trouble makers but 2 new ones take their place soon. Constant battle.

Hope you get your trouble maker soon.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They will do this too. I have heard of crows taking chicks.

They love chicks. Lost 2 yesterday to magpies within a few hours