Keeping hens and ducks chat.

edwink

Hi everyone

I'm still here, still reading the messages which are helping me, thank so much for your support..

Is been a very difficult week to say the least. The two remaining ducks are enjoying themselves on the lawn every day under close supervision. Where we believe the exit route of the fox was hubby has made the fence even higher all the way along that section. it was pretty high anyway but obviously higher now. Obviously we are devastated what has happened but pleased that the fox left with nothing as we found all the girls albeit they were all dead. But, he/she leaving with nothing has left us unsure if that is a good thing or not and if he/she will be back or not so for the time being both surviving ducks are indoors with us every night for their safety. They have been in the pond everyday and either one of us has stayed with them whist they have had a swim about for an hour or so and then we take them back down to the lawn by the house. That area is around 50ft so plenty of space for them to free range and forage albeit amongst the flower beds and other areas. We are reluctant to put them both in the coop as that area might be too much for them to cope with and if up there we can't keep a proper eye on them.

That's about it for now with no real thoughts of replacing any at this stage maybe its just too raw at the moment. I miss them dearly so hopefully in time we will rethink the situation and wait for a new big rescue to go ahead and get some more then.

At the moment we have a boundary fence that needs seeing to whereby some of the posts have rotted at the bottom and hubby has be putting supports along the length of fencing on both sides but now have decided it would be a good time, not having loads of girls out and about, to renew the fence completely and as high as is permitted. The fence is high anyway with extra black netting above which takes the height to around 8ft but further up around my allotment area the fencing is a trellis type fencing which I have never liked as a security point of view for the girls so that will also be replaced with non see through fencing. It was here already when we moved in and was erected by the neighbours next door but they are no longer here and the property is empty and the boundary is ours to maintain anyway. We have spoken to a fencer today and he will call in either tomorrow or Saturday morning.

So although no plans to get more hens we are looking very closely at any extra security measures that can be made in a hope to stop the same thing happening ever again. So for us we are heading in the right direction to rehome some more but looking at doing everything we possibly can to stop this happening again. We have kept poultry for 10 years now knowing that we back on to woods is always a chance I suppose but extra security can only be a good thing on top of the added security we have in place anyway. We also have someone coming in April to look at putting a permanent roof on the hens/ducks coop 24ft x 16ft so quite a size with guttering attached to water butts so we will have rainwater up there instead of carrying it up from the water butts at the side of house. I have 7 water butts in the allotment area but I need that for watering the veg especially in the summer. So extra water butts will definitely be labour saving for the both of us.

So a few changes happening first and lots of thought going in to it all and then hopefully loads more feathered friends soon.

love and hugs to everyone, thanks again for your inspiring messages they really have lifted my spirits. I'm very down and heart broken but hubby is encouraging me with all these new plans for extra security and best friends have said I'm a natural and new hens settle with me so quickly as I spend so much time settling them in and getting to know each and everyone of them. I know deep down they are right but its too raw right now but by the time the fence is done and then the roof on the coop that could be a couple of months down the line and I might have a change of heart by then, hopefully.

Sorry for the waffling but I suppose its just me panning ahead and seeing it written down which makes it appear more realistic somehow.

Right off for some sleep.

Will keep you up to date and in the meantime more hens stories please as I love logging on and reading about them especially as I don't have any myself at the moment

Edwink

Pyxis

Thanks for that, Edwink.

Your plans are good, and sound hopeful. :A

Cheery_Daff

Aw edwink xxxxx sending lots of love your way lass. How very sad you sound I'm not surprised you're traumatised, that was a horrible thing to have to witness and a dreadful shock. I keep having flashbacks to what happened to our two and finding then and that wasn't half as traumatic as what happened to you xxx

We were reluctant to leave ours alone too after it happened, but slowly but up our confidence again over time. It's about doing what you can i suppose which you are with all your new fencing. We don't have any fences at all (except the run itself), ours could literally walk all the way to Scotland if they wanted. Our situation was different of course as they got killed when shut in the house inside their run, so we just did everything we could to make that secure, and set a trap for the stoat next to the run. I hate doing it but couldn't do nothing. Having said that, I've not seen it at all since that horrible day which was weeks ago now so fingers crossed.

Anyway, I'm waffling as usual

Our lot are well. In a fit of disorganisation we ran out of corn at the weekend, meaning we were without treats for a few days :eek: I'm sure you can imagine the consternation :eek: we rationed them actually so there was only one day they were completely without but Mr Cheery is usually quite liberal with the treats whatever i say :rotfl:

So we've been inventive, and they've had strawberries, plums, mushrooms, yogurt, oats, all kinds. They've not been remotely deprived (and bear in mind they are completely free range all day anyway and perfectly capable of finding their own tasty morsels).

But when the sack of corn arrived yesterday and i went out with some, you'd think they hadn't eaten a thing for weeks! They just fell on what I'd scattered on the ground - I've never seen such fast pecking :rotfl: :rotfl:

I've promised never to do that to them again but also reminded them that they weren't exactly deprived :rotfl:

Anyway, love to you all xxx

edwink

Our two remaining ducks have settled quite a bit today with a lot less nervousness, which I am thankful for. We have had a walk around the coop with them today and in other areas where they chose to wander. I stayed near them but let them do their own thing trying to get them back to how they used to be outside. Hubby is outside with them now for some reason he has taken his saxophone out there and is playing away. Just think it is giving him something to do whist keeping an eye on the ducks going further than the lawn. Trouble is we cant take our eyes off of them at the moment and obviously want to allow them more space and allow them to forage where they are used to foraging. Trying to get them back to normal now.

