What bites heads off baby ducks?

[Filalady]

I had about sixty baby ducks and now I'm down to about sixteen. Almost all the babies I've found have had their heads gone. A few were even skinned and gutted but not eaten have found a couple that were half grown. What would do this? Some are just tiny and I would think anything would be able to carry them off. So frustrating!!!

 

[luvmypets]

I had about sixty baby ducks and now I'm down to about sixteen. Almost all the babies I've found have had their heads gone. A few were even skinned and gutted but not eaten have found a couple that were half grown. What would do this? Some are just tiny and I would think anything would be able to carry them off. So frustrating!!!

Im so sorry that sounds awful. That sounds like a rat. We had a rat eat our silkies head and just leave the body!

 

[BayBay Peepers]

It could be a number of predators from the common cat to a raccoon. What kind of protection do you offer them from predators?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I had about sixty baby ducks and now I'm down to about sixteen. Almost all the babies I've found have had their heads gone. A few were even skinned and gutted but not eaten have found a couple that were half grown. What would do this? Some are just tiny and I would think anything would be able to carry them off. So frustrating!!!

Over what sort of time period has this taken place - was it all one night, or over a period of days/weeks?
Are the birds in an enclosure and, if so, can you provide some details about it (this will help narrow who may/may not have been able to gain access to do the damage)?

 

[laughingdog]

Cats. weasel if all blood gone maybe, raccoon may gnaw heads off and eat if one or not real hungry. Cat sounds most likely though.. sorry for your loss.

 

[Filalady]

My birds free range. I penned them last year but only got 2 or 3 babies, the ducks fought over nests and trampled the ducklings. I have a Mastif who sleeps where they are. The part that puzzles me is that I also have about 100 chickens from full grown down to week old banties that are also free range but have found no dead chicks.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

So, was this over a period of time or all in one night? Knowing that there is no predator protection (dog aside) opens up the list of possible culprits considerably.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Do you lose them during the day or night? You may want to consider penning them at night. Like heavy duty protection now that the predator knows there's a free meal waiting.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

If you decide to make a pen (even just at night) make sure you cover a few bases. Either make just the impenetrable pen. Make sure it's ventilated enough, but nothing large enough for duck eaters. If you make a pen I recommend regular 12 gauge wire and then a hardware cloth so no grubby paws can sneak through. I would either bury the fence into the ground or at least bring it out so nothing can dig underneath.

 

[Filalady]

Thank you for your reply, I will try to put them up at night. They like to settle down in the brush at night. I'm unsure when they have been killed as every day I find two or three causalties. They roam on a couple of acres.