A bit of hanging around ....

[Ieuann133]

I am currently precariously hanging over the pond in my hammock chair with Tinto riding shotgun to keep me company. Part of the thrill of this is to see whether one day I actually fall into the pond which I would imagine would be pretty unpleasant... 😲

Apologies for my absence, sadly last week I lost Pape, my white and black duck who I have posted about previously, then the following day,I lost two more but thankfully managed to find them. I think the foxes in the area are looking further afield for food as the restaurants etc who leave food in bins are no longer open. Nature is cruel and it upsets me greatly to think of my ducks being hurt/killed etc but it is the way of the world.

Need to thank my lovely friend for messaging me and pulling me out of my pit, DJK99 you deserve a huge hug...

In other news, the health unlocked duckling is still there, Bianco is going a great job of sitting and I would expect the arrival in around 20 days! Monte is also laying a clutch but I am going to take her eggs as I don’t want two ducklings, be is sufficient!

Stay well all, frightening times but we can do it

Me xx

[MEGS53]

Sad to hear about Pape, but all you can do is look forward to seeing the new ducklings. Take care.

[DJK99]

Aww Leuann... hugs backatcha. I read yr response this morning early, whilst lying in the dark as woke from yet another bonkers dream but needed to sleep more. Urg. And then stuff. So will respond now. Well done for telling everyone such difficult news. Very sad. Will write more xx

[svfarmer]

Lovely picture - hopefully you won’t fall in the pond one day 😂 am so sorry to hear about your ducks 🦆 those darn foxes 🦊 we live in the countryside and get foxes and all sorts in our garden , the neighbour lost all 6 of her chickens 🐓 recently but like you say it is nature xx

[overnighthearingloss]

Is there anywhere you could lock the ducks in at night. I know foxes have their place in nature as well, and I love foxes, but they become persistent if they think there is a chance of an easy meal.

Hammock looks lovely but not sure I could get in it.

[Ieuann133 in reply to overnighthearingloss]

All my ducks bar one are rescue ducks, I somehow managed to become the local duck lady so if there were ducks in distress, people would turn up at our house expecting me to look after them, which I did of course. Sadly however, it means that the custom built duck house never gets used as they are more comfortable being left to wander around the garden. One thing that I don’t do is clip their wings as I believe they need flight no order to avoid predators...

it is sadly a risk we have to take.... all the ducks that currently live here have been residents for over 5 years so it is not common for me to lose them but makes it no easier when it happens. 😕

[overnighthearingloss in reply to Ieuann133]

You have access to your garden from the waterline but apparently foxes are hesitant of chicken wire as they think it is a trap.

We did use it at various points on the smallholding years back. But they decimated a flock of geese.

The other point in favour of not penning them in is as individuals the fox either get one or it gets away. When they are together it's like he is supermarket shopping if it gets into the pen.

As you say, it's the harsh side of nature.

[Wendy39]

I’m really sorry about your ducks. 😢

Foxes caused us never ending problem when we kept chickens. We’re out in the countryside, surrounded by fields. The fox became an issue straight away. Even when we built a cage with wire underneath, he would dig out beneath the run. It got to the point that between the noise of the fox and the chickens squawking in fear, we’d be up half the night. The fox wasn’t scared of us either. We didn’t replace the chickens, when the first ones died. 🦊

I hope your fox moves on and leaves your ducks alone.

Have a good day.

Wendy