RIP Waffles

[flapjackfarm]

My poor Rouen, Waffles, was found dead this morning. She was attacked by a predator of sorts and I'm having a hard time figuring out what may have killed her. She was decapitated, and from my understanding, wasn't eaten (my father in-law found her, so I didn't see her). I'm worried because we have another Rouen, as well as turkey and chickens.
Does anyone know what kind of predator kills for sport and what I could do to possibly safe guard from another attack?

 

[seashoreduck]

That sounds like a rather domesticated attack....a cat or dog. Most wild animals don't kill for sport except for maybe a startled racoon.

 

[flapjackfarm]

We had 2 neighboring dogs trying to break into our chicken coop a couple weeks ago, but we haven't seen them again since we spoke with the owner about keeping better tabs on her dogs.
I had a feeling that it might be a dog, but I wasn't really sure. I have a beagle and I know he would have eaten whatever he killed.

 

[Invision]

put up the electric fence, Rats, Mink, coons, cats, and dogs are probably your best bet. I do know that falcons go for the throat and decapitate, small hawk like a sharpshin or coopers will also attack...

 

[flapjackfarm]

Since you mention it, I have noticed some sort of hawk soaring towards the back of our property over the past week. The ducks are at the front of the acreage near the house.

 

[Amiga]

There is a Predators and Pests forum - I would ask over there. Sad for your loss. Yes, do upgrade your security system. I am not sure, but do owls decapitate?

 

[chickmomma03]

No advice, sorry for your loss.

 

[Amykins]

Oh no, no no not Waffles! Oh, the poor thing...I'm so, so sorry Flapjack. Honestly, my bet would be on the neighbor's dog. God I friggin' hate dogs...when you saw them earlier in the week, had they escaped or do your neighbors just let them run around unsupervised?

 

[trailrider330]

So sorry for your loss.

That predator's MO sounds like a coon to me. Or, at least that was our experience with a coon a couple years ago.

Hope you get it figured out and are able to keep the others safe. The bad thing about many predators is that once they know where they can get a free meal, they will keep coming back.

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

So sorry for your loss!

Weasels are the only thing I can think of off the top of my head that kills for sport. Other than cats. We've got a cat who will kill anything just for the fun of it. But a duck seems like a pretty big thing for a cat to manage, but since she was a pet duck, she may not have been scared or put up a fight. I dunno what it was, but keep a careful eye on the others.