Call Ducks

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I have had a pair of call ducks for about 18 months - 3 offspring last year that were hatched in July. In the last 3 weeks I have lost 3 of them. Their wings were never clipped as I wanted to give them a chance against any predators. I don't think it is a fox as they have disappeared during the day. Would a hawk swoop down and carry a call duck away? I am devastated as they are so cute and fun to watch and care for. My worry now is the other two left will be vunerable. If I introduced other ducks would this help deter a bird of prey, if of a larger variety?

I would appreciate any comments
 
Hello Martin and welcome :) Sorry to hear about your ducks- it could be a fox- especially at this time of year- if it's got cubs to feed - they will hunt during the day- you need to secure your remaining ducks if you can-because whatever it is it will be back no doubt :( Are they any signs- feathers etc? They may have flown - if they haven't been taken by a predator- introducing bigger ducks wouldn't help if it is a hawk or fox- they will just take the calls -and the fox would taken anything. I think until you know what the cause is you need to keep your ducks secure in a covered run.
regards, David :)
 
Hi, and thanks for the welcome. There has been no feathers. One of the females did not fly even when the others did and she was taken last week with no apparent signs. I have seen a few large bird of prey about but the pond is quite sheltered with trees and have had no other problems. Our cats have the freedom of the land and we can see whats going on most of the time. No fox dropping that I can see.

I have been looking to add more ducks and was looking for hints on "friendly" type that would start me off - on the larger variety. I have seen Appleyards and Khaki Campbells etc and wondered what would be best?
 
Stoats and Weasels are also suspects IMO - they will kill and take a bird (up to about the size of a Guinea Fowl) and don't tend to leave feathers.

They will slip through a tiny hole as well...

Tim
 
Hi Martin, campbells and Appleyards are both nice birds- campbells better layers but both are good :) It is all down to taste- personal i mean -not flavour! -although that could come into it as well :shock: Most large ducks will become tame if bought young enough and most will lay well.
Just hope you find out what is taking your birds- as Tim said- it could be a stoat or weasel, mink or fox- or a large bird of prey. Good luck in finding the cause!
regards, David :)
 
Thanks for the information. Should call ducks be left in pairs or will the female be quite happy with two drakes?
 
I had feeling that would be the answer. I will now be looking for a new "partner" for the lonely drake. Thanks again.
 
I will try Lanark market next week to see whats available. The two males are now not happy together and the female has finally decided to sit. Whats the best thing to do with the males - leave them in together or split them up, which would mean one would be on his own? Comments please.
 
Hello, i would leave them together- until you can get some more females- they will settle down together if no other ducks around-
regards, David :)
 
I was a bit concerned they could hurt each other. I have kept cockerels before and they are vicious! I will get them all back together and let them settle. Thanks
 
You should separate the males in a pen on their own, away from any females, or remove one of the males.

Drakes can damage ducks if there are too many of them.

Good Luck, hope you can find some ducks soon.
 
Okay so now I have conflicting information. I had the three of them separated last night and today they appear to be all happy together. I am another week away before I can boost the female population so will keep a close eye on this. Can I also say this forum has been a great find and wish I had found last year, thanks guys.
 
Hi Martin, sorry my reply was a bit vague :? When you said the female was sitting i then thought you meant that the two males were on their own- that is what i meant- to keep the two males together with no females- sorry about the confusion :shock:
regards, David :)
 
Hi there,

I would imagine your drakes will probably get on OK now if the female has abandoned them to sit on eggs, although from what I've seen of Call Drakes, they can have quite a temperment, so who knows!

As regards your ducks disappearing, this is an interesting one. Last June we got a pair of Call Ducks, a duck and drake. They were able to fly, and didn't settle with us, but went to live with a family of 5 ducks down the road. These ducks were much larger than the Call Ducks, and were not particularly nice to them, but they still preferred to be with the others, rather than live with us.

Come the end of the summer, the folk that had the ducks down the road moved away, and we thought our Call Ducks might come home then - by this time we had a gaggle of 8 young adult Shetland ducks. But the Call Ducks never came. We went down the road and fed them everyday, and tried to get them to come home, but they just got angry and flew. We never cut their wings for the same reason as yourself - except the main predator here is otters.

At the end of September the female duck completely disappeared, and the drake was left forlorn. We felt awful, and were all set to get him another companion - then he disppeared. We had no idea if they were taken by something, or if they had flown away. Exactly 6 months later at the beginning of April this year, who should appear in our backgarden, with the rest of the ducks, but our Call Drake! We were overjoyed to see him. He now comes and goes as he pleases, and joins the rest of the ducks at feeding time - but he has no mate. He has also recently started trying to mate with the bigger ducks, so we are on the look out for a new female companion for him. We have no idea where he has been. It has been a really cold winter here, and we have have had lots of snow, it shows how resilient they really are.

Although I don't like the idea, if we get a mate for the call drake, I think we'll be cutting her wings, as I think they do just take off, I've heard this from other folk that keep them. Hope your ducks come back.
 
Hi, great story. I did think that one of the drakes that disappeared flew past and landed in the neighbouring field the other day!

On a separate note one of the other drakes is now refusing to fly? He would always fly out first thing with the others. He does look as if he has also lost some weight. Any thoughts? Wings have not been clipped.
 
Hi

I must admit that I have not. I have tried to leave nature to do its thing as much as possible. I guess this is something that I should be doing then?
 
What would be the best wormer for call ducks and best place to order from? I think the pellet form form be best for me.
 
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