Duck killed inside pen at night- what killed her?

[Launchpad]

Half inch hardware cloth top, sides and bottom with an apron 2' out all the way around from the sides. Or buried into the ground to deter

 

[Launchpad]

Wow! I'm so sorry for your poor ducks, but glad you caught the little turds who killed them! I live in the city right now, and we have a mama + two baby raccoons living in the overgrown yard next door. They're not scared of anything...one night I heard clanging on my front porch (we leave the porch door cracked open for our cats to get in out of the rain, if they need to), and when I flipped the light on and looked outside, the three raccoons were tearing apart an empty pizza box in the recycle bin! Two days later, I looked out my front door at night just to see what the weather was like, and I saw one of the raccoons rummaging around in the grass only about three feet away from my lounging cat (who didn't seem bothered by the raccoon at all)!!

Now I've got four ducklings inside in the brooder and reading posts like yours makes me super concerned about building a 100% predator-proof duck house and pen. I'm gonna pass your thread along to my hubby to read, too, as he'll be the main designer and builder. Thanks for sharing, and good luck! I hope you have zero future issues with predators!

I would try a Havahart trap as well; if you can catch them yourselves maybe a racoon removal company will take them away for you cheap id call them first

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Wildlife rehabber maybe?

 

[McChooky]

I was told they train dogs to tree coons with cats. Reason being they smell alike

 

[McChooky]

I have had 19 chickens killed by a pair of two bobcats. The love to come into the yard and fight with other for a while - practically scaring the chickens half to death. I have been looking to do the same thing. But he hasn't gotten a chicken in about 3 weeks or so, hopefully he knows I am after him and will leave.

One almost got one of my chickens the other day (they've been locked up ever since) Sorry for your loss!

 

[McChooky]

Exactly!

Half inch hardware cloth top, sides and bottom with an apron 2' out all the way around from the sides. Or buried into the ground to deter diggers.

 

[Txhenmom]

So when it rains, it pours.
After losing Rose the silver appleyard last night to unknown reasons, this morning i found our pekin female dead inside the pen. The male pekin was there, skittish and upset but unhurt.

Daphne was a year and half old pekin we got from tractor supply with Niles the big maleView attachment 3642206
They were pretty much inseparable and she was the most anti social of all the ducks but other than occasionally harassing the other females or talking talking with the other male they were together their entire lives. They have been nesting together in the same pen the entire time (all this will possibly be relevant).

Two days ago, the other duck pen we had built was finally ready so we started with the 2 cayuga and one silver that have been a group since birth to try it out: 2 female 1 male. The new pen is on the the left and the existing pen that we got with the property on the right (with Niles in it).
View attachment 3642212
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We've never had a problem and the former property owners had ducks and never had a problem (they have had snakes eat eggs). It's not hardware cloth but galvanized wire. Very strong but larger openings. I am going to encircle it with hardware cloth either way.

Last night the ducks went up as usual; the 2 pekins on the right and the 2 cayuga and one silver on the left: 1 male 2 female

This morning went to let them out and Daphne was dead and somewhat mutilated in the center of the pen. The gate was still locked and there are no signs of digging, openings in the wire, or on the being on the top. The pen is rusher well constructed with metal wire reinforcement etc.
Niles, the male, was completely fine. He had no blood on his feathers or bill (had access to the pool though)
I will post the pictures, they are graphic
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View attachment 3642245
View attachment 3642246
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There were no further signs of a struggle or blood anywhere inside the pen except immediately behind the coop is a small concrete slab where the back door is
View attachment 3642253

There is blood and some feathers. Nothing else anywhere.
My first question is, could Niles the male have done this? The wound were quite deep and she was mutilated on that one side. He is a huge male.
Could the presence of the other ducks near their sleeping pen caused something to snap? They have interacted with these ducks every day for over a year; just never seen them at night.

If not the male, could a large snake have done this/ would a snake do this? They are around. But while an egg makes sense, this does not (to me).

I was looking for something she could have been caught on, mainly by the area with the blood, but can't think of anything.

The only other explanation is a predator wiggled inside through the fence or somehow pushed the gate to wiggle a little through. Even then it would have to have been a small predator. I've never seen a weasel or a mink here but central/ east Texas they are known to exist.
There have been two otter sightings in the last year.
It would have to been a very small racoon or fox if one of those.
Did the other three ducks combined with the two pekins attract a predator that would have been otherwise unaware?
Would a predator kill only the female and not attack the male? Would the male try and defend her even though it was a losing fight? Again he had no wounds or signs of blood or a struggle at all. Just visibly upset

This is a mystery.
I now have to figure out where to put Niles while i reinforce the pen with hardware cloth and the gate with chains etc.
Also, he will note be quite lonely.
Is it possible i can slowly integrate the 3 females (that are currently spending days in the yard while one recovers from bumblefoot surgery) with Niles? He's never been without Daphne, this will hit him hard.

Thanks for any and all thoughts and help

Is your run accessible from the top? ...if so, it could have been a hawk or, a barn owl.

 

[Launchpad]

Is your run accessible from the top? ...if so, it could have been a hawk or, a barn owl.

it was raccoons
I have caught three and had video evidence, and have dispatched three that i caught.
They found a way to get through the netting on top (so that was definitely the every point) of the pen so I had to put hardware cloth over the netting all the way to the top

 

[joyj23]

A mink or weasel could easily get through the opening in the fence. I have seen many times that mink can get through 1" openings. So sad to hear you lost Daphne poor Niles he will be lonely but I would watch closely if you decide to put the 3 girls in with him just in case he doesn't like them although I can't imagine he wouldn't especially if he has seen them out in the yard. I would not leave Niles overnight before you put up the hardware cloth that mink or whatever predator it was will be back. If you have traps this would be the time to put them out.

So very sorry for your loss

I just found my Female “ Cack” headless, feetless , guts out, such a sad sight and feeling. I was thinking raccoon or possum but now I think weasels. Thank you for the advice you always have

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am so sorry. No one else was injured or killed