Injured muscovy duckling: what the heck happened?

[peanutshark]

Hi! So, I've been fostering a group of 11 muscovy ducklings ever since their momma got eaten when they were eggs and ended up hatching as orphans.

It's now day 48 and yesterday I suddenly noticed one of my females was missing part of her bill. There wasn't any apparent blood and I didn't see a piece of it anywhere that they had been (I have them living in a makeshift coop since they'll fly away in a few more weeks. They stay in there at night and free range my years during the day). She seemed fine as far as eating, drinking, swimming, and keeping up with the others. Nobody picks on her and they all get along.

Today, however, she began limping. So what could have happened for her to have a broken bill with no apparent blood and now limping? I have a small yard and I haven't found any sign of a struggle and the others are fine. The only thing I found were maybe a couple feathers in the coop.

 

[Amiga]

Can you get a game camera and watch what is happening when you are not there?

My first thoughts are - she's being bullied by another duck or ducks, she has found a spot where she is getting stuck and struggling to get out (my runners will lean very hard against the fence to try to get to something on the other side), there is perhaps a rodent getting into the duck pen.

 

[peanutshark]

Can you get a game camera and watch what is happening when you are not there?

My first thoughts are - she's being bullied by another duck or ducks, she has found a spot where she is getting stuck and struggling to get out (my runners will lean very hard against the fence to try to get to something on the other side), there is perhaps a rodent getting into the duck pen.

A game can would be helpful. I don't think it's any of the other ducks since they're all still small and it's not singled out during feeding or anything else. I was thinking maybe a raccoon or something grabbed it when it was sticking it's bill through the fencing. What kind of rodent could snap a bill like that?

 

[Miss Lydia]

A game can would be helpful. I don't think it's any of the other ducks since they're all still small and it's not singled out during feeding or anything else. I was thinking maybe a raccoon or something grabbed it when it was sticking it's bill through the fencing. What kind of rodent could snap a bill like that?

Snapping turtles, do you have a pond or body of water close by?

 

[peanutshark]

Snapping turtles, do you have a pond or body of water close by? 

There's a pond across the street, but it's pretty small and man made. But would a snapping turtle leave a long break like that or bother to cross a road and into a fenced semi fenced yard to bother ducklings? Also, I forgot to add, I live in a subdivision neighborhood, so there aren't, say, coyotes or anything.

 

[Miss Lydia]

There's a pond across the street, but it's pretty small and man made. But would a snapping turtle leave a long break like that or bother to cross a road and into a fenced semi fenced yard to bother ducklings? Also, I forgot to add, I live in a subdivision neighborhood, so there aren't, say, coyotes or anything.

It may if hungry enough. I do know they travel. Don't ever underestimate a predator, if you set up a game camera you'd probably see opossum, raccoon, fox, and mink and weasel which the latter 2 can get through 1" holes. and i bet there are coyote not far off either. plus air born preds.