Sorry for the morbid first post but we are completely puzzled by what happened.
This morning we found one of three ducks in the coop dead. She had some lesions/cuts on back of the neck. We live in an area that weasels are rare and that seems to be the only predator that could sneak in. And there was an egg in the coop and other girls unharmed.
We are thinking it was a sudden respiratory death (no prior symptoms) or that the dominant female may have mounted and accidentally suffocated though we can find no info that even happens. They have also not done active aggression besides mounting.
Duck did have mud on bill from possibly foraging before retiring.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
This morning we found one of three ducks in the coop dead. She had some lesions/cuts on back of the neck. We live in an area that weasels are rare and that seems to be the only predator that could sneak in. And there was an egg in the coop and other girls unharmed.
We are thinking it was a sudden respiratory death (no prior symptoms) or that the dominant female may have mounted and accidentally suffocated though we can find no info that even happens. They have also not done active aggression besides mounting.
Duck did have mud on bill from possibly foraging before retiring.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
