UPDATE: Novice needs help FAST!

[Sandy Braman]

We got 3 ducks - a Rouen drake and 2 Magpie hens - and decided to separate the ducks and geese at night with a metal child gate. Everything went well, until last night.

We have a 10' x 10' pen, covered roof, wrapped in hardware cloth (picture attached).My husband went out this morning and one of the Magpies was dead. Went over every square inch of the walls for any sort of tear or hold and found nothing. Got a ladder, took off the roof covering, and found a place where the crisscrossed hardware cloth wasn't wired enough. Raccoons lifted up the unwired space and were going under and through and dropping onto the roof of the duck house.

He has overlapped the crisscrossed hardware cloth with crisscrossed hardware cloth, wired it every few inches, and double-checked the walls and roof. It is currently 101° F with a heat index of 105° F, but NOTHING is getting into that pen. He's going to sit on the side porch with his .22 tonight and wait for company.

In the meantime, our original Khaki Campbell hen is mourning the first duck that was killed and we're looking for 2 more hens.

I need a vacation!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Ugh. So sorry to hear that.

 

[True Patriot]

Sorry to hear
The HC needs to be tied about every 4 inches. But it sounds like you're already on it. What do you have for dig protection? That will be their next trick. It's tough to tell in your pic, but if there's any over growth near the coop think about cutting it back about 20 feet. Predators in general don't like to feel exposed. The more open area the more discouraging. Not foolproof, but every bit helps. Best of luck.

 

[Lil Drake40]

Try the Texas thread at where am I where are you. Very sorry for your loss

 

[Amiga]

If there is a gap under the chain link, raccoons will try reaching under and grabbing a duck.

Might you be able to get an electric fence charger, run a poly wire just above the ground, then at 6 inches, 12 inches and 18 inches?