We are thinking of allowing them to sleep in their duck hotel tonight but with added security across the main door. It has 3 locks on it anyway and chicken wire but hubby said he is going to screw a board across the door and unscrew it in the morning when he lets them out, bless him. Just trying to get them back to their normal routine, bless them. Better than them sharing a huge cardboard box in the kitchen for the night and us lifting them out every morning. Hubby has also screwed decking wood across next doors trellis fencing even though it is covered in Clematis it is still a little see through but not now the decking has been added. So just trying our best to get back to normal here with added security for the two ducks we have left.

We have found out today that next doors fence from the other side of us is down and in to the their next door neighbours garden and that neighbours fence that backs on to the woods, as ours does, her fence is down there and open to the woods. We are guessing that this is where the fox got in and must have climbed the trellis fencing in to ours last week. Our security for our girls and boys is really high here so can only guess that's the route the fox took to get in to ours. Although we may be wrong of course because foxes are so sly you never really know I suppose.

Anyway making progress and feeling a little bit more upbeat today although both of us are still absolutely devastated.

How is everyone else getting on?

Edwink

Pyxis

Oh Edwink, I just LOVE the idea of your hubby playing the saxophone to your ducks!

I LOVE it!

What does he play to them?

Do they get mesmerised?

Am not being facetious; music is mesmerising, and many animals find it very soothing.


But, on a slightly facetious note, he could play "There once was an ugly duckling"..........

edwink

Pyxis wrote: »

Oh Edwink, I just LOVE the idea of your hubby playing the saxophone to your ducks!
I LOVE it!
What does he play to them? Do they get mesmerised?

Am not being facetious; music is mesmerising, and many animals find it very soothing.
But, on a slightly facetious note, he could play "There once was an ugly duckling"..........

I thought it was cute and love it too. He plays all the time but as I'd been up the there keeping an eye on them for some time he came up with his saxophone and said he'd take over on the duck watch. I just ask asked him what he was playing and he said Soul Serenade by King Curtis, Piano Man by Billy Joel, Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol harum and Nature Boy by boots Randolph plus a few others.

They are back in their hotel tonight and he has just come back down to the house for the 3rd time tonight. just keeps going out and checking to make sure the fox is not about, bless him.

I do understand his worry though cos I'm worried too. Although they were on their way to bed last week and not locked up in bed when the fox visited and got them last week.

Edwink

Cheery_Daff

Aw, bless Mr Edwink! Mr Cheery sings to our hens :rotfl: sounds like you've done everything in your power to keep them safe tonight, but I know how unnerving that first night back outside is. Hope it goes peacefully for all of you xxx

edwink

I'm pleased to say that bedtime is going well here and the 2 ducks seem pretty settled which is good.

We take them up to the pond twice a day for a wash and a splash about and they have settled nicely now. Hoppy is walking a little better although we carry her up to the pond and Pingu seems much happier in herself and not so nervous, which is good news.

They have been sleeping in their hotel for 3 nights now and walk up the ramp without any prompting so back to their old routine very quickly. Hubby is still screwing an extra board over the main coop door every night just for extra safety for them.

So all settling nicely here its just us two that are still struggling with the fox attack, especially me. I'm so used to having lots of hens running about its almost eerie going up there and seeing the coop empty and no hens bobbing about around me feet.

The fox is still about as my hubby has heard him a couple of mornings now which is a worry, But, we are still planning the extra security and then will decide what to do from there.

Edwink

Cheery_Daff

Really pleased that your ducks are settling back into their home edwink :kisses3: Bless em. I do hope you can find some peace too soon xxx

All good here. Ate outside a couple of times over the weekend and the hens have figured out that hanging round the table is a good place to get treats :eek: :rotfl: Yesterday I was trying to take a picture of Mildred eyeing up my scone - I knew I didn't have much time... and yep, about a third of a second later she managed to swipe the whole thing off my plate :eek: :eek: :rotfl: Only got a beakful mind you before I swiped it back :rotfl: I won't be beaten by a chicken, not where scones are concerned!

Today she almost mugged my friend for a bit of egg on toast (which she did NOT get). Turning into right little hooligans :eek: :rotfl: :rotfl:

They were NOT impressed when we shut them in their run at 3pm today - Bessie was having a lovely dust bath and it was such a shame to shut them away - but we had an appointment and weren't going to be back til almost dark and it's not worth the risk (especially not with an unpredictable car). I'm sure they'll forgive us at the next sight of treats :rotfl: :rotfl:

edwink

My Pingu the Indian Runner goes to bed about an hour earlier than she needs to we have noticed. We get them out the pond so they can sit on the lawn for a while late afternoon and Pingu just goes in the complete opposite direction to the ducks hotel, straight up the ramp and sits down. Although it is early we put Hoppy in with her too as want to keep them together at all times.

We are just wondering if Pingu feels safer going to bed when it is still light and before it starts to get dark because of what happened last week. She has done that for at least the last 5 afternoons now. They were getting out of the pond and spending time on the lawn for the first few days after the attack but now once out of the pond she goes to bed, bless her. We feel they are safer that way at the moment but have not encouraged them to go to bed early, how odd!

Oh and Cheery you are lucky your hen didn't run away with the whole scone in its beak. I've seen similar here before so I know they can and will take a whole one....you were very lucky.

Edwink