Pickin' them off one by one

[dadof4]

I have(had) some Cambell ducks and the other morning one was missing, no feathers, no mess-just gone. Two days later again and then again tonight. I think it's an owl. I can't pen them up at night because a few monthes ago they started braking their eggs when pennned. I just wish I knew what would take them off like that with no signs.

 

[The Chickeneer]

Well if this is happening I guess your going to have to pin them up. You can try covering the nest boxes so they don't break the eggs, but if if they are dissapearing like that then pining them up is the most logical thing to do. Hope your eggs don't break!

 

[dadof4]

Their penned. I'm just trying to figure out what got them. More venting than anything.

 

[cupman]

Well I am only really familiar with coyotes and raccoons being threats in my area with the occasional skunk or possum but one thing I've noticed about raccoons is they don't wipe your flock out. A friend of mine was losing on average one chicken a night for about four days until he trapped the raccoon and fortified his chicken coop. I lost one of my birds to a raccoon attack on their forth night out in the coop and the very next night, as soon as it got dark, maybe 9:15pm or so the raccoon was back and there to get another, had already pried part of my wire back and was about to make his attack. Luckily I was able to find him in a tree and take care of him. But my vote is raccoon, they like to pick them off one at a time.. but there could be other predators that follow the same MO.

 

[bryan99705]

How about some pictures of your set up?

 

[rivers2011]

i hear that owls are are extremely patient and methodical predators. hope the rest of your flock stays safe and happy!

 

[dadof4]

I heard my dog barking at 12:30 snuck out and heard my last duck quacking her head off. When I got right up to her I flipped on my spotlight and looked around. Nothing-till I looked on top of my barn. Watching me was a horned owl. It was so quiet outside I could hear it fly off. I hate to be in such awe of a predator.

 

[bryan99705]

Sorry to hear about the owl, asside from netting in your pond or nightly lock down, you can't stop them.

 

[Ivywoods]

I don't know what all kinds of predators you have in Mississippi, but it may not be a raccoon. Every raccoon attack I have ever had they left a mess of feathers and partially eaten and torn up chickens. They might just take one, but a momma raccoon will sometimes bring her partially grown babies back and they will have a chicken ripping party.

Owls will sure carry them off without much of a trace.

Bobcats will do the same. They will take their prey to where they feel comfortable eating it.

I suggest you lock them up securely at night. If you don't have any ducks left, you won't have to worry about broken eggs.

So sorry you are having to deal with this.

There is another thread about posting your game camera pics. A lot of them are hunting pictures, but many people are using game cameras that catch the culprit on film. It's amazing what you find out that way. It might help in order for you to figure out a good plan of action.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
cupman...that is actually very unusal...most often raccoons wipe out several birds or the entire coop in attack...if they can get to it, they kill it. I have never seen a coon just kill one and come back the next night. Several BYCers lost birds last year to coons....and they lost as many as 10+ per night.

OP good luck finding out what is doing it....I would be lookig for a fox or an owl....outside chance of a coyote but more likely fox or owl.