Duck was killed/Need Advice

[amydia4]

Hi,

We have (had) two ducks. They are about 4 months old. We live about 2 miles outside the city limits, so in the country, but not in the deep country. We found our drake this morning next to the fence dead. The head had been completely detached and was gone. The body was totally intact. The other duck (we think she's a female) was acting abnormally withdrawn and when I checked her neck, she had a small either puncture or blood coming from the follicle of her feathers. We also have 9 chickens who were all fine. When I left for work, the female duck was walking around with the chicken group, but she seems traumatized and sad. She and the other duck always stuck together. We have dogs next door, but we have ruled them out because we believe the entire duck would have been eaten or mauled. There is a cat two doors down that is a well-fed cat who lives outside. I went to its house today to try to talk to its owner, but they were not there.

My question is, what type of animal do you think would do this? And do we need to find another mature duck or will our survived duck be okay without her partner?

 

[cosbackyard]

Raccoons for one.
They're cute but don't be fooled. They're monsters.
Did this happen in the daytime? Were the ducks free-ranging at the time?

I've lost several over the years and every time it was because I didn't have adequate protection for them. I went from using chicken wire (near-useless) to hardware cloth and welded wire. My run is now covered on all four sides and the wire is buried under the ground to prevent digging. I let them free-range, but only when I'm home. Otherwise they're in the run. Ducks are just not able, in my experience, to flee or protect themselves.

For your remaining duck - I'd find a partner for her. They really don't like to be alone.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Were these ducks out loose in the yard at night? Domestic ducks require a predator-proof enclosure. This is why.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

I would suggest a raccoon or opossum. Both will pull an animal through the fence although raccoons usually make a bigger mess than a possum in my experience.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

Raccoons for one.
They're cute but don't be fooled. They're monsters.
Did this happen in the daytime? Were the ducks free-ranging at the time?

I've lost several over the years and every time it was because I didn't have adequate protection for them. I went from using chicken wire (near-useless) to hardware cloth and welded wire. My run is now covered on all four sides and the wire is buried under the ground to prevent digging. I let them free-range, but only when I'm home. Otherwise they're in the run. Ducks are just not able, in my experience, to flee or protect themselves.

For your remaining duck - I'd find a partner for her. They really don't like to be alone.

Ditto! We live in the country too and I WILL shoot a coon anytime I see those nasty dirty things anywhere NEAR our property. My husband and I have shot several lately prowling around the area. They are horrible and will stop at nothing to get a free meal (your ducks.) We too have our run completely covered AND run strands electric fencing (solar-powered) on the perimeter on the fence. Inside the run is a duck house which has a sliding lock (it is well-ventilated) so in cold or nasty weather they are locked inside that at night. You can never have too much protection against predators at night. Coyotes, bobcats, badgers, coons, owls, and others LOVE duck. Also you need to get another duck for lone duck left. Ducks are social and need that partnership to feel protected and stimulated.

 

[smedly9921]

For sure raccoon. they could not get to the body due to fence it sounds like, so they pulled what they could threw the fence and ate it. Raccoons are terrible animals. Get a trap and trap it then kill it. then set the trap again and kill as many as you can. I kill around 150 a year. And they just keep coming. I have woke up to find many headless chickens. When i had problems with opossums it was only when they could get to the eggs. I think the opossums are more interested in the eggs. Of course that is my experience and have herd many storied of opossums going after the chickens. So i kill them when they go in the traps. Your choice is you chickens or the predators.

 

[morrisonmanor]

I also have(had) 2 ducks. Both female I think. Just this week I lost one to a raccoon. Mine too is lonely. My question is how would be the best way to give it a new friend. Add just 1 new female? Add a few ducklings? And how soon should I do this? I don't want to stress her out anymore than she already is. She's not completely alone as they run in the same area as my chickens.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

I do not agree with trapping and killing wildlife... but I do believe in keeping our ducks safe.

I see a lot of pictures on this site of duck runs made out of chain link fencing and dog kennel kits. This is not an acceptable enclosure for these animals. What's worse, these members are often advising new duck owners that this is a safe environment. Please understand, just because your ducks haven't been killed yet doesn't mean they can't and won't be.

Ducks and chickens must be housed outdoors at night in structures with half-inch hardware cloth covering any and all openings, with wire sunk into the ground to protect from digging predators. Don't blame the raccoon.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

I also have(had) 2 ducks. Both female I think. Just this week I lost one to a raccoon. Mine too is lonely. My question is how would be the best way to give it a new friend. Add just 1 new female? Add a few ducklings? And how soon should I do this? I don't want to stress her out anymore than she already is. She's not completely alone as they run in the same area as my chickens.

Personally when this happened to me (I lost our beloved drake to a hawk this winter) I got another adult duck two days later. I still you need to have another duck with her even though you do have chickens. The sooner the better is my opinion.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Please do not get more ducks until you have a safe enclosure for them...