R.I.P. Ducks

[DuckBoy323]

About a month ago i lost 8 of my awesome ducks to something that was pretty hungry. I lost 4 of my 3 month old ducks. 3 welsh harlequins and 1 golden hybrid all from Metzers. I also lost 3 of my Rouens that my year old Rouen hatched about 2 months before they died and lost my Rouens mate as well. But luckily before they died my year old rouen laid eggs and sat on em after all my ducks had got killed. So i was left with 2 Muscovies and my first duck which is my year old Rouen. Just wanted to show ya'll my ducks.


Last Day swimming

3 Rouens A month or so old. Last time seeing em

 

[Diamond88]

They were very pretty ducks. I'm sorry to hear you lost them.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Sorry you lost so many. We're they not locked up at night? If they are and you still lost them I would be worried the housing isn't adequate.

 

[Marwan]

Im soo sorry to hear that. i dont know what id do if something killed mine but my rouens are very protective. i have 2 almost a year old and i have seen them chase foxes away when they were 7 months old. no cat will come near them and i have to hold them back so they dont chase dogs. i said this in another post and although weird human urine will keep any preadator away. if you use a bucket when you go toilet and pour in in the perimiter of your cage and garden they wont go near it.

heres my babies

 

[DuckBoy323]

No they weren't locked up, they usually stay in the water all night. They have done that plenty of times before and they were always fine. They must of been out of the water and got chased. There were alot of feathers lying around not in the water tho. So I knew they weren't in there that night.

 

[zooweemama]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Please remember that a lot of predators can swim. Raccoons love fowl. They can pull chickens/ducks right through chicken wire and chew them up right through the fence. They will dig under fences into coops and drag out their catch. They will also swim into a pond to grab a sleeping duck and drag them to shore and make a nice dinner for themselves. And the fact that this has happened now- means they will be back. They now know you offer up tasty bits and it's an all you can eat buffet. If you get more ducks be sure to build them a little house with a roof and be sure to line the floor and the walls with hardware cloth (coons and foxes cannot dig INTO the hardware cloth floor (wood floor is great too- nor can they chew through the wire and the openings are far too tiny for their grubby little hands and teeth). Good luck! <3

 

[DuckBoy323]

If it was a coon, would it really have killed 8 ducks and eat them all? And I locked my ducks in at night now. I'll be doing that for now on. Thanks for the info tho.

 

[zooweemama]

If it was a coon, would it really have killed 8 ducks and eat them all? And I locked my ducks in at night now. I'll be doing that for now on. Thanks for the info tho.

I honestly wouldn't know. I was responding to the idea that as long as ducks stay on the water they are safe and they are not. I am glad that your duckies are now locked up tight at night. Losing any of my animals would feel devastating. I can't even imagine. Good luck to you!

 

[Marwan]

If it was a coon, would it really have killed 8 ducks and eat them all? And I locked my ducks in at night now. I'll be doing that for now on. Thanks for the info tho.

unless it was a pack of starving racoons i would say its something bigger. one duck is about a good meal for one racoon. they wont take eight. you looking for either a large group of them or something much bigger. either was for something to take eight there must have been a grroup of whatever it was

 

[cafarmgirl]

Lot of birds in one night. Fox, coyote? They are all raising and feeding young, teaching them to hunt. Ducks would be easy for them.