Help!

[hkisch2014]

We had a rat problem with our baby ducks in the garage about a month ago now. We caught the rat, left the trap out and have gotten nothing else. Baby chicks and ducks have been in enclosure with bigger ducks and chickens for three weeks or so. Today we go out to let them free range and i find two dead ducklings. One with head ripped off. Two chicks about 2 months old dead with puncture wounds. A 4 month old duck head ripped off and one alive baby duck with puncture marks. I am missing two ducklings.

I am assuming rat again. But any other predators do that?

Also, what do I put on the puncture marks of the baby duckling? I have polysporin readily available.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Nope that isn't the rats... probably a raccoon or weasel type predator.

Sorry for your loss.

Any survivors? Pics of your set up please?

 

[cmom]

If you have a game camera, put it up. Most likely the predator will be back and you will know what you're dealing with.

 

[hkisch2014]

Nope that isn't the rats... probably a raccoon or weasel type predator.

Sorry for your loss.
Just posted some. Here are some more. These are pictures of the outside fencing and the ones i posted in the OP is inside of that fencing
Any survivors? Pics of your set up please?

 

[hkisch2014]

Nope that isn't the rats... probably a raccoon or weasel type predator.

Sorry for your loss.

And yes. There are survivors. All of my older than 2 year chickens and 1 year old ducks. Some of the older ducklings (couple of months) and chickens that are a couple months old. And then 4 of the 8 ducklings (like 3 weeks old)

 

[50-45-1]

My guess would be weasel or owl.
Both can get in your enclosure easily.
Sorry for the loss of your birds.

 

[hkisch2014]

Nope that isn't the rats... probably a raccoon or weasel type predator.

Sorry for your loss.

Any survivors? Pics of your set up please?

See above

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Seeing your set up, I agree owl is a possibility. But SOOO many predators can come straight in and have their way with your flock. Even fox and coyote can jump fences pretty well.

Only way to protect them (that I know of) would be locking them in at night to an enclosure that has any holes covered in 1/2 inch welded wire hardware cloth.

I don't have much actual predator experience... but your pictures are great and tell a story.. that someone with more experience than me should be able to give you a more accurate assessment of who your suspect is. I guarantee THAT wasn't rats. Not to discount the damage rats can do to a flock though! Hopefully you will get more input.

 

[hkisch2014]

Seeing your set up, I agree owl is a possibility. But SOOO many predators can come straight in and have their way with your flock. Even fox and coyote can jump fences pretty well.

Only way to protect them (that I know of) would be locking them in at night to an enclosure that has any holes covered in 1/2 inch welded wire hardware cloth.

I don't have much actual predator experience... but your pictures are great and tell a story.. that someone with more experience than me should be able to give you a more accurate assessment of who your suspect is. I guarantee THAT wasn't rats. Not to discount the damage rats can do to a flock though! Hopefully you will get more input.

Thank you for the input. There is a five foot fence on the outside of our entire run. That is just in the corener of the run for them to grow out before letring them in with the bigger birds. Hubby is working on a luve teap cirrently so hopefully we find out tonight what it is.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Thank you for the input. There is a five foot fence on the outside of our entire run. That is just in the corener of the run for them to grow out before letring them in with the bigger birds. Hubby is working on a luve teap cirrently so hopefully we find out tonight what it is.

Unfortunately, the fence shown is not going to exclude any of the common predators of poultry.