Predator question

[muddy75]

Hi guys. I lost my ducks to something. I am so angry and heartbroken. The gate pushed out and the latch twisted. I had 2 adult ducks, 4 8 week old Runners and 2 8 week old Cayugas. They were not bloody, didn’t have feathers around, just had some puncture wounds. They were all spread out all over the yard dead. It was between 7 and 9 this morning. Any ideas?

I’ve had young raccoons kill my birds inside the aviary without taking them to eat.....the attacks always happened between sunrise and 9 am

 

[Chelsnmitch]

Yes, I will when I get home

 

[reddogmaster2]

You should reinforce your fencing with some Hardware Cloth. Basic Chicken Wire just doesn;t cut it.

Get your chickens protected ASAP. Whatever killed the ducks will be back. I'd also set up a trap or two as well as a game cam.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’m very sorry for you loss but I have to say your pen was just an attack waiting to happen doesn’t look like you have any hardware cloth over your chain link maybe it’s there but just can’t be seen. What’s over the top? Weasels mink and raccoons are terrible predators and can get into just about anything unless it’s covered with hardware cloth an fashioned down so nothing can get through or under. Your poor ducks could not even try an escape. Mink weasel can get through chain link and a raccoon can climb up an over or climb up an open that latch. I hope before you get more ducks you’ll totally reinforce your pen and get them a coop they can all sleep in. I am afraid your chickens will be next.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I'm so sorry and your post made me cry but your run/pen is a disaster. Chicken wire does nothing but keep your birds inside! It is worthless, like using a chain link fence to keep out mosquitos!

Hardware cloth! It's awful to work with but if you want to keep birds you have to have it! Put it on the ground to around the perimeter of your run!

 

[Molly Mojo]

Just like you, I ruled out ball python right away.

I kinda wanted to go with a vampire, but the timing doesn’t match.

I’m no detective, but I believe I have eliminated one suspect so far.

 

[Naser]

Sorry for your loss
I would say a mink, the door was probably open when the mink "or any weasel" got in
A fox or larger predator would have gone through the chickenwire like a hot knife in butter and wouldn't wait for a door to be opened.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I see chicken wire over both pens. That means there is some protection from above.

I don't know......I want to say dog BUT they tend to shake the feathers everywhere and bite more than once.

Time for a game cam, traps and reinforced fencing I think.

Those latches.....I don't trust those. The big U bolt seems like it would allow the latch to swivel on the pole when pushed hard enough.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Hi guys. I lost my ducks to something. I am so angry and heartbroken. The gate pushed out and the latch twisted. I had 2 adult ducks, 4 8 week old Runners and 2 8 week old Cayugas. They were not bloody, didn’t have feathers around, just had some puncture wounds. They were all spread out all over the yard dead. It was between 7 and 9 this morning. Any ideas?

If they weren’t eaten and no entrails visible then I would say you had a very bad behaving neighborhood dog who was not hungry but just causing trouble. A coon or fox would have torn their heads off and eaten their vent ends out and gone for them that way as well. A coyote would have carried them off also to eat them farther away most likely and also done this during the nighttime hours not morning hours. Same for the coon and foxes. A cat most likely would not have left them nearly as you have described either. Now a bobcat would hunt during daytime some depending but it would have not left it nearly and it would have eaten them and carried some off most likely.
By the way I am so sorry for the death of your birds. I know this had to be a sad and sorry sight for you to come up on and one that I would not wish on anyone that has birds or animals precious to them. I was pretty straight forward and graphic but I didn’t mean to be callous or uncaring for your situation or the loss of your birds.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

If they weren’t eaten and no entrails visible then I would say you had a very bad behaving neighborhood dog who was not hungry but just causing trouble. A coon or fox would have torn their heads off and eaten their vent ends out and gone for them that way as well. A coyote would have carried them off also to eat them farther away most likely and also done this during the nighttime hours not morning hours. Same for the coon and foxes. A cat most likely would not have left them nearly as you have described either. Now a bobcat would hunt during daytime some depending but it would have not left it nearly and it would have eaten them and carried some off most likely.
By the way I am so sorry for the death of your birds. I know this had to be a sad and sorry sight for you to come up on and one that I would not wish on anyone that has birds or animals precious to them. I was pretty straight forward and graphic but I didn’t mean to be callous or uncaring for your situation or the loss of your birds.

Oh just one more comment about dogs. I am a dog lover. Have owned them over forty years and usually large breeds. They are smarter than you realize or often give them credit for especially when they want something. I had two golden retrievers in my ownership history. They did not know each other and were of no relation but they could both open just about any door, lock, or latch except for a key deadbolt. So a latch gate was nothing to keep them in or out. Dog is your culprit. The mink would have eaten your ducks.