What happened to my ducks?

[WmMcCar]

I’ve lost my 2 jumbo Pekin ducks just days apart. I found My first duck about 4 days ago and she was out of her pen when I found her, she was about 20 feet from it. She was missing her feather, skin and meat off her back. She was also missing tail and neck feathers. She had a big puncher wound on her head and smaller one on her neck. She was still alive when I found her but passed shortly after. We than put a covering over the top of the pen. Today I went out to find her mate dead in the pen. He looked like his neck was broken and was missing feathers and skin and only a little bit of meat off his breast. I really thought a bald eagle had gotten to the first one but now with the second one I’m completely stumped and confused on what could have done this. Also all of my chickens are fine, and that also confuses me as to why it went after the ducks and not the chickens. Any ideas?

 

[IvysAnimals]

Are you locking them up in the pen at night? Ducks can be easier to catch than a flighty chicken that puts up a fight. Are there any predator marks that dig or go in the pen? It could be a fox, coyote, dog, raccoon, or a mink... Because it's grabbing from the back and there's not too much being taken off, I would think a smaller animal like a mink maybe? Are there any signs of any predators or predator break ins, maybe foot prints?

 

[Birdsonghill]

Everything eats chickens and ducks. They have to be in a secure coop and run or will be vulnerable to attacks. Some get lucky for years and get away with less secure facilities, most do not pass for long before a loss occurs from predation. Minks tend to kill many birds at a time, with a single bite or maybe two to the head or neck and then only eat a small choice bit of one chicken. Usually internal organs like the liver and heart. They often hunt in pairs. Raccoons tend to tear up their food a bit more and eat flesh and organs. The key is to provide a more secure home for your ducks and chickens. If you can not tolerate predator losses a secure covered run and coop are necessary! Best wishes for you and your flock.