![]() Your first option for protection from this duck predator is to keep a livestock guardian around when the flock is free-ranging. It is illegal in almost all states to kill hawks. ![]() Ducklings, young ducks, and small duck breeds are all highly vulnerable to these deadly birds of prey. There were no bite marks on the neck of the duck or blood anywhere, so it was not a fox that grabbed it, nor was it a bobcat or a coyote because the duck went missing during the early afternoon hours.Ī mature hawk can usually lift about five to 8 pounds – approximately two-thirds of its body weight. My duck did not waddle up there over rugged terrain.Ī strong hawk was apparently able to tote it some distance, but it was too heavy and likely too squirmy to pack further, and it fell to the ground. While a hawk is not large enough and strong enough to carry off a large mature breed of duck, they can easily shred their back with the sharp nails on their feet and attempt to fly away with them.Ī couple of years ago, I found one of my Jumbo Pekin ducks on a trail on our survival homestead’s upper tier of the hills. “Chickenhawks” are the most commonly referred to on farms and homesteads and are perhaps the most deadly duck predator. Odds are, you will be facing multiple duck predators in search of an easy meal. Securing the duck house or coop and running successfully requires knowing exactly what type of predator will be trying to get in. To better protect ducks from predators, you first must determine what threats are looming around the corner. While there are means to help keep ducks safe from predators while free-ranging, they are not foolproof, and you should expect to lose a bird occasionally. The only means ducks have to protect themselves from predators is the diligence and skill their keepers use to build their duck house or coop and run.ĭucks allowed to free-range (like my flock) are even more vulnerable to predators. Their beaks are rounded, their toenails are not sharp enough to cause harm, and nearly all domesticated breeds do not possess the ability to even attempt to flee by flying away. These meat and egg birds have no natural means of self-defense against common duck predators. There is an excellent reason the phrase “sitting duck” was coined. Ducks are far more vulnerable to duck predators than their barnyard poultry peers, chickens.
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