Ducks make excellent family pets. They’re smart, entertaining, loyal, and affectionate, and they can quickly capture the hearts of everyone they come into contact with. Just like any other pet, you want to keep them happy, healthy, and safe at all times.
One of the biggest threats to your pet duck is its natural predators. Because most ducks are kept outdoors, they’re at a higher risk of being attacked or eaten by animals lurking nearby. Learning what animals eat ducks and how to protect your waterfowl can be extremely important so that you can adequately protect and care for your ducks..
Common Predators of Ducks
Before we dive into the details and our important safety tips, let’s take a quick look at this list of common duck predators:
- Raccoons
- Turtles
- Snapping Turtles
- Eagles
- Muskrats
- Owls
- Cats
- Foxes
- Possums
- Hawks
- Rats
- Skunks
- Crows
It’s essential to learn a little bit about each of these predators, as some will attack your duck outright while others are more interested in their eggs. We’ll go over each animal below for you.
Raccoons
Most experts wouldn’t consider a raccoon an active predator of ducks. However, raccoons are scavengers that will eat pretty much anything they can get their claws on – including ducks.
Raccoons are more likely to eat duck eggs and ducklings than they are to eat ducks. While they might capture a small duck, they would have difficulty catching and killing one easily.
Snapping Turtles
Do turtles eat ducks? Your average, everyday turtle probably doesn’t. However, a snapping turtle certainly will. Snapping turtles are omnivores, and if they’re large enough, they will try to attack a duck.
In most cases, a snapping turtle will attack ducklings who can’t yet fly. Of course, if you have domestic ducks, the adults don’t fly either. This fact makes them easy prey, but the snapping turtle is very slow on land and is typically only a threat in the water.
Eagles
Most eagles prefer to feed on fish straight out of the water, but they will settle for ducks if there’s nothing else around. Golden Eagles have been known to kill ducks pretty frequently. They tend to attack ducks that seem most vulnerable, so a loner in the middle of your yard could be in danger.
Muskrats
Muskrats maintain a mostly vegetarian diet, so they don’t pose as big a threat to ducks as other animals on the list. However, they are known to eat small animals sometimes, such as frogs, fish, salamanders, and snails.
That being said, it wouldn’t be completely out of the question for a muskrat to feed on your duck eggs or even the ducklings. While one probably won’t eat your duck, it could kill it out of self-defense or fear.
Owls
Owls are birds of prey, so they naturally hunt and eat smaller animals on the ground beneath them. Owls like the Great Horned Owl preys on various poultry flocks, so your ducks could be in danger of these creatures.
Not only might an owl attack your ducks, but it can also take an interest in your ducklings and your eggs. These nocturnal animals are swift and smart, so preventative methods are a good idea.
Cats
While it’s not common for a domestic cat to eat a duck, they may attack one. Much of this depends on the cat’s personality. If you have a feisty feline in your home, you should probably keep it away from the duck’s living quarters.
Feral cats are another story. These cats hunt animals to survive, so it wouldn’t be out of character for one to attack and eat your duck. The same goes for your ducklings.
Foxes
Foxes, particularly red foxes, are one of the primary predators of ducks. While many animals will simply eat a duck because it’s convenient, foxes actively seek out duck nests. They frequently eat and steal eggs for later, and they’re known for punching on nesting hens and feeding on them.
Possums
Possums do a really great job of appearing scary, but it’s very unlikely that they will eat your ducks. However, they are interested in duck eggs and will absolutely eat them if the chance arises.
A possum may also eat small ducklings if they manage to break into your duck’s housing, and they can kill an adult duck if need be.
How To Protect Ducks From Predators
There are tons of predators out there that would be more than happy to make a meal out of your ducks. Thankfully, there are also plenty of solutions to prevent that from happening.
Predator Proof Duck Pen
You can take your duck pen in a million different directions, but we’ll give you a few ideas to keep your ducks safe. Many people find it helpful to have a tall perimeter fence surrounding their yard. You should have this fence in addition to your duck’s pen.
Beyond that, a predator-proof duck pen means investing in your coop. An enclosed coop with sturdy doors offers plenty of protection for the nighttime.
During the day, your ducks like to roam free and need plenty of exercise. You can predator-proof your pen by adding a roof using wire with very small mesh.
Some animals, like raccoons, are very good with their hands (and their brains!). For that reason, it’s a good idea to get safety locks for your coop so they can’t open the door.
How To Protect Ducks on a Pond
Ducks on a pond are always going to be more vulnerable than ducks in a run, but some ducks simply prefer that lifestyle. A good way to protect pond ducks is to have a house near the pond and lock them up safely each night.
If possible, try to put up a fence surrounding your pond area to keep ground predators out. Keep your feed locked up as well to avoid any uninvited guests.
How To Protect Duck Eggs From Predators
The best way to protect your duck eggs from predators is to remove your eggs from the coop first thing in the morning when you first let your ducks out to play.
Once you’ve retrieved your eggs, shut the door to the coop for the remainder of the day. An open door is an open invite, and you never know what might get in during the day that you might accidentally trap later.
How To Protect Ducklings From Crows
Larger adult ducks are likely able to protect themselves from crows, but ducklings are still in danger. Be sure to keep very young ducklings inside at all times, as they are the most vulnerable age.
Using a covered run and an enclosed coop is best for protecting young ducklings. You can also place scarecrows and bird spikes in various places around your property to deter crows.
While your ducklings are still young, do your best to supervise their outdoor time. Keep an eye on them as they roam until they are large enough to defend themselves against crows.
FAQs
It’s normal to have some questions about duck predators and how to protect your family’s pets, so check out our FAQ section below for some answers.
What animals eat duck eggs?
Aside from humans, several animals like to steal and eat duck eggs. This list includes weasels, foxes, rats, cuckoos, corvids, hedgehogs, and more – including a few that we talked about above.
How do I protect my ducks and ducklings from hawks?
One of the best ways to protect your ducks from hawks is to keep them in runs rather than free-ranging them. Runs put a physical roof over your birds’ heads. The best option for roofing to fend off hawks is wire.
You can also set up plenty of places on your property to make sure your ducks have a place to hide. Having a rooster is helpful too, as it will alert the rest of the birds that there’s danger.
Are ducks afraid of hawks?
Ducks, especially young ducklings, are extremely vulnerable to hawks. Many hawks are not large enough to carry a fully grown adult duck, but they can still do some serious damage given their sharp talons.
What animals kill ducks at night?
Animals most likely to kill ducks at night include raccoons, hawks, and owls.
Will a rat kill a duck?
Rats are foragers that tend to eat anything that they can find – which is why you often find them rummaging through the garbage. Rats like to eat duck eggs, but you can also find them attacking young ducklings too.
While it’s uncommon for a rat to kill an adult duck, they can make their way into a coop and attack ducks if they’re short on food.
Will a skunk kill a duck?
Skunks are another foraging animal that won’t turn down a duck nest should they happen upon one. They will eat duck eggs and even the occasional duckling if they get the chance, but they’re not a huge duck killer.