One duck taken by a hawk, the other scratched, lost it's quack

[canard]

ChickmommaSD,

So sorry to hear of your loss.

The avian vet I have been to told me something very interesting last year.

She said if is always a good idea to have a vet check out an injured duck. She said that sometimes they look mangled beyond repair & it turns out to be mostly superficial & very treatable injuries. Other times, a duck doesn't seem seem very hurt but it could have puncture wounds to the chest that are very serious and require immediate attention.

That being said, it is hard to find vets to treat ducks. I have only found one near me.

 

[Finny]

I am so sorry for your loss hawks have become a big concern of mine lately as well

 

[canard]

I strung up a lot of bird netting. I attached it to nails on the side of the house & on the shag bark hickory trees. They are safer from hawks & owls under the netting. They know this. If I shout, "Hawk" or they see a hawk, owl, blue heron, or the biggest *bird* of all, a plane, they let out the warning honks & run for cover under the netting. Yes, I taught them the word *hawk* & would herd them with my arms spread out to the netted area enough times that they learned to do it on their own. I know some have been killed / & or taken by hawks. They were scared of hawks suddenly after a young duck *disappeared* one day 2 summers ago. I mention *owl* too if I hear one "who wo-ing".

 

[canard]

Hawks & owls supposedly kill more animals at dawn & dusk. I remember looking forever for our little black runner duck & finding no trace of anything, save all the other ducks newfound fear of hawks. It was summertime, so it gets light fairly early. The Indian Runner disappeared between 8:30 & 9:00 AM.I think & sunrise at the time was around 7:00 AM. We lost one duck one summer in the evening. We think an owl killed it. Someone else who *promised* to put the ducks away did not. I came home after meeting a friend for dinner. It was awful. They were all quiet & in one of two coops. Then they all were freaking out. I thought it was my favorite but they came out of shock about 1 week later & she started quacking again & running up to me again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hawks & owls supposedly kill more animals at dawn & dusk. I remember looking forever for our little black runner duck & finding no trace of anything, save all the other ducks newfound fear of hawks. It was summertime, so it gets light fairly early. The Indian Runner disappeared between 8:30 & 9:00 AM.I think & sunrise at the time was around 7:00 AM. We lost one duck one summer in the evening. We think an owl killed it. Someone else who *promised* to put the ducks away did not. I came home after meeting a friend for dinner. It was awful. They were all quiet & in one of two coops. Then they all were freaking out. I thought it was my favorite but they came out of shock about 1 week later & she started quacking again & running up to me again.

I lost one of my chickens to a hawk mid morning, around 10-11 am

 

[canard]

The one we suspect an owl killed was attacked between 7 & 8 PM.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The one we suspect an owl killed was attacked between 7 & 8 PM.

I'd think so too because I'd suspect most hawks are roosting by that time of night. even if not dark yet.

 

[canard]

Honestly, it is so dark right now in the morning, I only let them out to play after work & during the day on weekends.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Honestly, it is so dark right now in the morning, I only let them out to play after work & during the day on weekends.

I wait till daylight around 7:30 am to let mine out and they are all inside by 4:45 this time of year. Just too many hungry preds out there to take chances.

 

[canard]

I agree. Many hungry critters would especially love *Peking Duck* at this time of year.