Ducks Attacked By Raccoon

[Alainac15]

Hi!
I have been raising three mallard ducklings the last month or so. This morning awoke to find that a raccoon had managed to get into their cage area and killed two of my ducklings. I’ve had them since May 10th, so they are about 6 weeks old. I know that ducks are very social animals and do not like being alone. I am unsure what to do now since he no longer has the siblings. I live on a lake and have also have a pond on our property which is where I was going to have the ducks live. I have the surviving duck out by the lake right now and other ducks are approaching. One female is particularly interested in the duckling and has been constantly checking on him/her (I can’t tell the sex yet). The female seems to be in a flock with another female and three males.

Would it be possible for the female (and the flock) to take in my duckling?

I’ve also been in contact with a few duck sanctuaries and one suggested that we move the coop closer to the house and secure it better, but I’m nervous he/she will be lonely without the siblings?
Does any one have any suggestions or advice of what I should do?

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Hi!
I have been raising three mallard ducklings the last month or so. This morning awoke to find that a raccoon had managed to get into their cage area and killed two of my ducklings. I’ve had them since May 10th, so they are about 6 weeks old. I know that ducks are very social animals and do not like being alone. I am unsure what to do now since he no longer has the siblings. I live on a lake and have also have a pond on our property which is where I was going to have the ducks live. I have the surviving duck out by the lake right now and other ducks are approaching. One female is particularly interested in the duckling and has been constantly checking on him/her (I can’t tell the sex yet). The female seems to be in a flock with another female and three males.

Would it be possible for the female (and the flock) to take in my duckling?

I’ve also been in contact with a few duck sanctuaries and one suggested that we move the coop closer to the house and secure it better, but I’m nervous he/she will be lonely without the siblings?
Does any one have any suggestions or advice of what I should do?

hi, your mallard duck is not a wild duck. you need to get it other domestic duck friends

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is the duckling in something for protection? Did you get your ducklings at TSC if so it’s not a wild duck.

 

[Alainac15]

Yes the ducklings were in a metal enclosure when the attack happened. This morning I’ve been letting him/her roam the beaches by the lake mingling with the wild ducks (he/she tends to stay near the enclosure). I got the ducklings from Merton feed Mill which gets them from a hatchery so I’m assuming they are domestic.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can the duckling fly off with the others if a raccoon comes around if not it’s a sitting duck.

 

[Alainac15]

I am not sure if my duckling is able to fly, I have not seen it fly.

Update: The duckling has been sitting on the beach with a wild female mallard for the last few hours. They seem to be getting along fine. Is this okay?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Only worry is when she flies off for the night!

 

[Alainac15]

When she flies off for the night I would put my duckling back in his/her enclosure.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Did you fix it so the raccoon can’t get in?

 

[Alainac15]

Yes, I have!