Mystery in the duck pen.

[jsvand5]

I lost my pair of Welsh Harlequins today. They were in a 10' x 20' fenced in area of 6' chain link which was inside a 6' privacy fence that encloses the entire yard. No idea what happened. They were there at 6:30 when my wife got home and at 7:45 when I got home they were gone. No signs of a struggle and the female did not even have her adult feathers fully in yet. Any ideas on possibilities? The only animals that are in the area are cats that the neighbors don't take care of, but I doubt they would be able to lift almost full grown birds (about 5 pounds) over two 6 foot fences. I only had them about a week, but my son is going to be pretty upset in the morning.

 

[Violet22]

I know hawks can lift birds without a trace. Or maybe someone stole them? There's been a lot of that going around too.
Caroline

 

[jsvand5]

I don't think anyone even knew they were there and my dogs which were out back the whole time definitely would have went insane if someone hopped the fence. I guess it could have been a hawk, but I can't imagine it could take both and the male was just so heavy. I just am at a loss right now. I could see if they disappeared during the night, but I just don't get what could have happened in that one hour time period.

 

[LauraSBale]

Sorry to hear about your ducks, hopefully they show up some how.

 

[streemers]

i was thinking coon but they normaly leave a mess and i dont think they can carry 2lg ducks at once. i would say large bird but i dont think that it would come back so fast for the mate unless there was a 2nd bird???? so im thinkin i might say human!
if you find out what happen or what did it let us know

 

[Wifezilla]

With your set up, a 2 legged predator is VERY likely.

 

[geosheets]

I lost a juvie mallard last year to a hawk. It left a mess of feathers on the ground though. The hawks we have around here are smaller than an adult mallard and I've never had one come after an adult. I imagine a larger hawk, eagle, or great horned owl could have swooped in and removed them without a trace. An hour or two before sunset is about the time the raptors are actively hunting. Also, this time of year is when many of the young are learning to hunt. I have watched adult hawks land in a nearby tree and then a youngster comes in and attempts the kill. I have added some reflective items around the yard to help deter the hawks and it seems to have helped. I still hear them nearby and see them occasionally but, they don't land on the ground or actively hunt in my yard.

 

[jsvand5]

Quote:
I guess, but the privacy fence has a padlock so they would have to jump the fence to get in. I guess if the new wood ducks disappear I will know for sure that it's a person because there is NO way an animal can in that pen now.

 

[17roses]

The wings look pretty developed - are you sure they didnt fly away?

 

[Wifezilla]

Welsh Harlequins aren't known for their flight abilities.