Muscovy ducks - help and advice please - Fox?

[DrChickenKev]

Hi all,

We did have a fine flock of Muscovy ducks until last night - from one male and three females I had three clutches hatch this year providing 29 ducklings

A week ago I lost one of our drakes who was just about fully mature, but no feathers or sign of an attack; two days later three of the girls went - again no feathers or sign of attack, so I thought someone had been on the property...

They all free roam during the day (as do the dozen chickens we have) and at night I kept half in a 'shed' made from old pallets which has a half covered roof, and as the remainder wouldnt go into their house I made sure they were locked in their pen.

This morning I have 5 or 6 bodies, one with the head removed but still in the pen, one injured and not walking, and 5 alive

I'm assuming its a fox as we dont have coyote's and wild dogs here in the UK

So demoralising, I'll need to clear up and burn the bodies tonight I think

Can anyone confirm it is a fox please? And I'm assuming she'll come back?

Thanks in advance

 

[zazouse]

how did it get into the pen?
sorry for your loss.

 

[DrChickenKev]

Well the pen has no roof either, we've been here for over two years and never had any chickens or ducks taken, guess we got complacent