Winter is Coming! Checklists, tips, advice for a newbie

[Alaskan]

I do not know what dilly hosts are, but yes goats are very strong, smart, and love to make trouble.

 

[K Epp]

Oh law. Silly goats. Lol

 

[hennible]

Another winter duck question, when should or I guess what temperature should I take my ducks swimming privileges away?
Thanks

 

[K Epp]

Is it possible for a hawk to get a large duck. I had two go missing Sunday still no sign of them. Not a missing feather or anything. I also lost a bantam roo a week or so ago and a Welsumer roo with a bad leg was taken Friday. There were a few feathers from that one. I heard a hawk screeching, but doubt a red tailed could get the big drake. Everyone is on lockdown until I solve the mystery.

 

[hannahrachel]

Is it possible for a hawk to get a large duck. I had two go missing Sunday still no sign of them. Not a missing feather or anything. I also lost a bantam roo a week or so ago and a Welsumer roo with a bad leg was taken Friday. There were a few feathers from that one. I heard a hawk screeching, but doubt a red tailed could get the big drake. Everyone is on lockdown until I solve the mystery.

It's very unlikely. Even with full-sized chickens, a hawk would have to kill and eat without carrying it off (i.e. on the ground by your coop). Another predator like a fox or coyote would be more likely.

 

[Alaskan]

Or a dog. A dog is most likely IMO.

 

[K Epp]

We had heavy rain last night and this morning. I kept everyone locked up ehikecI was gone. No tracks where it would be coming in. There aren't really any stray dogs in my area and the neighbors keep theirs up. I expected tracks when I got home. All the birds taken tend to hang out in the back corner of the property where the Creek runs through and out if the fence. I'm saying some type of wild animal just don't know which.

 

[LadyCluck77]

How large is your creek?
Could be an animal is coming along the creek, so there might not be tracks.
I think Georgia is too far north for alligators, right?

 

[K Epp]

South Georgia has gators, but I'm in the mountains in the northern part of state on the GA, TN, NC line.

I think your right about it accessing the property by the creek, but it'd have to come up, come across a sandy area and up a bank to get the Roo.

 

[Alaskan]

Another winter duck question, when should or I guess what temperature should I take my ducks swimming privileges away?
Thanks

Are they Muscovy, or other ducks?

I find the Muscovy don't like the cold as much as other ducks.

For my Muscovy I take the pond away at about 10F.

For other ducks, I know they still love it at -10F.

Of course, at those temps it freezes fast. So, you can bring it out in the morning or afternoon, and the pond will be frozen, and the ducks dry, long before bedtime.