What did this to my duck? Warning: Graphic image

[SergeantSniffle]

It happened either at night or very early morning. I didn't see that he wasn't in the coop so I closed it and found him like this the next morning.

There was a pile of feathers and a couple pieces of flesh here too. You can see how flooded our yard is from the rain.

 

[redsoxs]

Not sure where your duck was located in relation to the coop. Some predators take them some distance, others don't. Tough to tell definitively from the pic but it looks like something a raccoon would do. Here's a predator chart that deals with how each predator does its business. It's depressing reading, particularly right after a loss like you're dealing with, but it's important to know what you're up against so you can keep it from happening again. You might want to set up a trail camera to ID the predator. Then plan how to keep him at bay or eliminate him. Good luck and sorry about your duck. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-predators-pests-how-to-protect-treat-your-flock

 

[carlf]

Most likely a raccoon. Maybe a mink, but mink usually don't consume the entire bird.
Time to set a trap, it will be back.
Its a little morbid, but bait the cage trap with the remains of the duck.
Do you have a pellet gun or .22?

 

[SergeantSniffle]

Ok yeah I had some quail get eaten too. All that was left of them were feathers, and they were in a tractor so I assume the darn raccoon reached in and pulled them out piece by piece. I don't think it was a mink, we're in a suburban and not near any kind of stream or water. I buried the duck's remains so I'll have to use meat or something. I have some old cage things but they don't close by themselves so I might have to borrow or buy a trap.

 

[Yrat]

definitely a raccoon. raccoons actually wash their hands in water to keep clean. after the meal, it must have cleaned up at the water's edge. one of the tell-tale signs of a raccoon is often blood/feathers/pieces in the chicken's water. in your case, he/she used the flooded puddle instead.

 

[JanetMarie]

I would suggest doing a head count before closing the coop door from now on.

 

[centrarchid]

Dig up remains and use them to bait trap in same location you found them. If raccoon or even another predator, it will first check site of last meal.