Chicken and duck killed in middle of day (warning graphic pictures)

[jdsande3]

I had a rather large rooster killed two days ago and then my duck killed yesterday. I always put them up at night but this was in the middle of the day when I had let them out. Yesterday, I saw a bird on top of my duck and when I ran out to it it took off and appeared dark grey to me, however 30 minutes after that I saw a red tail hawk circling. I saw the bird fly away from about 120 yards (the one that killed the duck) so it was hard to get a good look. Could this have been an owl in the middle of the day? Or does this look more like a hawk attack? I'm assuming the same bird killed the rooster the day before, its head was almost completely separated and body which was laying right at the open door to the coop. I am really heartbroken about my duck as she was so nice and loving toward us. I am located near Charlotte NC and any insight would be appreciated. I may have to get a guard dog as I hate to keep the chickens pinned up continually.

 

[Krazyquilts]

I had a rather large rooster killed two days ago and then my duck killed yesterday. I always put them up at night but this was in the middle of the day when I had let them out. Yesterday, I saw a bird on top of my duck and when I ran out to it it took off and appeared dark grey to me, however 30 minutes after that I saw a red tail hawk circling. I saw the bird fly away from about 120 yards (the one that killed the duck) so it was hard to get a good look. Could this have been an owl in the middle of the day? Or does this look more like a hawk attack? I'm assuming the same bird killed the rooster the day before, its head was almost completely separated and body which was laying right at the open door to the coop. I am really heartbroken about my duck as she was so nice and loving toward us. I am located near Charlotte NC and any insight would be appreciated. I may have to get a guard dog as I hate to keep the chickens pinned up continually.


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I have no advice but I'm so sorry for your loss! I know how devastated I would be if something happened to one of my poultry, especially one of my ducks. :-(

 

[bobbi-j]

It's hard to say what kind of bird it might have been, but owl will sometimes take prey during the day.

 

[MillersFarm]

I would say either a bird of prey or a mink..

 

[birdofhermes]

that's crazy i thought my rooster was safe from hawks out in the yard because he's tough. condolences

 

[jdsande3]

Call me crazy, but I had orginally thought it was a goose, it was just so hard for me to see at 120 yards. Funny thing is, both birds were killed when I went to lowes for just 30 minutes both days. I was not outside continuously with them, more of walking to my shed from the house a few times. I wonder if the bird was watching me as well.

 

[jdsande3]

I would say either a bird of prey or a mink..

Good point, though I have never personally seen a mink they say they are in NC. Think a mink would attack middle of day?

 

[MillersFarm]

Call me crazy, but I had orginally thought it was a goose, it was just so hard for me to see at 120 yards. Funny thing is, both birds were killed when I went to lowes for just 30 minutes both days. I was not outside continuously with them, more of walking to my shed from the house a few times. I wonder if the bird was watching me as well.

Good point, though I have never personally seen a mink they say they are in NC. Think a mink would attack middle of day?

Its not impossible for a mink to attack during the day but my best guess is that it was a red tailed hawk. They'll attack at any time of the day and from the picture of the duck it looks like the meat was striped right off to the bone which is what hawks do.

 

[jdsande3]

Thanks for the reply, from searching today doesn't seem like too much I can do. Of course, I'm not allowed to harm birds of prey, and I thought about a donkey but from what I read they will do nothing for attacks from above. I did find someone locally selling Pyrenees pups that have been raised with their chickens and ducks. From what I understand, they will run off almost any preditor and can live with the chickens/ducks.

 

[MillersFarm]

Thanks for the reply, from searching today doesn't seem like too much I can do. Of course, I'm not allowed to harm birds of prey, and I thought about a donkey but from what I read they will do nothing for attacks from above. I did find someone locally selling Pyrenees pups that have been raised with their chickens and ducks. From what I understand, they will run off almost any preditor and can live with the chickens/ducks.

I have ducks, Guineas, and chickens that free range around 36 acres. And recently I've added a couple pf turkeys, 4 hens and 1 tom. The now is wild half black Spanish and is pretty big. Ever since i've added the tom I haven't seen many hawks around and every time I would my big ol' tom would sound the alarm an everyone would run for shelter.