My Paranoia Saved my ducks today!

[Kevin565]

Even though I haven't seen any hawks in my area in over 4 years one showed up today! I heard the ducks quacking louder than usual so I went outside to investigate. Wouldn't you know it a adult red tailed hawk was perching on top of the run trying to get in. Luckily the run was secure enough that all he could do was stare at them. After a few minutes of watching him I got closer to the pen then he flew off. Moral of the story: Always better safe than sorry.

 

[sourland]

It's a little early, but they may be starting to migrate. Migrating birds are hungry and more likely to take chances than residents. On numerous occasions I have had them attempt to take birds within feet of me.

 

[destinduck]

Thats funny you posted this Kevin. I havent had none around for a year and one landed this morning on top of my baikal duck pen when I was selling some ducks to a friend. Then he flew over to a tree just fifty feet away like he wasnt shy.

 

[lillypad268]

I'm happy you're ducks are safe! I wasn't so lucky I woke up to two dead ducks today =[ idk what got them, I heard a red tail yesterday but we haven't had any problems before with them, they're usually closer to the park and sound and our crows keep them at bay... idk what it was that got them..

 

[jdywntr]

That was me but at 3 am this morning. I have a baby monitor in the coop and at about 1130 or 12 last night, something woke me so I went out to investigate. I realized it was the neighbors cows making some VERY eerie scream like sound which I have heard during the day but never at night. Then at 3 am I was woken by my chickens clucking. Went out to investigate, saw nothing and went back to bed. This morning the geese had managed to get into the chickens area (same coop but with a barrier) so that explained that. Nothing better than wandering around in your pjs with a flashlight at 3 am.
Glad everyone was okay. I have been seeing a hawk recently, not sure what kind since it flies away as soon as it sees me. I have put up what I hope will be a deterant of fishing line with some colored ropes hanging off of it. It starts about 9' high so we'll see.

 

[Baylor]

I had the same thing at 3 am 8 days ago and of course investigated to find my son had not gotten all the ducks in the pen at night and Peeps was being attacked by a raccoon. She is still alive 8 days after the attack. I have no idea what her condition will be in the end but she gets better each day and finally is eating some food soaked in water so I am hopeful. She had serious damage to her eyes - she has them both which took a week to see but she really cant see all that well.

Fingers crossed she is good and it just needs time to heal! It is good to be paranoid - the gut is typically right!

 

[Kevin565]

I'm happy you're ducks are safe! I wasn't so lucky I woke up to two dead ducks today =[ idk what got them, I heard a red tail yesterday but we haven't had any problems before with them, they're usually closer to the park and sound and our crows keep them at bay... idk what it was that got them..

So sorry for your loss

. Hopefully you can find out what killed them soon.

It's a little early, but they may be starting to migrate. Migrating birds are hungry and more likely to take chances than residents. On numerous occasions I have had them attempt to take birds within feet of me.

That was my guess as well. We had a huge problem with them about 5 years ago. They took lots of farmers fowl which in return illegally executed quite a few hawks. I've never had to deal with hawks as bold as yours though!

Thats funny you posted this Kevin. I havent had none around for a year and one landed this morning on top of my baikal duck pen when I was selling some ducks to a friend. Then he flew over to a tree just fifty feet away like he wasnt shy.

That is quite the coincidence! Seems like everyone else's hawks are a lot bolder than the ones down here. They take off at the slightest sight of a moving human.

That was me but at 3 am this morning. I have a baby monitor in the coop and at about 1130 or 12 last night, something woke me so I went out to investigate. I realized it was the neighbors cows making some VERY eerie scream like sound which I have heard during the day but never at night. Then at 3 am I was woken by my chickens clucking. Went out to investigate, saw nothing and went back to bed. This morning the geese had managed to get into the chickens area (same coop but with a barrier) so that explained that. Nothing better than wandering around in your pjs with a flashlight at 3 am.
Glad everyone was okay. I have been seeing a hawk recently, not sure what kind since it flies away as soon as it sees me. I have put up what I hope will be a deterant of fishing line with some colored ropes hanging off of it. It starts about 9' high so we'll see.

Glad everyone ended up okay! Hopefully the fishing line will work for you.

I had the same thing at 3 am 8 days ago and of course investigated to find my son had not gotten all the ducks in the pen at night and Peeps was being attacked by a raccoon. She is still alive 8 days after the attack. I have no idea what her condition will be in the end but she gets better each day and finally is eating some food soaked in water so I am hopeful. She had serious damage to her eyes - she has them both which took a week to see but she really cant see all that well.

Fingers crossed she is good and it just needs time to heal! It is good to be paranoid - the gut is typically right!

Hope she makes a full recovery Baylor!

 

[Cedar714]

One of my ducks turned up missing yesterday afternoon, still no sign of her

We have hawks, fox and coyote in the area so I know it is always a chance of trouble but I'm surprised it happened to be early afternoon instead of dawn or dusk times.
The 2 remaining ducks are acting more subdued and sticking closer to their pen and our house so I assume a predator may have had a chance and took it.
My buddy has had Pekins for years and never lost one to a predator, he says maybe she went and nested on her first egg because he had one disappear last year for days and found she had a nest built and would hardly leave it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

One of my ducks turned up missing yesterday afternoon, still no sign of her

We have hawks, fox and coyote in the area so I know it is always a chance of trouble but I'm surprised it happened to be early afternoon instead of dawn or dusk times.
The 2 remaining ducks are acting more subdued and sticking closer to their pen and our house so I assume a predator may have had a chance and took it.
My buddy has had Pekins for years and never lost one to a predator, he says maybe she went and nested on her first egg because he had one disappear last year for days and found she had a nest built and would hardly leave it.

It's sad but a chance we take when we let our flock free range, most of my ducks/geese stay close to the house even when free ranging, but we had a close encounter with a hawk just a week ago so they are always there ever watchful for that one chance. I am very blessed to have had ducks for 9yrs and not to have lost a one to a pred. a few chickens who strayed too far into the woods but no ducks. I hope it continues. I think our dogs who are dachshunds and love to bark keep alot of preds from getting too close. I hope your duck comes home.

 

[destinduck]

Wow that IS good luck Lydia.

All my pens are covered but they are also only made of chicken wire. I havent seen my white flamepoint siamese in about a week (my outdoors cat) I fear a coyote or something got him although he was also 14 years old. I will miss him either way. My sister in law lost her chiwahwa (cant spell it)to a yote 2weeks ago about a mile from here.She found the front half so sad. I hope I dont have to deal with them again But thankfully nothing has ever been starving enough to rip in almost 20 years so I aint too worried. Plus my main pen is electrified. I havent seen none here for about 8 years. And thats when I definitly lost 2 of my cats to em. But I got even

. Ill tell you what is funny though. Back then when I heard dogs barking off in the distance I always knew a yote was on the prowl. Dogs dont like em. Now I also have a lab in the backyard that will let me know if I need to get up and have a look see. If she barks its either a person .coyote, coon or possum.