The Quack Shack

[Canadian Wind]

I lost my two babies last night to a predator during a bad storm. One completely disappeared and the other one had only the head not touched and the feet with everything else skinned or eaten. I am heartbroken over it and figure it must have been a coon. They were three weeks old and Runner Ducks. I will try to get hubby to help me set a trap to see if we can catch it before I lost anything else. This is my first predator attack in the three years I have had them so I have been fortunate before this. I am heartbroken as I have never had to deal with this before.

I'm sorry to hear that.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I never count my ducklings until they're at least a month old. Especially in the first week, so much can happen.

Is there a possibility that there's some sort of contaminant in their food or water? Short of non-visible that's the only thing I can think of. Or perhaps it's like SIDS in babies...

I thought about this being similar to the »Walking Ghost Phase«, caused by acute radiation poisoning, where the victims experience a phase of fake recovery, feeling better, only to die later.
Maybe the experience of Hypothermia has caused too much damage to the organs tissue and these ducklings are just doomed...
Anyways, as a desperate measure i have given the duckling that has pipped internally some vitamin-water with sugar, drop by drop. It is still making that eating movement with its bill, so its easy to supply some extra fluids, calories and B-vitamins.
That one will likely hatch this evening or tomorrow morning.
(If it hatches at all)

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

You can make feeders with eavestroughing. Cheaper than buying premade ones.

You mean a piece of gutter with two end-caps?
That's a heck of an idea!
Need to see the dimensions of available gutters.
Another idea would be a 7" PVC-pipe with two end-caps...
Already have a piece of old pipe laying around here.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I lost my two babies last night to a predator during a bad storm. One completely disappeared and the other one had only the head not touched and the feet with everything else skinned or eaten. I am heartbroken over it and figure it must have been a coon. They were three weeks old and Runner Ducks. I will try to get hubby to help me set a trap to see if we can catch it before I lost anything else. This is my first predator attack in the three years I have had them so I have been fortunate before this. I am heartbroken as I have never had to deal with this before.

So sorry to hear this!
First thing to fix is how the predator, and i agree with you that has raccoon written all over it, was able to get to them. It will be bad for another meal soon.
If you can afford, get one of these "have no heart" traps with a trap door, so you can decide what to do with whatever you catch. For raccoons i use my air-rifle, any duck would get a spanking on the fluffy-butt.
All other traps could be a danger your ducks too...

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

So sorry to hear this Frank. After losing my two this morning I do know how you feel. Mine just made it to three weeks before something got them last night during a bad storm. Had to of been a coon. Is the food you are giving them alright? I am sure that it is but it has to be something you would think along that line for both of them to die just like that. Sometimes food can get moldy and it is hard to tell.

Both ducklings have not eaten or drank enough to have experienced food poisoning and i'm on city-water, so that should be allright. (I hope so, i drink a lot of tea! )
I don't have any particular duckling food, it is unavailable in stores here for months, so i use meatbird crumbles as a base and enrich these with catfood for protein and add extra vitamins.

 

[Canadian Wind]

You mean a piece of gutter with two end-caps?

Yes, you americanized European!

That's a heck of an idea!
Need to see the dimensions of available gutters.
Another idea would be a 7" PVC-pipe with two end-caps...
Already have a piece of old pipe laying around here.

I've seen it in videos (I think on Just A Few Acres Farm's channel?). Super easy. Also saw some with the PVC pipe where they have water flowing through it to mix with the food specially made for ducks.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

From the side yard:

View attachment 3618153

The yellow daisy/sunflower ones are sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes), I'm sure everyone recognizes the goldenrod (we have two species here), and the light purple flowers in the back are phlox.

No idea what golden rod is, but very pretty

 

[Canadian Wind]

No idea what golden rod is, but very pretty

I didn't realize there was none in Australia. Although it's a native plant here, many consider it invasive.

 

[Luv Ducks]

So sorry to hear this!
First thing to fix is how the predator, and i agree with you that has raccoon written all over it, was able to get to them. It will be bad for another meal soon.
If you can afford, get one of these "have no heart" traps with a trap door, so you can decide what to do with whatever you catch. For raccoons i use my air-rifle, any duck would get a spanking on the fluffy-butt.
All other traps could be a danger your ducks too...

Thanks, I appreciate it.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Yes, you americanized European!


I've seen it in videos (I think on Just A Few Acres Farm's channel?). Super easy. Also saw some with the PVC pipe where they have water flowing through it to mix with the food specially made for ducks.

I am already using PVC pipes with float-valves as waterers and i have PVC-pipe feeder for the crushed oyster shells. Cannot understand why i haven't thought about using PVC pipe for the supper-bowl‼