Rehoming question

[Debby Duck]

Hello everyone, I'm not quite at the point where I need to rehome my ducks yet, so I'm not ready to go directly to the rehoming forum. I just have a couple of questions about what would be acceptable in terms of my needs and wishes.

First, I do not want to give up my three ducks. They are male, white crested, four and a half years old, and I've raised them from day two. I don't have the usual spot where ducks roam, I actually live in a gated community in South Florida, Boca to be exact. They free roam on the lake behind my house, they think they own the place, and they come in to their coop at night. So they've been living and idyllic life, until recently when an otter showed up to take residence in the lake as well.

He's been there for about 3 or 4 weeks, and I hired a trapper a little over a week ago with no luck yet. My ducks have been cooped up all this time and getting their bathing and splashing done in a little pool I set up. But this is no life for them so I'm preparing myself for what I might have to do.

But they're my babies, and of course I don't think anyone else could take care of them as well as I do. But I want to be sure that whoever I give them to can keep them safe from both predators and other ducks that may not welcome them. I'm especially concerned about fighting because of the crest on their heads. Am I being unreasonable in asking questions about their conditions and property etc.? I don't know if this is an appropriate thing to do. Maybe I'm supposed to just be glad that someone wants to take them. But I really don't want to let them go, so I want the very best for them.

I appreciate all of your thoughts.
Deborah

 

[GodLovesU]

I would definitely make sure that they were going to good home, you’re not being unreasonable. Here’s an article I wrote if you do end up rehoming them : https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/three-reasons-to-rehome.79725/

 

[townchicks]

First, I hope you don't have to give them up! If you do, it is not only reasonable, but imperative that you ask those questions. I would also recommend that if at all possible, that you deliver the ducks yourself, to verify that the recipient is all that they say they are. Most people are good, but there are also scammers that are very good at saying all the things you want to hear. I adopted some hens from a farm rescue and had to fill out an application that was 3 pages long, and send in photos of where the hen's would be housed. They also checked in with me twice afterwards. I was fine with all of that, because I know what goes on, and was happy that they care enough to do that. Good luck.

 

[KathiQuacks]

Do your boys have a run / could you build a run? As nice as it is, ducks do not have to free range. If it’s necessary to keep them safe from the otter, and provided the space is large enough, you can keep them fenced in.

If you must rehome, asking about conditions & property is completely reasonable and necessary, imo. I know what my birds need, and I will not rehome them until I’m certain they’re going somewhere with equal care or better.

 

[Debby Duck]

I would definitely make sure that they were going to good home, you’re not being unreasonable. Here’s an article I wrote if you do end up rehoming them : https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/three-reasons-to-rehome.79725/

Very good article. Thank you!

 

[Debby Duck]

Do your boys have a run / could you build a run? As nice as it is, ducks do not have to free range. If it’s necessary to keep them safe from the otter, and provided the space is large enough, you can keep them fenced in.

If you must rehome, asking about conditions & property is completely reasonable and necessary, imo. I know what my birds need, and I will not rehome them until I’m certain they’re going somewhere with equal care or better.

No, they don't have one and I don't have the ability to provide one. I wouldn't be able to build it, and my HOA wouldn't allow it. In fact it's highly unusual in an HOA that no one is complaining that I have ducks. I guess it's because the people who live on the lake enjoy watching them. My husband died 3 years ago and before he was sick he built the amazing coop that sits on my patio and that they sleep in. But the HOA is very particular about what you have in your backyard if you're on the lake. Plus I have no room. And since I'm alone now raising them it would be really hard on me having to set up a pool everyday and clean it out for them. It's really almost too much for me now. I'm almost 70 with some health conditions and the work involved is more than I should probably be doing. But since they're on the lake most of the time that always made it easier. I hope I don't have to give them up too. Still haven't gotten over losing my husband.

So I'm really mad at that otter for showing up!

 

[Debby Duck]

Thank you everyone for your input. I can feel a lot more comfortable now when I'm asking questions if I go forward to rehome my boys. I have to say when I looked up the article above and it mentioned dispatching, I wasn't clear on what that meant so I had to look it up. And oh my goodness! Now I know that I would not make a very good homesteader or owner of a lot of ducks or chickens where that became necessary.

I had to euthanize one of my boys a few months ago. He began to have terrible neurological issues due to the crest on his head. The vet said it was probably due to trauma because they usually don't have it show up at this age. It broke my heart to have to put him down. And I waited as long as I could but his head was starting to droop as he swam, and he got to where he couldn't get out of the lake even to come up and eat. I would have to go down and bring him in and then hold him to try to feed him. So I insisted on being able to hold him while they euthanized him. And even though it was very gentle and caring it was still very traumatic.

Thanks again . Let's hope I catch this otter. He's taking away my joy.