**Graphic image**WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA- What killed my runner duck overnight?

[Code 30 Ranch]

Hey all, I’m located in the Asheville area of North Carolina. I have chickens and ducks that harmoniously grew up and live together in a large coop. I woke up this morning to discover my adult runner duck was dead in the corner of the coop. She had been violently ripped open, her backbone broken apart, and her guts completely tore open. It was devastating and I am baffled how this happened. Looking for guidance on what/how this happened.

A little info on my coop/flock setup…

My coop is an old woodshed I converted into a hen house. My birds are only housed inside the coop at night. I have a small flock of chickens and ducks, with perches for my chickens, and pine shaving bedding for my ducks. Plenty of space for my small flock inside this coop. They all grew up together and harmoniously live together as adult hens. No signs of aggression ever, all females. There are windows inside the coop that I keep open this time of year for ventilation. The windows are sealed with chicken wire to keep out predators overnight (a snake could fit through the wire, but they are not a threat to my adult birds here). The flooring in the coop beneath the pine shavings is concrete. There are no gaps, cracks, or crevices where a Racoon or other mammal could enter the coop. They have a secure door that is closed at night and in the 3 years I’ve raised them, I’ve never had a problem with anything trying to enter my coop. There’s literally no way a predator could get into this coop. Could something fit inside the tiny hole of the chicken wire and cause such damage to only 1 duck? All my other birds are intact and act like nothing even happened. I’m shocked. I’ve included a photo to show the extent of the damage.

 

[Code 30 Ranch]

 

[Code 30 Ranch]

View attachment 3867584

 

[Th3moth3rcluck3r]

Could something have gotten in before you closed up for the night? Were there any holes in the chicken wire? Are there any areas where there is more than a half inch gap where something could of been pulled back? From what I've read on predators, this looks like a raccoon(if I'm guessing). They left the body, idk where you're located but weasles can get through chicken wire. However they kill for sport and will take the whole flock from what other people have said.

 

[Code 30 Ranch]

No gaps, cracks, or crevices in the wire and I have concrete floors. If something was lingering inside my coop beforehand I’d think my chickens would freak out and would sound the alarm (my birds are all housed together at night and are super vigilant). In western NC in the mountains I’m not sure how common minks/weasels are. I read their populations are in a steady decline around here and not very common in these parts. Anyone else in the Appalachia region with weasel problems? All my other birds acted like nothing even happened when I let them out of their coop that morning.

It’s truly a mystery how something like this could happen inside a coop overnight that is locked up like Fort Knox! I’m absolutely puzzled.

 

[Altairsky]

I would get a camera trap ASAP. I have one, would buy again.

 

[Code 30 Ranch]

I would get a camera trap ASAP. I have one, would buy again.

I installed 2 Blink cameras inside/outside the coop to monitor any movement throughout the night. I’m super paranoid since this has happened. So far there’s been no activity, except my usual grey foxes passing by (which could not get into my coop, nor could a Racoon or other large mammel). I also changed out the chicken wire over the windows with 1/4 mesh wire, but the amount of cob webs on my chicken wire suggests nothing has tried to crawl through the tiny holes. The window sills are also covered in a thick layer of pollen/dust with no signs of paw prints or tampering.

My initial thought was did my other girls attack and kill one of their own for some crazy reason? But upon further examination of her body, I could see bone/cartilage breakage that suggested my other birds could not have caused this kind of damage. Seems like something with jaws/sharp teeth did this. Right? Very odd that only 1 bird was killed and no other signs of an attack.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I am so sorry for your loss but it surely does look like the work of a raccoon. They are sly animals that will return and I don't know how it could have gotten in since you have such a good setup but it surely looks like it must have. I hope your cameras can catch anything that goes on that shouldn't.

 

[ducklover128]

Hey all, I’m located in the Asheville area of North Carolina. I have chickens and ducks that harmoniously grew up and live together in a large coop. I woke up this morning to discover my adult runner duck was dead in the corner of the coop. She had been violently ripped open, her backbone broken apart, and her guts completely tore open. It was devastating and I am baffled how this happened. Looking for guidance on what/how this happened.

A little info on my coop/flock setup…

My coop is an old woodshed I converted into a hen house. My birds are only housed inside the coop at night. I have a small flock of chickens and ducks, with perches for my chickens, and pine shaving bedding for my ducks. Plenty of space for my small flock inside this coop. They all grew up together and harmoniously live together as adult hens. No signs of aggression ever, all females. There are windows inside the coop that I keep open this time of year for ventilation. The windows are sealed with chicken wire to keep out predators overnight (a snake could fit through the wire, but they are not a threat to my adult birds here). The flooring in the coop beneath the pine shavings is concrete. There are no gaps, cracks, or crevices where a Racoon or other mammal could enter the coop. They have a secure door that is closed at night and in the 3 years I’ve raised them, I’ve never had a problem with anything trying to enter my coop. There’s literally no way a predator could get into this coop. Could something fit inside the tiny hole of the chicken wire and cause such damage to only 1 duck? All my other birds are intact and act like nothing even happened. I’m shocked. I’ve included a photo to show the extent of the damage.

I never thought snakes would harm our adult ducks either, until a full grown Muscovy hen was found dead, laying in her nest, with no visible injuries. Only a wet head and neck where the snake tried to swallow her and couldn't, so it spit her back out. Please don't underestimate the snakes, for your flocks sake. I had no idea until it was too late. So sorry for your loss and hope you find a solution.

 

[AGeese]

The level of injury with lack of evidence is odd. Does anyone have access to your coop that could have entered and left it open? Or (but hopefully not) could it have been a person?