Loss of the family

[Laurmullen87]

I am fairly new to keeping a small flock of 3 silkie hens and 3 khaki Campbell ducks. This week we have had 2 horrible attacks which has resulted in the awful loss of 1 hen and 2 ducks. All three ducks were raised by myself since they were 3 weeks old and the last remaining one was sitting squawking beside the body of her sister until I found her and now she is the only one left. I know it is usually a no no keeping one single duck as they are such social wee things but I can’t bring myself to getting more incase the same thing happens to them.
Do you think I should rehome her (I would be heartbroken if I did but i would if it was best for her) or would she be ok with the 2 silkies?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you x

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The duck is your property and at the end of the day you should do whatever it is that you think is best for your property. All the advice to the contrary notwithstanding you must do what you think is best and propper. Good luck or as they say on Broadway, "Break a leg" Just figuratively now.

 

[lomine]

First I would do what is needed to prevent another attack. Even if you only keep the chickens, they need to be protected. It's already happened twice so it's likely to happen again. I too had chickens killed by a dog (or at least I think it was) so I know how you feel. If it's your dog you should be able to prevent another attack with the proper management. If it's someone else's dog you have to keep it away. Electric poultry netting is easy and effective.

As far as keeping a lone duck, I personally wouldn't. They are extremely social and just don't do well by themselves. If you get another, try to find one around the same size and gender.

 

[ThatParrotLady]

Consider taking the dog and dumping it at the humane society if you catch it trying to get your pets again. Seriously figure out how the hell the dog got in and kennel your birds when not watching them or put them in a coop. But even if the dog turns out to be your neighbors I would still dump them at the shelter and tell them to call when they come looking. Where I live my grandfather would shoot the dog no questions asked. This will force the owner to reconsider how they keep their dog locked up.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I am fairly new to keeping a small flock of 3 silkie hens and 3 khaki Campbell ducks. This week we have had 2 horrible attacks which has resulted in the awful loss of 1 hen and 2 ducks. All three ducks were raised by myself since they were 3 weeks old and the last remaining one was sitting squawking beside the body of her sister until I found her and now she is the only one left. I know it is usually a no no keeping one single duck as they are such social wee things but I can’t bring myself to getting more incase the same thing happens to them.
Do you think I should rehome her (I would be heartbroken if I did but i would if it was best for her) or would she be ok with the 2 silkies?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you x

Sorry for your loss! As for retaining the remaining flock if they love you and you them. I think there is the answer to the question. Are they free range?

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

Honestly, I have shot AT dogs coming through the field next to us just to scare them away from my livestock and birds. I have caught my neighbor's dog in the act of attacking one of my pullets and went and told them if i see it again I would shoot to protect my own as it had already killed two others. Never saw the two I shot at again and never saw the neighbors dog again. I have even rehomed a dog and almost rehomed another before it was hit by a car to protect my birds. Now I have a little tiny mutt who thinks he is an LGD, will go head to toe with anything that comes on our property and thinks it needs to herd all the animals (even the goats and horse) back into their barns, coops, runs and such.

My point is..... Predators happen. We can't stop them all. But as a chicken/bird owner, you have a legal right to defend yours. And if it is your own dog, how you handle it is up to you. Best of luck!

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Sorry for your loss! As for retaining the remaining flock if they love you and you them. I think there is the answer to the question. Are they free range?

Sorry didn’t see the other post. I would improve the security if there is a breech and keep them.

 

[ThatParrotLady]

I forgot to add, I would keep the duck if she ends up being fine as a solo duck. There’s no harm in waiting and seeing and I am sorry you lost the others. But if you aren’t with your birds and this has happened twice you need to assess how they were accessed and lock them in a coop when not there or you will probably lose the last three now that the pest knows where to go to have a great time

 

[Michellep224]

Is anyone sure it was a dog? I don't think her post mentioned a dog, did it? O:
If they are free-range it could have been ANYTHING. Night-predators such as raccoon, fox, possum, skunk, coyote, and owl will all kill and eat your birds. Hawks and other birds of prey are a huge threat as well.
If they are kept in a coop/run, check for signs of digging, or gaps, tears, and weakness in the fencing. Predators are very determined and will figure out very intelligent ways to get into a coop.
Think like a fox! Lol

And if it is a dog, call your local animal control or contact the owner of the dog if it has one. If worse comes to worse I'd shoot it, but that would be my last resort. I'd do everything I could to prevent that.

I'm sorry to hear of the attacks on your birds. I wish you luck!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I am fairly new to keeping a small flock of 3 silkie hens and 3 khaki Campbell ducks. This week we have had 2 horrible attacks which has resulted in the awful loss of 1 hen and 2 ducks. All three ducks were raised by myself since they were 3 weeks old and the last remaining one was sitting squawking beside the body of her sister until I found her and now she is the only one left. I know it is usually a no no keeping one single duck as they are such social wee things but I can’t bring myself to getting more incase the same thing happens to them.
Do you think I should rehome her (I would be heartbroken if I did but i would if it was best for her) or would she be ok with the 2 silkies?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you x

Well, I used to see this woman at the beach all the time with her duck. It used to follow her around and she would swim in the ocean with it. She only had one duck and it seemed really happy.