Beheaded Duck

[Massey]

So went out to put in my free ranging ducks and only 3 out of 5 were in their enclosed pen ready for the door to be shut,

After a short search I found the khaki Campbell beheaded but body was unmarked,

I then looked a bit more and found my Aylesbury, it is a younger bird then the khaki but much bigger and the neck was half chewed through but whatever killed it couldn't get it off,

I suspect this was a weasel as I don't have racions in Ireland, it could have been mink or a ferret either but they are all pretty much the same type of animal,

I have locked my 3 remaining ducks in and my chickens, and I've set a live cage, as horrible as it was I used the Aylesbury's head to bait the trap,


So anyone with any other ideas of what attacked my ducks, I'm really guessing weasels,

If it was a weasel how many should I expect in the area,

And anymore advice would be great,

Thanks all

 

[Massey]

Ok so I did a little research and we don't have weasels in Ireland we have the Irish Stout or mink are the two most likely culprits,

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok so I did a little research and we don't have weasels in Ireland we have the Irish Stout or mink are the two most likely culprits,

I'd say either of those they may not be able to carry them off but they sure can kill. Mink I am familiar with, awful killers. they go for the neck.

I looked up Irish Stout and Beer pics came up.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I think the OP meant stoat, looks just like a little brown weasel. I've had weasel and mink attacks, and they've never chewed or ripped off any heads. They more just seemed to have sucked out the blood, leaving the carcass really flat looking. Do you all have owls there? They still wouldn't be my first suspect, but its possible. I've read you've got a pretty high feral cat population too, they may be responsible for the beheadings, but that could be iffy too.

Sorry, I'm not much help, just throwing some stuff out there!

 

[roosterhavoc]

Fox will take off their heads too.

 

[Massey]

Thanks for the input folks, yeah I'm beginning to lean towards fox myself,

 

[CrazyTalk]

Foxes usually take birds with them. Decapitation always sounds like owls to me.

 

[Massey]

The damage that was done here I don't think it was an owl, not sure we have owls that big here,