Something ate my ducks!!

[Miss Lydia]

Yes, i am watching for them, where I live there is woods around me and a creek about 150 feet behind my house so I am sure there is a lot of critters going up and down that creek, my vet also told me there have been coyote sitings as well out here, I have came home late and seen a fox run across the road before, but people dump their unwanted cats and dogs out here as well, I have trapped a lot of cats and took them to the cat shelter in Charlotte in the past, but since I started with my chickens I have bought a BB gun, I give it a few pumps not enough to break the skin but enough to sting, I got a few cats with that, but I haven't seen a cat near my house in a good while, I have a neighbor up the street that feeds them, I think that is why there are so many, I also have 7 dachshunds that might be one reason they don't come around my house any more, my vet says that is why the coyotes don't come near my house bc the don't like all the noise that my fur babies make! I will keep everyone posted on what I catch so far just 2 raccoons.

I have 3 mini dachshunds and they would make a tasty snack for a coyote. But I do think the barking does keep some preds away.

 

[Iluvmallards]

I love dachshunds I have 7, 2 are rescues, the people thought they were cute to get their girls for x-mas gifts when they were puppies, but when they got to be 7 months old and went into heat they didn't want them any more, they had never been to the vet, covered in fleas and lived in crates, at my house they have doggy doors and a huge fenced yard and a swimming pool, we have lots of fun, never a dull moment, when the grand kids come over everyone has a dog to take for a walk, they think they are German shepards, 3 of the boys went after a Great Dane one day, the Great Dane, thank heavens, just stood there looking at them, and yes when someone or something is in the yard that is not suppose to be, it gets pretty noisy!

 

[Quack Addict]

With a 2"x2" hole, I'm thinking you have a snake problem.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I love dachshunds I have 7, 2 are rescues, the people thought they were cute to get their girls for x-mas gifts when they were puppies, but when they got to be 7 months old and went into heat they didn't want them any more, they had never been to the vet, covered in fleas and lived in crates, at my house they have doggy doors and a huge fenced yard and a swimming pool, we have lots of fun, never a dull moment, when the grand kids come over everyone has a dog to take for a walk, they think they are German shepards, 3 of the boys went after a Great Dane one day, the Great Dane, thank heavens, just stood there looking at them, and yes when someone or something is in the yard that is not suppose to be, it gets pretty noisy!

I can't imagine having 7 of them lil barkers but I probably would have that many and more if it wasn't for a dh that keeps me in check with all my animals.. Yep I always said mine think they are Rottweilers crazy things. Sounds like you have a fun place to be!

 

[CTMuscovy]

Do you mean a 2 foot by 2 foot hole?

 

[Ace243]

It sounds to me like a mink/weasel problem. Ive had em kill my chickens...not a pretty sight. As for the sprung trap it was probably that the weasel was to small not to big. I know cus im a pretty avid trapper. A coyote killed mine last year so i know how you feel.

 

[Jacob Temple]

well how big are the holes in the wire it could be a weasel

 

[Ace243]

if u really do think its a fox though boil ur trap in baking soda and water (bout 4 tblspns per gallon). This takes off the shine and eliminates human oder. Also wear gloves when making ur set. If u dont do both of these u wont catch him.

 

[Iluvmallards]

I do think it was a fox or weasels something small bc the hole was a 2 1/2 to 3 inch circle, maybe more than one of what ever it was bc it took 3 in one night (big fat ducks) or it had a family to feed, I have been putting eggs and pieces of meat in the traps, but when I go out in the morning the meat is gone or the eggs have been cracked open and eaten in the trap and the trap is still open, but when my silkie chicks go in the trap their weight sets it off, I have seen a fox run across the road about a block from my house, I have never seen a weasel, I don't even know if their are weasels in n.c. Ace243 I am going to try the baking soda, before what ever it is figures out how to get in my coop, the coop is pretty tight, no holes or gaps its off the ground I just worry it will gnaw through, and I see something that looks like a den in a dead stump about 10 feet away from the coop

 

[Yukonn15]

I would like to know if anyone can tell what ate my duck. I have lost two in two months. The first one I believe she was carried because there was no sign of anything. The second was last night, Huge pile of feathers by the horse corral and the head left on the trail to the meadow. I haven't got the nerve up yet to walk down there to take a photo. Both times my husband and I were out of town and the care taker didn't make it back to the house to lock them up before dark.