Dead duck, legs look like this:

[Miss Lydia]

Haha, yep none of those. At least not that we or anyone else have seen. We do have mice, though, and if the wounds on her legs happened after she died I wonder if mice were chewing on them once she passed. Which would still leave us wondering about the cause of death. The coop is warm, but we usually leave the little door open to the run unless it is extremely cold and blizzardy. We had no troubles with them during winter last year. I'm thinking now that might not be such a good idea if there's a possibility of a duck getting a "wild hair" thinking it will be okay to sleep outside.

If they have a secure house out of drafts but still well ventilated then I'd keep them closed up that way you know they are secure and won't freeze. Ducks are very hardy and have a thick layer of down under their feathers so no need for heat at all. She may have been sick it is usually very hard to tell since they are prey and hide their illnesses well. sometimes until it's too late.

 

[chickens really]

To me it looks as though she got an injury that got infected and it popped open....Just by the yellow looking skin that is pulled away....I think she may have died from infection?
I do not think that was caused by any mouse, rat or weasel........With the cold temps she just succumbed to her injury...


Poor Duck.....

Cheers!

 

[Homesteadin]

If they have a secure house out of drafts but still well ventilated then I'd keep them closed up that way you know they are secure and won't freeze.  Ducks are very hardy and have a thick layer of down under their feathers so no need for heat at all. She may have been sick it is usually very hard to tell since they are prey  and hide their illnesses well. sometimes until it's too late. 

.

We will start locking them all the way up - in the coop.

To me it looks as though she got an injury that got infected and it popped open....Just by the yellow looking skin that is pulled away....I think she may have died from infection?
I do not think that was caused by any mouse, rat or weasel........With the cold temps she just succumbed to her injury...


Poor Duck.....

Cheers!

Yes I can see how that may have happened, too - abscesses that blew, perhaps.

 

[chickens really]

Yeah, a possibility for sure...........

Best of luck with the other Ducks!


Cheers!