Dead duck

[quackfishing]

I had four rouen ducks who are about 3 months old. Yesterday I got home from school and one of them was dead. He had no bite marks but the feathers on his lower back were ripped out about the size of a hand. it may have been my dog, but there were no teeth marks, and i don't think it was the foxes because i have a secure yard, and my dog is always out there. it probably wasn't foxes because it was not eaten or had chunks missing, or anything you would expect if a dog, fox or raccoon attacked it. the one who died was a boy, Fred, and i have another boy who i hadn't given away yet, daffy, because they haven't molted and gotten their green head feathers so i wanted to make sure it was a boy before culling or giving him away. do you think it was daffy who killed Fred?
p.s i didn't take pictures because i was distressed and trying to get him out before my dogs and cats got to him

 

[DuneDucks]

I'm sorry to hear about your duck. My guess would be the dog though. Could have just pawed him or pounced on him and tore some feathers out. Wouldn't necessarily take a bite or leave teeth marks if it killed the duck for the sport/fun of it.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

The dog may indeed have been the culprit, but not on purpose. I have to keep my own away from my flock because he wants to play with them (he's still more of an overgrown puppy than anything else), but a 70 lb dog playing with a 7 lb duck is not going to end well.

 

[ruthhope]

I had four rouen ducks who are about 3 months old. Yesterday I got home from school and one of them was dead. He had no bite marks but the feathers on his lower back were ripped out about the size of a hand. it may have been my dog, but there were no teeth marks, and i don't think it was the foxes because i have a secure yard, and my dog is always out there. it probably wasn't foxes because it was not eaten or had chunks missing, or anything you would expect if a dog, fox or raccoon attacked it. the one who died was a boy, Fred, and i have another boy who i hadn't given away yet, daffy, because they haven't molted and gotten their green head feathers so i wanted to make sure it was a boy before culling or giving him away. do you think it was daffy who killed Fred?
p.s i didn't take pictures because i was distressed and trying to get him out before my dogs and cats got to him

So sad for you fluffy boy and you. I can understand how traumatizing it was for you seeing your poor dead boy -- and it was likely traumatizing for Daff and the girls seeing it happen.

I am sure it was your dog, although maybe in play not sport. My beagle would love to play with my ducks -- he is a hugger and at my son's house, once got his paws round one of my son's duck's neck. The poor duck was terrified although the beagle meant no harm. The problem is that young dogs can be nippy in play and that can be fatal for a duck. A larger dog can stand on a duck -- pounce on it even -- all in play, but that can be fatal for the duck.

Please keep Daffy and your female ducks secure from your dog.

 

[quackfishing]

I kept the ducks inside last night, and to day. Currently they are in an empty shower. They will sleep in the shower, and im going to work on the run tomorrow