Recent content by Sosalty

Having 'coons in close proximity has got to be unnerving to both you and your ducks. Feed 'em only in your run?kennel where 'coons can't get. Corn/pellets dropped will pay them off. Coon proof nightly storage. Secure simple latches and knobs, 'coons have thumbs! Yes, electric fencing works...

Remove pool from run (if practical). lure 'em into run with treats. Reintroduce pool to run once they're comfortable. Make water entry and exit easy. Try putting in snacks and later treat 'em with live minnows. Start with shallow water they can stand in. Some have had to devise clever water...

3 today: my 3 Muscovy laid their 200th egg around May 1 I thought they were quitting a while back yet they took a 2 week sabbatical and took up laying again. Most days 3 eggs, once a week or so, just 2 eggs

Not necessarily. Are there eagles around? We don't know what kind of drakes, how big they are. If they are small breed, possibly a hawk attack. If you're still able to check the wound, look for any wee scratch near the puncture. A bird of prey could've missed their attack and only caught...

If the table from Metzer farms is indicative, your; Call, Muscovy, & Saxony duck breeds are calm enough to take an interest in people interaction. (and some individual personalities of other breeds) https://www.metzerfarms.com/compare-duck-breeds.html I spent enough time with my 3 Muscovy...

I too, would like to hear about your pond. Many prefer letting nature, though often cruel, take its course and then there's "God gave man(kind) dominion over the animals (all the earth) way of thinking." I fretted every time a hawk would fly over the pond until our muscovy ducklings weighed...

There are plastic wash detergent containers that hold about 30-33 oz and have straight walls so they'll remain standing, large enough for duck bills and shallow enough for snacks on the bottom to be taken, just wash 'em well. After they start eating Mazuri or whichever pellet food, think about...

If you're duck eggs are tan, paint the ceramics with a used tea bag.

Just as we wanted to retire in the country so our cats wouldn't need to spend their lives indoors, yours (and my) philosophy of pet lifestyles could be a part of the equation. Are you country minded and think in free ranging terms? There're some considerations for a larger natural pond. Many...

havenonhazen "What do you do about predators along a wild creek? They lost their ducks to raccoons" And so it can/does happen. We watched a home near us with a 1/2ac pond along a 2 lane hi-way with 11 Pekin ducks. Though it was cleared and mowed around their pond, they lost a duck at least...

Great thread! I thought domestic ducks would wash away during floods on a creek. Makes sense that most could avoid that, mine seem to love their pond and stay in close to it even though there's a creek 75 yds below with loads of predators. Trap 1 Trap 2 As a kid, dad & I would make and trap...

3 today, 3 yesterday, (148/3 this '24)

My 1-2 week old ducklings would climb into their water/snack bowl. I heard 1 ask his/self, "why am I doing this?" See profile picture on the left. Waterer with hole on top is a good idea, keep heat available.

Good luck to Cookie dough, if some the ducklings make it we'll all cheer. She seems to be a pretty tame feral. Seems her biggest threats might be area pets and those Muscovy pecks can be intimidating :D

Racoons and semi-suburban dogs are likely your biggest culprits to ground nesters. If you're retired and inclined toward intensive trapping, tractor supply cage traps to remove 'coons would improve their odds. A temporary electric fence, 1/4ac or so, could deter adventurous dogs. As said...