[sabrina]

We have a quite a number of buzzards round here, would it be possible for one to take a small Indian runner duck ? As my 2 big Drakes tried to drown the smaller Indian runner I had to split them up and Mike was kind enough to give me my female back. The two were getting on great, coming in at night but wandering about the small side paddock during the day with the chickens. I had been getting the ponies beds down ready for night and they were both coming in and out watching, 5 mins later the male appeared rather upset so I went out and no female to be seen, chickens were still at the other end and quite calm so i ruled out a fox. Paddock was fenced for the pigs so nothing can get in or out through the wire anyway plus it has electric fencing. There are no feathers, she has just gone. What do you think. ?

[plumseverywhere]

A friend lost a small flock of bantam hens to a buzzard. she knows who the culprit was as she came out to find him still eating the last one    he was however eating it 'on site' rather than having flown off with it but I guess that if your duck's weight was comparable to a rabbit's then the chances are, yes.

last night I lost sleep (yes actually lost sleep lol!!) over a little red hen who went missing at bed time. spent an hour with a torch, no hen. having seen the buzzards circling assumed the worst but hey ho, this morning little red hen wandered into the yard as if nothing was wrong...

[Cinderhills]

Oh dear Sabina, how awful for you and the little one left.

Plums, I know the feeling about not sleeping with worry.  You are normal, don't worry! 

[Beewyched]

Hiya Sabrina from sleeting West Scotland 

We live on a tenanted smallholding & the estate behind us breeds birds for shooting  .  though many escape & live semi-wild  often coming into our garden & clearing-up under the feeders we hang in the trees for the wild birds. 
This summer the escapees raised broods & it was really comical seeing them scampering (is that the right word?) across the front garden & into the fields.  The local buzzards raised 3 youngsters & we saw them on several days watching the pheasant mums with their lines of babies - then - one day there were no more babies  . 
We blame the buzzards!
 

[doganjo]

OK, Freckles 1 buzzards 1 million - we have redressed the balance somewhat methinks    Jumped up and caught it on the wing.  I think it died of shock as there's not a mark on it.  It's a young female.

[sabrina]

Not many rabbits around so far, as my hens are big girls and heavy maybe they are safe from the buzzards. The Indian runner Drake has moved in with the chickens so I put a little shelter in the stable where the chickens live as he cannot roost. Its so sad that he has lost his friend. One of the farmers told me that a Buzzard can take a new born lamb does not bare thinking about. 

[northfifeduckling]

So sorry you lost your duck!!  buzzards here have not been interested in my adult birds but there is a lot of wildlife for them. sparrowhawk would take wee ones if we'd let him. I do worry about eagles as they release quite a few locally each year and we keep seeing them in the area. Whenever a sparrowhawk shows the hens make an awful racket - I'm surprised yours were all calm !

[janeislay]

I not only lost my remaining, elderly Longtailed Ducks and King Eiders, but just last summer all four Guinea Fowl, two turkey youngsters and their broody hen.  I hate the darn things when there are too many of them.  Their numbers should be controlled by the amount of voles and rabbits, not by MY precious birds.

This year I shall rear them for much longer in the brooder garden before releasing them in the big pens.

[Cinderhills]

Jane - we lost two guinea fowl last year.  They disappeared without a trace, no feathers or body parts.  We did wonder what got them but now I have an idea. 

[ambriel]

We've plenty of buzzards, and even a pair of nesting Golden Eagles, around here but I've not heard of any of our neighbours losing birds to them.

One of the crofters does blame them for preying on his lambs but then he's a crofter and they can always be relied upon to have something to moan about.

[darkbrowneggs]

There have been quite a few buzzards round here for a number of years now, and I have not had a problem until last year when I lost 3 half grown Marans pullets to a buzzard - saw him stoop on the last one so no doubt what did it.

Sparrowhawks kill masses of my white doves every year, and of course pretty well all the song thrushes and mistle thrushes as well as the spotted flycatchers etc etc etc  Even the RSPB said recently they estimate 50 million small birds are taken by sparrowhawks each year - and they love them

This year I have got pens with wired roofs.

All the best
Sue

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi,

   my bantams were "helping" me with the weeding last weekend and they all suddenly froze. Edward the cock gave the "threat from above" call and they all shot under the Azalias. When I looked up I could see a buzzard circling. It was very high up and I was supprised that they saw it so far away but I felt encouraged that they were all so alert to its presence.

It circled higher and wider and moved on and they all came out again but it I think it was certainly eyeing them up.

Buffy

[plumseverywhere]

they are circling out chicken run today and I am about to do some wing trimming I think to stop the escapee's wandering up the goat paddock and into where the lambs are going.
well, they were circling until hubby lit a bonfire - they are sort of coughing and flying away now 

[shetlandpaul]

We've plenty of buzzards, and even a pair of nesting Golden Eagles, around here but I've not heard of any of our neighbours losing birds to them.

One of the crofters does blame them for preying on his lambs but then he's a crofter and they can always be relied upon to have something to moan about.

moanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoan
moanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoan
moanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoan
moanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoanmoan

[ambriel]

Heheheh!