Something is killing our mallards. advice?

[ameliagrace]

Hi

a few hours ago I found a female mallards wing in our field, no body or large amounts of blood, just the wing and a bone. last week 7 of our baby mallards went missing in the night, even though they were locked inside our barn, also 2 females have been found dragged outside and dead in the last 2-3 weeks in our other pasture. this is the latest one she was let out this morning and I fed her like usual with the other ducks, I was with them until 10 or 11 am, left for a bit and came back at 2 and she was still in the fields with the others, I left after checking on them and when I got home at about 6 I found her. they are all completely free foaming but usually stay inside the fence or inside the goats stalls, our 5 acres are 97% covered with trees and they're usually hiding under them. none of their wings are clipped either. there's usually 5-6 people on our property ALL day, so I have no idea whats big enough to rip a wing off of a duck and also get away with it without anyone seeing OR hearing them, the ducks share a field with our goats, donkeys AND alpaca and whenever they see any movement they go crazy. i'm so concerned for the safety of our pekins and the rest of the mallards. she was my old girl Donny and I don't wanna lose any more of my kiddos, any advice or thoughts on what could be getting them? or what I should do to protect them?

 

[chickens really]

I'm thinking Fox..Unless they can be penned in the predator knows where his next meal is coming from. Possibly a Raccoon or possum got the Ducklings?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe even a Bobcat they have such stealth they could easily sneak . I have always heard donkeys are great LSGuardians. But on 5 acres that would give a predator plenty of time to grab and run off with a Mallard. I would def put up a fenced area close to your house with a secure cover over top and fencing nothing can slip through Minks can get through 1" openings that is really the only way to protect you birds.

Very sorry for your losses.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Once they get attacked it's a good idea to go into lock down for a bit. You might even discover what it is and be able to take it out before it gets anymore if your babies.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

I'm sorry for your losses hun...where are you from? I'm thinking something in the weasel family

Your other livestock should have reacted to something larger

 

[MissChick@dee]

What ever it is it now knows where to get a meal and will return. I would suggest keeping them in the barn and wire some of your panels for a pen until you can dispatch whatever it is. Even if the predator is the one doing the killing it attracts others that eat the carcass it’s a cycle. So frustrating and heartbreaking. I would do night perimeter walks. My husband and I have for the last two nights. Never go alone and always be prepared (iffin you know what I mean)I’m sorry for your loss. I hope you find your answer. Best wishes.

 

[ameliagrace]

Well, it's pretty much been confirmed by our neighbors that it's 2 giant raccoons. anyone ever dealt with raccoons... safely? we are gonna try and trap them tonight, but i'm not sure what to do with them afterwards. any recommendations?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Send them on their way to predator heaven

 

[50-45-1]

Dispatch any and all racoons you trap. They can travel miles back to there home ground.
Just so you know , old barns are not great at protecting your flock from predators. To many holes and cracks. A weasil, one of natures best killing creatures can fit in a hole about the size of a quarter.
what killed your birds sounds more like a coon or possum. A fox or coyote would have taken the birds back to there den to eat them.
I find a baby monitor helps me know when something is happening in my coop.
How is a predator that size getting inside your barn?

 

[ameliagrace]

Ooh I didn't even think about a baby monitor, I might have to go pick one of those up. I think killing them would be the best option too, don't want them getting anyone elses birds either. thanks for your suggestions, I'm setting up a new big wire coop inside of our barn tonight too, so hopefully nothing can get them.