When I first got my ducklings they were in the garage in a brooder. Once it warmed up or while I was cleaning the brooder I would leave the garage doors open for fresh air. Several times I caught a cat hiding out in the driveway staking the ducks. One time as I was coming back up from behind the house with water I caught her in full attack mode, inching towards the garage. She had waited for me to leave. The final straw was when she acted aggressive towards my daughter. Now I know it's instinct but I still can't have it.
Each time I ran her off she went in the direction of a group of trailers we have behind us at the end of a dirt lane. So back I went knocking on doors and describing the cat. One guy says it's not his but it's the neighbor's and he has to keep a cover over his car because the cat climbs on it and scratches it up.
I find the woman and her apx 10 animals and try to have a talk with her. "Oh, THAT doesn't sound like kitty, she wouldn't hurt a fly!" (so presumably not a duck either). Finally, I said, well, if it's your pet I don't want anything to happen to it, but at the same time, I'm going to protect MY pets and my children. And since I don't allow either to roam the neighborhood unsupervised or go into anyone's yard and try to harm them. I just wanted to give you the opportunity to correct the problem before I do.
For 2-3 weeks now, no problems. I let the ducks out during the day and gradually built up to me letting them stay out even if I had to run out to the store or something. Yesterday we were out running errands for about 3 hours and came home to find them missing. We saw a hawk and feared the worst but then they came out from under there house chattering away. I was so proud of them!
Then, last night, I'm heading out to give them peas and put them up and there's the dang cat, walking back and forth and starting to do that circle the prey thing the cats do. Poor ducks were huddled together in a panic
I don't know what to do. I understand the ducks are prey to a lot of animals so I do what I can (lock them up at night, give them places to run under during the day). I just don't know how to guard against pet owners who allow their pets to roam the neighborhood without regard for what they might be doing.
Will my drake kick the cats butt or are they all toast?
Each time I ran her off she went in the direction of a group of trailers we have behind us at the end of a dirt lane. So back I went knocking on doors and describing the cat. One guy says it's not his but it's the neighbor's and he has to keep a cover over his car because the cat climbs on it and scratches it up.
I find the woman and her apx 10 animals and try to have a talk with her. "Oh, THAT doesn't sound like kitty, she wouldn't hurt a fly!" (so presumably not a duck either). Finally, I said, well, if it's your pet I don't want anything to happen to it, but at the same time, I'm going to protect MY pets and my children. And since I don't allow either to roam the neighborhood unsupervised or go into anyone's yard and try to harm them. I just wanted to give you the opportunity to correct the problem before I do.
For 2-3 weeks now, no problems. I let the ducks out during the day and gradually built up to me letting them stay out even if I had to run out to the store or something. Yesterday we were out running errands for about 3 hours and came home to find them missing. We saw a hawk and feared the worst but then they came out from under there house chattering away. I was so proud of them!
Then, last night, I'm heading out to give them peas and put them up and there's the dang cat, walking back and forth and starting to do that circle the prey thing the cats do. Poor ducks were huddled together in a panic
I don't know what to do. I understand the ducks are prey to a lot of animals so I do what I can (lock them up at night, give them places to run under during the day). I just don't know how to guard against pet owners who allow their pets to roam the neighborhood without regard for what they might be doing.
Will my drake kick the cats butt or are they all toast?
