Runner ducks won't swim

[runningkaren]

Sounds clever. I may resort to something like that if these ducks don't take to water this week. I am not convinced I have any snappers. If you have a chance send some pictures. Thanks.

 

[LoveMyBirds]

Quote:

My Roeuns are like that.. I thought it was because they followed the geese around and the geese didn't get on the pond much..

Then a snapper bit the head off one of my hens and that really caused them alarm.. (btw, dead snapper and couple others)

I now have 6) 1/2 grown Cayuga ducks and took them down to the pond for their first time last week..

They jumped in and had a ball.. the 2 Roeuns stood on the bank scratching their heads...

The Roeuns will splash out and run right back to the bank, I think that they are chickens...

 

[runningkaren]

My chickens don't have access to the pond. BUT, really, how common is it for snappers to kill full grown ducks? I am really concerned now. I didn't see a snapper all summer until last night. Who sent it my way?

 

[Chickndaddy]

it is really quite common. Especially in small ponds where there isn't a large supply of food. You basically open the buffet when the ducks run down to swim. They just can't resist.

 

[runningkaren]

We have a bubbler running to oxygenate the pond. I turned it off for 2 days hoping the ducks would swim in the quiet and, I think, the snapper came back because of that. SO, I have turned it on again in hopes of chasing the turtle off. In the meantime, I have ordered a turtle trap.........
Thanks for all the info everybody.