Dead duck

[Miss Lydia]

We have had a hard press of varmints this year Raccoon too. So, they're clearly a possibility. And the skin was mostly removed from this one's neck, also.

Today, we're closing in the windows, setting traps and bedding the drakes separate from mom and the small ducks.

Thanks everyone!

Leaving windows with out any hardware cloth covering them is just asking for a pred to help him or herself. Please cover your windows A drake could not do what you are describing. Sounds like coon or mink/weasel.

Very sorry for your loss.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nice to meet you! I had this problem a few nights ago. The first night he got a goose then came back a second night and got my male black runner! And my geese are huge... I was very puzzled as well. The only thing the predator ate was the neck and fooled with the head and on my duck he took a very small piece of breast. He completely took all meat and feathers off of the neck though but he did keep it attached to the body. He didn't make that big of a mess with my goose, but when he came back for the duck he made a huge mess. I set a trap and the trap kept getting set off but nothing was ever in it until the other night I went out at about 8:30 and saw the raccoon in my pen and hop out over the other side of the fence. And this is 4-5 foot tall fence with chicken wire covering it. I've now build a small house that I put them in at night and all openings are covered with chicken wire.
My guess is a coon because I had same thing happen this past week. If he came last night and got a free meal, he will be back tonight for more and will probably keep coming for the next few days. I'd chicken wire over the windows if you are going to be keeping them open and set a trap!

A racoon can rip chicken wire to pieces only thing will keep them out is hardware wire/cloth. Very sorry for your losses. Hard lesson to learn.

 

[farmmartin]

Right, Miss Lydia, thanks, the debate currently is the gauge of the cloth to use. We are leaning towards 2x4 welded wire fence because I have some on hand.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Right, Miss Lydia, thanks, the debate currently is the gauge of the cloth to use. We are leaning towards 2x4 welded wire fence because I have some on hand.

If the opening is larger than 1" a mink, weasel or rat can get through, half inch hardware cloth is the best.