Missing Duck Mystery

[stuka123]

I just lost one of my 6 month old Buff girls to an Eagle. I came home and figured I’d get them a snack before going out. Well a few minutes later I heard pecking at my back door. It was one of the babies. I let her in to say Hi but she seemed upset. I thought it was odd that she came down to the house because she was in her pen. Then I looked for her buddy and I saw her laying outback. As I got closer this massive eagle took off.
We do have a camera so I was able to go back and see exactly what happened. Now if I hadn’t gone out when I did, that eagle could’ve flown away with her and I never would’ve know what happened. Also if my baby didn’t come down to tell me something was wrong it may have flown off with her too.
I was heartbroken
So sorry for your loss

 

[DrHawkeye07]

Two legged predators might take a duck with little evidence. Any chance someone else stole her?

 

[Helloworld]

At night, Owls rip the head off right there, grap The digesting food from the crop and go back to the nest. I have had birds that actually had heads lined up straight with body like it was yanked off and left.
During the day, the grab them and take off away from human noise. An Eagle will take a duck. Her color points her out as well. She may have been bitten by something, died and a raptor got her before you noticed her missing. But lets think like this...

What happens with ducks is they are very good hiders when it comes to laying and will take off if broody and you keep taking away her eggs. I don’t know if you have a drake but I assume so because they are laying. Mine won’t lay without a male. I have spent hours looking for a nest. If there is any place where there is really tall grass laying over and close to her water source look. I have found them deep inside my pampas grass never to be found if I had not poked in there and watch the others. They will lead you to her if she is near by. They do it very slowly and once they get there, it looks like they are just checking out the bush or wherever.

What is odd, is they will fight you over the eggs and go hide but after you leave them alone it is as if they get bored because you stopped collecting and get off of the nest. Most times, they wait about 1 week before and just abandon.

The best thing you can do is look. She is white so her nest will be very dense because she has zero camaflage unless it is snowing.

Pay close attention to each duck. They will lay in same nest and switch. They will wait until they are sure the coast is clear from eavesdroppers. It seems to really upset them that you take their eggs.

You can also buy cheap outdoor cameras that you can view from your phone live.

You can also put your other ducks up. If alive, she will eventually come out when none of them return.

I am praying she comes back home soon. Good luck to both of you!

 

[DuckLover677]

Yes! I meant to say that in my post. The predator will definitely return!

You might just be right too....Late last night, when I was brushing my teeth before heading off to bed....I heard what sounded like a Hawk right outside of my house, now, keep in mind that this is right near where she would of been hanging out the night that she was taken. It was also about two hours AFTER the time that she was taken the night a few nights before hand....This just seems like too big of a coiencidence to me.....

 

[Helloworld]

Know this: it was sudden and she felt nothing.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Coyote are my main smash and grab artists. Come around lunch time and Mary a feather left. Also same with bobcat. I have seen both and run them off. But they have also been very successful. Bobcat have an approximate 7 day circle of their territory. So if I lose one a week it's the kitty. More than one I figure the coyote. How they know which are my favorites is a mystery but they do think those are more delish.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@DuckLover677 you don't lock your ducks up at night? it's the only way to keep them safe.

 

[DuckLover677]

@DuckLover677 you don't lock your ducks up at night? it's the only way to keep them safe.

Well of course we do. But we let them out for a few hours a night almost every day. Now we put them up at nighttime in the dot.

 

[Jpat]

I just lost one of my 6 month old Buff girls to an Eagle. I came home and figured I’d get them a snack before going out. Well a few minutes later I heard pecking at my back door. It was one of the babies. I let her in to say Hi but she seemed upset. I thought it was odd that she came down to the house because she was in her pen. Then I looked for her buddy and I saw her laying outback. As I got closer this massive eagle took off.
We do have a camera so I was able to go back and see exactly what happened. Now if I hadn’t gone out when I did, that eagle could’ve flown away with her and I never would’ve know what happened. Also if my baby didn’t come down to tell me something was wrong it may have flown off with her too.
I was heartbroken
So sorry for your loss

Thats a sin. sorry to hear. Can you post the video?