Absolutely devastated... please help with identification.

[Weeg]

Ok thanks. Any good suggestions?

We like Night owl. It comes in a 4 pack, and has good night vision and such.

 

[Rooster1of8]

I am located in Illinois. I’m not sure if there’s fishers around here, they look more dog like going off of the pad. I will put up my live trap tommorow. Thanks for the advice.

Hello from TN. I'm wondering if it could be a Weasel. THEY like to take the head. I feel bad for your loss. The idea of a couple of trail cameras is good. I haven't had to use this old truck in many years, but can use plain white flour to set a trap. Put out a 1 foot or 2 foot square of flour about a half inch thick, near where the ducks body was left, only if it isn't raining. You may get the foot print in the flour! It has worked many times for me. Check for the print before you let your birds out! I hope you get the culprit!

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

We like Night owl. It comes in a 4 pack, and has good night vision and such.

Thanks I’ll check them out.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

Hello from TN. I'm wondering if it could be a Weasel. THEY like to take the head. I feel bad for your loss. The idea of a couple of trail cameras is good. I haven't had to use this old truck in many years, but can use plain white flour to set a trap. Put out a 1 foot or 2 foot square of flour about a half inch thick, near where the ducks body was left, only if it isn't raining. You may get the foot print in the flour! It has worked many times for me. Check for the print before you let your birds out! I hope you get the culprit!

Thanks much for the advice. I think I’ll try that. I was thinking a weasel at first, but these footprints are almost the size of my medium dog’s. Hopefully we didn’t get any rain overnight. I grew up in Nashville it’s a beautiful area.

 

[cmom]

So sorry for your loss. Most poultry owners have lost birds to predators. I lost my most special hen to a fox during the middle of the day. I cried and cried, if only I had left her in her pen. Sad to say when you free range you will loose birds sooner or later. It happens. I lost too many in the past so now my birds all have nice large pens. I have opened the gates to let them out now and then when I'm working at the coops and they will come out briefly but before long will go back into their pens. We are rural on several acres. We have a lot of predators. Because of losses in the past my pens are all covered with good heavy duty netting, concrete under the gates and electric wires around the coops and pens. Nothing bothers the birds. They have to get past the electric wires and once they get zapped they don't try again. I have several game cameras up around on my property. We had a lot of coyotes. A neighbor let some hunters go onto his property to hunt them. He had a few dens on his property. Apparently they got several because I haven't seen them like I used to and around that time in the early evenings I heard shooting coming from the direction of his property. With the game cameras you will be able to find out what is lurking on your property. When I first put up my cameras I was surprised at the predators here that lurk especially at night. I got to where I could identify some of them from injuries or markings. Most have routines and routes. Most often they lurk looking for an opportunity. You may not see them but they can see you. Good luck...
A bobcat outside my chick/grow-out coop nearly three weeks ago.

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

So sorry for your loss losing our feathered babies is hard. I lost my very first girl, from my very first flock, last Saturday. I found nothing but feathers. The hurt from their loss tears you up inside.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

So sorry for your loss. Most poultry owners have lost birds to predators. I lost my most special hen to a fox during the middle of the day. I cried and cried, if only I had left her in her pen. Sad to say when you free range you will loose birds sooner or later. It happens. I lost too many in the past so now my birds all have nice large pens. I have opened the gates to let them out now and then when I'm working at the coops and they will come out briefly but before long will go back into their pens. We are rural on several acres. We have a lot of predators. Because of losses in the past my pens are all covered with good heavy duty netting, concrete under the gates and electric wires around the coops and pens. Nothing bothers the birds. They have to get past the electric wires and once they get zapped they don't try again. I have several game cameras up around on my property. We had a lot of coyotes. A neighbor let some hunters go onto his property to hunt them. He had a few dens on his property. Apparently they got several because I haven't seen them like I used to and around that time in the early evenings I heard shooting coming from the direction of his property. With the game cameras you will be able to find out what is lurking on your property. When I first put up my cameras I was surprised at the predators here that lurk especially at night. I got to where I could identify some of them from injuries or markings. Most have routines and routes. Most often they lurk looking for an opportunity. You may not see them but they can see you. Good luck...
A bobcat outside my chick/grow-out coop nearly three weeks ago.
View attachment 2455640

Thanks much. I also really appreciate the advice.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

So sorry for your loss losing our feathered babies is hard. I lost my very first girl, from my very first flock, last Saturday. I found nothing but feathers. The hurt from their loss tears you up inside.

Thank you very much. I’m sorry you lost your girl. They definitely do. I’m thankful the others are doing good.

 

[KyCoop]

I'm sorry for your loss. From what I can tell it's not a canine. Canine foxes, dogs, cyotees have toenail prints. The prints look to me to be cat or opossum.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

I'm sorry for your loss. From what I can tell it's not a canine. Canine foxes, dogs, cyotees have toenail prints. The prints look to me to be cat or opossum.

Thanks much. And thanks for your advice. I’m still not sure but I’m going to get the game cameras soon and get the trap set up.