The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Growler on June 27, 2009, 09:45:00 pm

Title: Fox attack
Post by: Growler on June 27, 2009, 09:45:00 pm
Just went out to give the chicks their treat of mixed corn at about 8.30pm to find the ducks in a commotion. A fox had a hold of Una and was trying to drag her through the fence. I let out such a roar that the fox dropped her. She doesn't appear to be injured but is definately in shock. Does anyone know how to treat shock in an indian runner duck?

Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: doganjo on June 27, 2009, 10:44:28 pm
What is she doing?  If she is just sitting down just make sure she is comfortable for the night, you could try her with my now famous recipe of porridge, honey and milk, if she will eat.
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: Growler on June 27, 2009, 11:08:34 pm
Just standing in the corner of their hut. Heart beating hard and she seems to be gasping for air. Put the rest of her buddies in with her, hoping she will relax a little and go to sleep. If she makes it through the night I will try her with your recipe.

Many thanks for your response.
It is so upsetting to see one of your own ducks in the mouth of a fox. Of course she would be my favourite duck.
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: jameslindsay on June 27, 2009, 11:10:06 pm
Annie, I offered porridge with stuff added to the ducks the other day and they were so uninterested. The hens on the other hand just can't get enough of it.
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: jameslindsay on June 27, 2009, 11:26:30 pm
Hope she is back to normal in the morning. I have suffered at the hands of fox lately too but finally have someone coming on Monday to eradicate that problem. This will be the 3rd person to say they would come and have not turned up. Now the fox knows where your birds are you will have to be extra vigilant I'm afraid. Good luck.
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: Roxy on June 27, 2009, 11:42:32 pm
I do hope your duck recovers. She will be in shock , and who can blame her.  Hopefully, now its dark, and things are quiet she will calm down.  I don't suppose you will know if the fox has caused her any damage.  Their bite can carry all sorts of nasty germs and if there is broken skin it will need bathing.  I have had a few hens picked up by young foxes, and after a few yells from us, it has dropped them, and each time we have been lucky that although shocked, they have recovered.

Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: doganjo on June 28, 2009, 12:13:42 am
Annie, I offered porridge with stuff added to the ducks the other day and they were so uninterested. The hens on the other hand just can't get enough of it.
Mine go daft for it - it has to be fairly sloppy though.  You know how ducks wash their food in muddy water, well you don't have to go that far, but they won't have it if it's thick and gungey.
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: jameslindsay on June 28, 2009, 12:16:54 am
Ok, I will try again tomorrow and make it more "sloppy".
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: Growler on June 28, 2009, 08:14:44 am
Well folks Una has made it through the night albeit she is moving like Mrs Overall. She came out with the rest of the ducks but immediately decided she wanted to go back into her hut. Then she came out and has been sipping from the pond. She has stopped gulping for air but is still breathing fast. I am going to keep an eye on her but will just let her be. Can't see any wounds, no blood. She has now came back into the larger pound and is drinking from their water dish and has just dipped her beak into the pellets. She keeps looking to the back of the garden where Mr Fox came from.
Today will be taken up with trying to make the garden even more secure.
Thank you all for your responses.
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: northfifeduckling on June 28, 2009, 12:47:01 pm
sorry it's a bit late but we had no connection yesterday...
I always use Bach Flower rescue remedy on my animals (and kids) for shock. Not proven that it works but it doesn't do any harm, so worth trying.
Lucky you came out in time! :&>
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: Growler on June 28, 2009, 09:55:27 pm
Further update on Una, the indian runner duck. I incubated her myself so she is special. This morning and into the afternoon she just stood , all hunched shoulders and neck at right angles to her back. Not with it at all.
Didn't know what to do so drove down to the co op and picked up a few bags of watercress. She loves it. Did as I usually do, rustle the bag and sure enough she responded, quite slowly, but did eat a few bits. Then when I went to the shed to get somemore pellets she quacked twice and came over. Had a feed and a drink. Tonight she is moving a bit faster and looking more alert, still not right but much better. Ducks ushered in the secure pound at 7pm tonight. New wire fence attached to the old ranch style fence today.
Oops just remembered none of the ducks were interested in Doganjo's porridge with honey but the chickens loved it.
Una hasn't laid an egg today is this normal after a trauma? Thank you.
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: jameslindsay on June 28, 2009, 10:02:33 pm
At least she is still holding her own and will continue to improve and make progress. I would think she may be off laying eggs for a wee while while her system gets back to normal. Fingers tightly crossed for her.
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: doganjo on June 28, 2009, 10:40:15 pm
Good news, Growler, very pleased for you, even if my porridge wasn't appreciated  ;)  Funny that - other folk say the same but mine would kill for it. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: Growler on June 29, 2009, 08:26:09 pm
Una still doing a good impression of Mrs Overall but definately improving. One side of the fence done just the back and the other side to do. And she laid her egg this morning.


Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: sandy on June 29, 2009, 08:39:25 pm
Glad Una is getting better, I am walking a bit like Mrs Overall!!! I mix up cooked porrage with other stuff, someitmes rice pasta and may be a bit of bread, Lilly and Charlie love Pasta!!!! I suppose it is vegetarian worms to them!!! Today they were playing tug of war with a big slug I found for them, it was funny.....
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: Growler on July 05, 2009, 06:10:57 pm
Update on Una, after one week she is back to normal. Fencing coming along nicely, although I have found myself complaining about the heat. Hopefully Mr Fox has moved on.....he is not making a meal out of any of my ducks or chickens.
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: shrekfeet on July 06, 2009, 01:19:31 pm
This time of year is the worst for fox attacks, the young are taking feather and fur so the parents are keen to provide it.; They will come at all times of day and once they know where the easy food is they simply won't leave it alone. If you destroy the fox then another will probably take the territory.l A fox proof run is the only way forward - or a bloody bog dog and a really long chain! :dog:
Title: Re: Fox attack
Post by: lara on July 06, 2009, 03:36:34 pm
hi Growler , so glad to hear that you fave duckie is doing well, bless her she did have a truly awful experience. . foxes are awful and as they say very, very sly. you've always got to be one step ahead. 10 years ago I kept 2 lovely grey geese - Rosie and Tilly. stupidly one night i didn't shut them up and was horrified to find one of my girls' body (minus head) in the top corner of the paddock early one morning - I was so annoyed with myself..... and the fox ,in a way I could have forgiven it slightly if I thought that it had killed my goose because it was starving  but it had left the body and so had done it for the hell of it.  anyway a few weeks went by and my remaining grey goose was lonely always looking for her friend. so I bought a great big white gander- he was enormous... she was happy again. A few months on I came home to find that the fox had struck again this time my other lovely grey goose. It was the same story took the head left the body.  I was devastated  and this had happened in daylight. I couldn't risk the gander's life ,so I returned him to the man I had bought him from so that he could be safe........ I'm telling you this story so that you never underestimate the cunning and determination of the fox I don't want to worry you but once they have found food they will keep coming back. I really dont know what the answer is other than sitting out there with a gun (is that legal?)  anyway keep up the good work. Lara x