What Ate Our Duck?

[azhenhouse]

My son didn't lock up the Welch Hareliquins last night, and now one is dead. We have had these guys for five years, and because of pure laziness this has happened. If she had died because of a illness I wouldn't be so angry right now, but this is so unexceptabe. I'm trying to figure out what got to Skittles. She is our first WH to die. We have owls but when one got into our chicken coop and got our favorite rooster, he pulled his head off. This girl was opened under her wing, and gutted. Graphic I know.

Thoughts?

 

[RodNTN]

I'm soo sorry about what happened. Its best to make closing your poultry up at night a routine.

 

[RodNTN]

As for the wounds, what wild animals do you have around your house besides owls? Foxes? Raccoons? Skunks? Dogs? Coyotes? Weasels? Possums?

 

[azhenhouse]

It is a routine. The ducks have their own coop and every night they get put up, except last night. My son (16) decided that because they weren't going in like they should he would let them stay out. Hard lesson learned!

 

[RodNTN]

Yeah, all of this week we are going to be gone in the evenings and I can get pretty impatient when they won't go in the coop because they aren't ready. But its worth taking the time to 'herd' them up. Even if it means picking each bird up and placing them in the coop, shutting the door, getting another bird, putting them in the coop, closing the door, etc.

 

[RodNTN]

it takes some time buts its worth it.

 

[Gray Farms]

I'd say probably a raccoon. They generally go for the crop and gizzards.

 

[RodNTN]

X2

 

[RodNTN]

Quote: Originally posted by azhenhouse I know what you mean! Sometimes its hard to put them up early when their used to free ranging.

 

[Lilki]

Raccoons got several of our animals before we installed better security measures. They stole two chickens, massacred our koi, and ate our turtles. With the exception of the turtle shells, though, the raccoons didn't leave any of the animal behind. They just.. disappeared. Since then I tend to blame raccoons on everything since I've seen what they can do. In my experience, though, they take the whole animal.

It could be a skunk or coyote as well. I would think a coyote would take the whole thing too though.

I'm so sorry for your loss- it's terrible to lose them like that.