[Mariesteph4995]

I have had great horned owls that have been eating my mallard duck pets and I NEED to know how to keep them away. This will be especially hard because the pond that my ducks stay the day (sometimes nights) is 75% surrounded by forest/trees. I seriously need help though the owl has already killed 2 of my 4 ducks :(

[gnahcd]

All about hawks and owls

[gnahcd]

Do your ducks have a shelter, and they are still getting attacked by owls? Make it harder for the owl to attack your ducks in the pond, like well, sitting ducks. How big is your pond? Are your pet birds getting attacked in your yard next to the pond? Give your ducks hiding places so they can scoot from hiding place to hiding place so they can avoid the mean old dangerous owl. Can you plant a tree near to the pond such that it isn't so easy for the owl to fly through to pick off your ducks. Plant aquatic emergent vegetation for your ducks to hide there? (and please use native plants for this, much better for your local environment.) Build an island in your pond if it is big enough, and plant plants (again, native plants are best,) for your ducks to hide in. You could use netting, if you're in a hurry, (and sorry I just thought of these ideas), but netting will start to look bad.

[gnahcd]

The website I linked, All about hawks and owls has this solution, that makes a whole lot of sense: "The ultimate solution to raptor depredation is prevention. Free-roaming farmyard chickens, ducks, and pigeons attract hawks and owls and are highly susceptible to predation. Many problems can be eliminated by simply housing poultry at night. They can be conditioned to move into coops or houses by feeding or watering them indoors at dusk."

[Grandma Bobbi]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/574043/great-horned-owl

Great Horned Owls hunt day and night when feed chicks. They eat cats and dogs, poultry and fish in fish ponds, in addition to rats, mice, and other critters most people want owls to eat.