Something killed our duck, please help identify predator

[AJinMO]

Hello, we have (had) 6 ducks (mixed breeds, 1 male, 5 females). We also have 3 toulouse geese.

Late last night/very early morning some time, one of our female ducks was killed. This is what the scene was like: she was killed approx. 8-10 feet away from their water trough, laying on her belly with her head & neck completely, and cleanly removed. There were feathers all around the carcass, and a small pool of blood about 6 feet away on a rubber mat we have by the gate.

We live in south-central Missouri near a small creek that is a few acres away. We have some woods on all sides, but there are some huge pastures of cows between our house & the woods towards the east of our house.

We know of one Barred owl that lives around our house, we hear & see him pretty often. We also see falcons, and hear coyotes at times. The ducks and geese are fenced in with welded wire fencing and have 2 small shelters.

Does anyone have a guess as to what the most likely culprit is? Thank you.

 

[Iain Utah]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry for your loss. I don't know what type of predator would do that, but I hope someone else who knows will reply.

 

[jdywntr]

At night, owl or raccoon. Both will just eat the head at times. Sometimes more sometimes take away the carcass.

You say they have 2 shelters. Are they secure housing or just shelters? You can expect whatever came to come back so secure housing at night is needed.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

owl, skunk, raccoon, weasel, dog, coyote, fox, you name it anything can and will grab a free meal of domestic duck. Sorry you suffered a loss, but as Lydia mentioned you need to provide them secure night time housing to protect from predators (geese arent guard animals and wont protect anything). Secure night time housing is with doors, latches hardware cloth and solid floors that you lock them inside of before sunset (dusk) and let them out at sunrise.

 

[AJinMO]

Thank you for the replies. We are happy to report that nothing happened last night, but we are still worried. We do have a barn to lock them in at night, but what is the best way to gather them? They are not very social and run away if we approch them, even though we raised them since they hatched. We tried to lure them in with feed, but they won't come. They wait until we leave the barn, then they'll go inside, but as soon as we get back to close the door, they freak out and take off. Thanks again for any help.

 

[jdywntr]

Thank you for the replies. We are happy to report that nothing happened last night, but we are still worried. We do have a barn to lock them in at night, but what is the best way to gather them? They are not very social and run away if we approch them, even though we raised them since they hatched. We tried to lure them in with feed, but they won't come. They wait until we leave the barn, then they'll go inside, but as soon as we get back to close the door, they freak out and take off. Thanks again for any help.

Feed them only in the evening. Shake the feed bucket and call to them. Usually you can herd even skitish birds by moving slowly, having a helper and using something to extend your reach like a branch, pole etc.
You can also try a special treat to lure them in. Peas usually work. They should eventually get the hang of it.

Make the door as small as possible, if there are 2 doors, close one. You can block part of the door opening so that they will not have as easy a time getting out when you shut them in. Move quietly.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

x2 what jdywntr said. Slow and steady movement, work in pairs, and herding is what works best here. Usually after 305 days of a new routine the ducks figure out whats up and work with us at bed time.

 

[CayugaLover]

owl, skunk, raccoon, weasel, dog, coyote, fox, you name it anything can and will grab a free meal of domestic duck. Sorry you suffered a loss, but as Lydia mentioned you need to provide them secure night time housing to protect from predators (geese arent guard animals and wont protect anything). Secure night time housing is with doors, latches hardware cloth and solid floors that you lock them inside of before sunset (dusk) and let them out at sunrise.

it was definitely not a fox. if a fox or coyote takes a bird, all that will be left is feathers. if nothing's left, it would have to be a human. i would say hawk. so sorry about your duck!!!