Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[Pyxis]

I am so devastated right now. Today when I went out to feed the ducks, I only saw three - my male welshie, a female cross of some sort, and one of the welsh harlequin ducklings. The duckling never hangs with the big ducks, but since I had literally 11 ducks missing and no chickens were gone, I thought maybe they had discovered the big pond bordering my property. Went to check, and no ducks, but I saw something white in the woods. There's a pekin, I thought. And there he was - with no head, and something had eaten just his head and the skin off his back. No signs of the others at all, but I must assume something similar happened. And the one survivng duckling has a limp, like she managed to escape whatever was getting them. So I went from fourteen duck to three in the space of an afternoon, in broad daylight. What's more, whatever did it didn't take a single chicken. I don't even know what can eat three grown ducks and 8 mostly grown ducklings in one afternoon. Anyway the poor surving baby has no one to hang out with, so luckily my aunt is very graciously giving me back one of the female ducjlings I gave her, and both are getting penned up until the survivor's leg heals. I think that tenacious little duckling needs a good name.

Anyway, I'm so devastated. The little duckling that imprinted on me and followed me around everywhere is one of the ones I lost. I just don't know what to do. And the fact that not a single chicken is missing baffles me. Either I have some very good roosters or whatever it was has a taste for duck.

Please excuse any typos, I'm very upset.

 

[psue]

So sorry Pyxis

 

[JulieNKC]

I am so devastated right now. Today when I went out to feed the ducks, I only saw three - my male welshie, a female cross of some sort, and one of the welsh harlequin ducklings. The duckling never hangs with the big ducks, but since I had literally 11 ducks missing and no chickens were gone, I thought maybe they had discovered the big pond bordering my property. Went to check, and no ducks, but I saw something white in the woods. There's a pekin, I thought. And there he was - with no head, and something had eaten just his head and the skin off his back. No signs of the others at all, but I must assume something similar happened. And the one survivng duckling has a limp, like she managed to escape whatever was getting them. So I went from fourteen duck to three in the space of an afternoon, in broad daylight. What's more, whatever did it didn't take a single chicken. I don't even know what can eat three grown ducks and 8 mostly grown ducklings in one afternoon. Anyway the poor surving baby has no one to hang out with, so luckily my aunt is very graciously giving me back one of the female ducjlings I gave her, and both are getting penned up until the survivor's leg heals. I think that tenacious little duckling needs a good name.
Anyway, I'm so devastated. The little duckling that imprinted on me and followed me around everywhere is one of the ones I lost. I just don't know what to do. And the fact that not a single chicken is missing baffles me. Either I have some very good roosters or whatever it was has a taste for duck.
Please excuse any typos, I'm very upset.

I'm so sorry about your ducks.

 

[Wulfandwyn]

I am so devastated right now. Today when I went out to feed the ducks, I only saw three - my male welshie, a female cross of some sort, and one of the welsh harlequin ducklings. The duckling never hangs with the big ducks, but since I had literally 11 ducks missing and no chickens were gone, I thought maybe they had discovered the big pond bordering my property. Went to check, and no ducks, but I saw something white in the woods. There's a pekin, I thought. And there he was - with no head, and something had eaten just his head and the skin off his back. No signs of the others at all, but I must assume something similar happened. And the one survivng duckling has a limp, like she managed to escape whatever was getting them. So I went from fourteen duck to three in the space of an afternoon, in broad daylight. What's more, whatever did it didn't take a single chicken. I don't even know what can eat three grown ducks and 8 mostly grown ducklings in one afternoon. Anyway the poor surving baby has no one to hang out with, so luckily my aunt is very graciously giving me back one of the female ducjlings I gave her, and both are getting penned up until the survivor's leg heals. I think that tenacious little duckling needs a good name.

Anyway, I'm so devastated. The little duckling that imprinted on me and followed me around everywhere is one of the ones I lost. I just don't know what to do. And the fact that not a single chicken is missing baffles me. Either I have some very good roosters or whatever it was has a taste for duck.

Please excuse any typos, I'm very upset.

So horrible!!!

 

[jdywntr]

I'm so sorry for the loss.

I have had a coyote come in during the day. The ducks looked at it, the geese fussed a bit. And the chickens went into a tizzy. This may have been the difference. When my chickens are confronted with anything, even me trying to catch them for something, they are very elusive. The ducks, I can catch in short order.

I'm sure that you looked but are you sure that everyone is gone? With something chasing, they could have gone in whatever direction available.

Again, sorry for the losses. I would post specifics in the predator section just to get some tips on what it may have been so that you can protect the others.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So sorry for your losses,a family of coyotes or foxes could sneak in and take that many ducks and ducklings, and most likely without much noise. I think for their own safety I'd keep the penned up till you can get a trap to try and catch what did it. and then you'll know what your up against and what to do about it. It ,they will be back.

 

[Marty1876]

I am so devastated right now. Today when I went out to feed the ducks, I only saw three - my male welshie, a female cross of some sort, and one of the welsh harlequin ducklings. The duckling never hangs with the big ducks, but since I had literally 11 ducks missing and no chickens were gone, I thought maybe they had discovered the big pond bordering my property. Went to check, and no ducks, but I saw something white in the woods. There's a pekin, I thought. And there he was - with no head, and something had eaten just his head and the skin off his back. No signs of the others at all, but I must assume something similar happened. And the one survivng duckling has a limp, like she managed to escape whatever was getting them. So I went from fourteen duck to three in the space of an afternoon, in broad daylight. What's more, whatever did it didn't take a single chicken. I don't even know what can eat three grown ducks and 8 mostly grown ducklings in one afternoon. Anyway the poor surving baby has no one to hang out with, so luckily my aunt is very graciously giving me back one of the female ducjlings I gave her, and both are getting penned up until the survivor's leg heals. I think that tenacious little duckling needs a good name.

Anyway, I'm so devastated. The little duckling that imprinted on me and followed me around everywhere is one of the ones I lost. I just don't know what to do. And the fact that not a single chicken is missing baffles me. Either I have some very good roosters or whatever it was has a taste for duck.

Please excuse any typos, I'm very upset.

I totally understand how you feel. It's enough to make you want to get rid of all the birds, isn't it?

 

[JulieNKC]

I had my npip testing today.

I'm so happy it was nice outside, and the birds cooperated and weren't too big a pain to catch. I just hope since my testing is now in December every year that it isn't freezing next time.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

 

[ChristineR]

Holy Moly! I candled Serama eggs last night and so far I have 100% fertility. I could see all of them squirming around in their shells. I still have 4 more that I put in at a later date to candle, too. I hope I'll be able to sell them in the middle of winter, because my husband will not be OK with 12 chickens in the house all winter. I still have 13 more days to go, though, so I won't count my chickens before they're hatched.

My power did go out for about an hour last night and the temp dropped to 85, but I don't think it will cause a problem since it was such a short amount of time.