Walked out this morning and the bird netting that covers the top was torn down and Omelet was missing. 50 feet away where I buried Naili I found a few feathers and quills and the quills were broken and had blood in it. I don't know if the coon climbed up top and pushed it down or if it was sagging in the middle and the ducks pulled it down from the inside. It doesn't matter as I'm pissed off and so sad at the same time. So that's it. My two favorite ducklings have been killed (3 total) Naili and Omelet were the only ones that would follow me and apparently the only ones that I was imprinted on. I sat in the pen on my butt for over 30 minutes and Punky and Sunny would not come to me. The other three wont come unless they come first. This evening I coaxed them out of the pen with a tomato, their favorite treat, and it took my wife and I to corral them back into it. They came to me when I sat outside with the tomato and I did pick up Punky and it was calm so that's a good sign I guess. I think they are just too shaken up right now. On top of the pen I have treated pine going across. They are 1inch by 6 inches and go across the width of the pen. I have them spaced 3 inches (roughly) apart and I was putting fasteners on the ends so I can remove them and get int he pen to clean, feed, clean and refill pool, that sort of things. I only had 12 fasteners, clasps, whatever, but I think the boards are heavy enough to avoid being moved. I also put the tarp back on and on top of all this I put the netting back on.
Now, I called two wildlife services and it looked like it would cost me about $375 average to catch and remove the coon. Sadly this month is a bad month for finances and I can't afford it, not even to save a duckies life. My in-laws are coming up soon and they are going to bring their opossum trap and we will do it ourselves! Emotionally I want it killed, but I know it is just doing what is natural to it. So... we will relocate it miles and miles away.
I've started designing the coop on paper. I'm looking at 3'h x 3'w x 5'l. I might make the width a bit smaller and the height will be 3' at it's tallest. The bottom will be hinged on the front and secured on the back with a latch so i can drop it and the waste can be swept out. The top front will be hinged also so I can lift the back up. I want to find an alternative to plywood for the sides though that will be weather proof and light weight. Was thinking of the frame of the coop to be treated 2x2's. The top 3 inches will have galvinised steel mesh for ventilation. Oh yes, it will have a front door that is secure and a removable ramp so moving the coop will be easier. I plan on it sitting about 3 inches off the ground. I would like to do this now, but the heat is sooooooooooo bad for me.
I've lost 3 ducks. I have 3 ducks with no names. Punky and Sunny. All 5 ducks are distinct in appearance. I had thought I'd keep the two named and Omelet but I guess plans have changed.
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