will raccoons steel my ducks?

[mandysminions]

I have a backyard flock of 3 Pekins, now 3 Runners, and a Cayuga. Three days ago my Great Dane attacked and chased off a huge raccoon. I have one Pekin with three chicks, a Runner that was sitting on a clutch of 10 and a Cayuga that is now sitting on a clutch of 17 (we moved the Runner eggs to her nest as they are due to hatch any day now!!!)

So heres my question . . . . my Runner is missing . . . no sign of struggle . . . no eggs missing . . . . no chicks missing . . . all the ducks are acting very scared. . . . wont come when called . . . run away when you approach them . . . etc.

I have never heard of a raccoon taking a momma sitting on eggs when there are eggs to be had!!! And how the heck does it keep getting into our fenced in area??? Could a fox be getting over a four foot barbed wire topped fence?? The raccoon didnt seem to have a problem!!! but we didnt think it would come back with Darwin the Great Dane on patrol . . . My kids are so sad that our "Duck-Duck" is missing . . . .

I have another question too!! Can I put the almost 2 week old ducks in the duck house at night with the big Drake and other girls that arent sitting or will he kill them???

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a backyard flock of 3 Pekins, now 3 Runners, and a Cayuga. Three days ago my Great Dane attacked and chased off a huge raccoon. I have one Pekin with three chicks, a Runner that was sitting on a clutch of 10 and a Cayuga that is now sitting on a clutch of 17 (we moved the Runner eggs to her nest as they are due to hatch any day now!!!)

So heres my question . . . . my Runner is missing . . . no sign of struggle . . . no eggs missing . . . . no chicks missing . . . all the ducks are acting very scared. . . . wont come when called . . . run away when you approach them . . . etc.

I have never heard of a raccoon taking a momma sitting on eggs when there are eggs to be had!!! And how the heck does it keep getting into our fenced in area??? Could a fox be getting over a four foot barbed wire topped fence?? The raccoon didnt seem to have a problem!!! but we didnt think it would come back with Darwin the Great Dane on patrol . . . My kids are so sad that our "Duck-Duck" is missing . . . .

I have another question too!! Can I put the almost 2 week old ducks in the duck house at night with the big Drake and other girls that arent sitting or will he kill them???

Do Not put ducklings in with adult ducks with out a mama to protect them. even then a drake can not be trusted. More than likely something whether a coon or fox got your runner why would she abandon her eggs? I am so sorry for your loss, but ducks are sitting targets for preds. they need to be locked up especially at night. I have a question, why wouldn't a coon or fox take fresh meat instead of eggs? I am sorry for your kids a sad lesson to be learned.

 

[mandysminions]

She was a wonderful sitter so I am sure that she didnt abandon them and I dont know the answer to that question . . . fresh meat would most definately be more appealing . . . I just thought warm eggs would be easier. . . . and we always keep the ducks in their duck house at night . . . unfortunatley this time we had three rogue nests They normally do nest in the house . . . but for some reason they chose the tall grass and the tomatoe garden this time

I guess we will have to pen momma and babies in the big dog run (used for ducks when we are away . . . not dogs) and everyone else will have to go in the duckie house . . . our Cayuga wont come peacefully so I guess we are going to have to figure out how to "cage" around her!!!

UGG horrible lesson learned

Thank you for your response