Please help. Something killed two of my ducks.

[Sarahannedp]

Hello everyone. Unfortunately, we came home to two ducks dead. We only had three, but the third duck was safe and unharmed.
something crawled into their run in the MIDDLE of the day. My boyfriend came home around 3 and said he saw all of our ducks huddled in the corner where their shelter area is. the best way to describe it is that it looks like a giant dog kennel. They had ran their for safety into their shelter by whatever had spooked them. Whatever the predator was, it yanked at them through the cracks and pulled our male’s head through and ate ONLY it’s neck. It’s head is in tact and it’s body is untouched. One of our females also was attacked and killed the SAME way. Only her neck was eaten. But it was eaten down to the bone, completely. Our other female had huddled behind them and was left alone. I don’t understand what kind of predator would attack them during the day. Did they know their schedule? I know it wasn’t a bird of prey because I’ve been reading about it tonight. Also, the shelter door had been pushed shut by the animal I guess as it was trying to get to them.
also, why would it leave their bodies and only eat the neck? I couldn’t emotionally handle this happening ever again. I took our unharmed duck to a good friend of mine that has large flocks of her own. I am not looking to improve my area. We won’t be having any other ducks at this home after this. just want to know what could have done this to them. We live in a suburban neighborhood btw. Not out in an open field or anything. I’m thinking maybe a raccoon?

 

[Sarahannedp]

Sorry for any typos. Also, there were ZERO points of entry from the sides. The top is completely open though so something could’ve crawled the fence while they were out.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I'm no help here. I just wanted to send you hugs and tell you that I am so sorry. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers

 

[CHOOKYDOOKS]

Foxes have broken into my chook run in the middle of the day and didn't eat any thing maybe cover the top of the run

 

[twendt]

Are you in the states? I thought the same thing.... Raccoons usually eat the head and neck and leave the rest. They're interested in the crop, but a day attack is not typical of raccoon. I'm baffled... So sorry you're experiencing an attack on your ducks. Keep your last survivor safe. I had a raccoon surveying my coop , I trapped the sucker the next day and he was a PELT the same day. Not bad for a girl , Don't Mess with Mama Chicken!!

 

[CHOOKYDOOKS]

I'm actually in australia

 

[Sarahannedp]

Foxes have broken into my chook run in the middle of the day and didn't eat any thing maybe cover the top of the run

There is no run anymore - I mentioned it in the post. We can’t have ducks at this house, it’s just too dangerous and emotionally harmful for me right now.

 

[Sarahannedp]

Are you in the states? I thought the same thing.... Raccoons usually eat the head and neck and leave the rest. They're interested in the crop, but a day attack is not typical of raccoon. I'm baffled... So sorry you're experiencing an attack on your ducks. Keep your last survivor safe. I had a raccoon surveying my coop , I trapped the sucker the next day and he was a PELT the same day. Not bad for a girl , Don't Mess with Mama Chicken!!

I do live in the states - Georgia, specifically. So I know there’s a vast range of predators to watch out for here but we’ve just NEVER had an issue with our ducks being hunted. Only a neighbors dog attacking. But this was obviously not the same scenario. Our survivor is with a friend now and was welcomed happily by her flock, thankfully.

 

[HeyHeyWW]

Predators have come and taken my animals many times, but they have never done what you just described. You just posted you live in Goergia, and I live in Florida so we have many of the same predators.

For sure, it wasn't a raptor. They usually swoop down, grab them, and fly away. And if your ducks were fully grown, then they would've been too heavy to be taken away. Where I live, there are Peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and some kind of hawk. They have never taken away a fully-grown chicken and won't take away a fully-grown duck.

So it was most likely a raccoon. It also could've been a cat, but they usually grab the prey and leave to eat it someplace else. The weird thing is that raccoons are usually active at night. Although I did once see a raccoon walking on a sidewalk in the middle of the day.

The biggest probability would be a raccoon. I'm sorry for your loss, and it was best for you to give the last duck to someone else because predators ALWAYS come back for more.

 

[chickens really]

Raccoons in Australia?