The Quack Shack

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Ooohhh Frank. I feel ya buddy. I lost 3 birds in the last couple weeks to a bellybutton hawk. 2 of my Cayugas and my new Rouen gal that my sis in law had bought over because all of her other ducks had gotten killed.
We spent all afternoon Sunday tearing apart the big ducks enclosure and rebuilding a covered pen next to the calls.
Poor things are traumatised half to death.
After the 3rd kill.. that was thursday, I makeshifted a small pen with a tarp over The remaining Ugas for a couple days till we could do something better.
They did not touch a bite of food or drop of water until I forced them out sunday so we could work.
As of this afternoon they are drinking, but have barely ate anything.
The calls are pretty freaked out too they must have saw some of it. They wouldn't come out of the pen till I made them yesterday.

Anyway. This is scrapped together but doesn't look too bad, at least it looks good from the road lol!

We've been fortunate to have made it this long without predator losses out here. Our luck finially ran out. Hopefully this summer we can build a proper bird barn.
View attachment 4263428View attachment 4263429View attachment 4263430

Your pen looks awesome! - Are your birbs not going insane if they are locked up ½ of the day? Mine surely would start to eat each other…
I am looking up prices for fencing material, chain-link fence is more expensive than welded wire but easier to run on uneven ground as it is more flexible…
Wooden posts are cheaper than T-posts but will rot in some years…
And i don't even know how tall a fence has to be to keep * out. I'm sure the opportunistic dog will be deterred by a two feet fence with electric and/or razor wire, but coyotes, trash-pandas, possums, skunks, … idk!
Fortunately the local murder of crows is very attentive to any bop, trying to set up shop here. I am only concerned about them when there's ducklings around.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Ooohhh Frank. I feel ya buddy. I lost 3 birds in the last couple weeks to a bellybutton hawk. 2 of my Cayugas and my new Rouen gal that my sis in law had bought over because all of her other ducks had gotten killed.
We spent all afternoon Sunday tearing apart the big ducks enclosure and rebuilding a covered pen next to the calls.
Poor things are traumatised half to death.
After the 3rd kill.. that was thursday, I makeshifted a small pen with a tarp over The remaining Ugas for a couple days till we could do something better.
They did not touch a bite of food or drop of water until I forced them out sunday so we could work.
As of this afternoon they are drinking, but have barely ate anything.
The calls are pretty freaked out too they must have saw some of it. They wouldn't come out of the pen till I made them yesterday.

Anyway. This is scrapped together but doesn't look too bad, at least it looks good from the road lol!

We've been fortunate to have made it this long without predator losses out here. Our luck finially ran out. Hopefully this summer we can build a proper bird barn.
View attachment 4263428View attachment 4263429View attachment 4263430

And i don't know how to react: I am sad you lost birbs, your post is very informative and i love your setup, it looks a bit like a wagon-fort, so i gave you a

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Holy smokes I have more dux than you!
Never thought I'd see that day
I am at 28 now after the hawk attacks.

I really don't know what to do about the missing females. First the prices for ducklings have gone up like they were swans, runner ducklings start at over $20 and Muscovies are over $30.
Then they need to be cared for, its not just "throw" them in a brooder with food and water, they must be properly introduced to the flock, shown where the food and water is, good places to forage, the duck-house, … basically somebody has to become momma-duck and integrate them into the flock. - Idk if i can do that, having a 40 hour job. Maybe, just maybe i can move my shift to 6am-2pm during the high-summer next year, securely pen the ducklings outside with the flock and then turn into momma-duck in the afternoon…

 

[Miss Lydia]

And i don't know how to react: I am sad you lost birbs, your post is very informative and i love your setup, it looks a bit like a wagon-ort, so i gave you a

't
Your pen looks awesome! - Are your birbs not going insane if they are locked up ½ of the day? Mine surely woul- start to eat each other…
I am looking up pricefor fencing material, chain-lin- fence is more expensive ed than welded wire but easier to run on uneven ground as it is more flexible…
Wooden posts are cheaper than T-posts but will rot in some years…
And i on't even know how tall a fence has to be to keep * out. I'm sure the opportunistic dog will be deterred by a two feet fence with electric and/or razor wire, but coyotes, trash-pandas, possums, skunks, … idk!
Fortunately the local murder of crows is very attentive to any bop, trying to set up shop here. I am only concerned about them when there's ducklings around.

4'welded wire or no climb horse fencing we had the no climb horse fencing put up first because of bears. We have 2 lines of barbwire on top of that. Metal and wooden fence posts. We haven't had any stray dogs or foxes get inside coyotes are here too. The Flood from Hurricane Helene took out our no climb horse fence at the top of our property so we had it replaced with heavy duty welded wire and barbed wire.
We live in the mountains and putting up fencing isn't easy as it is with flat ground but it is doable.
Sad part is those dogs will be back or whatever killed your ducks.