What killed my Khaki Campbell last night?

[Lynette]

I woke up this morning to find my ducks door had been opened. I knew I would find one of them dead when I saw that because I know I have raccoons around here. I want to know if it looks like a raccoon probably did this. I was live trapping them and letting them go on state land, but now I want every one of them shot! She was my one of my favorites.

 

[Amiga]

Oh, awful.

It may have been a raccoon. There is a forum on BYC for Predators and Pests. An article there is this

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/18670/poultry-predator-identification

It also could have been a fox or coyote, perhaps even some kind of weasel.

But when you wrote the duck´s door had been opened . . . . what kind of latch do you have? Was it an error locking up, or worse and I hesitate to ask - might a human have opened the door as an act of vandalism?

Raccoons have a reputation for being able to open simple latches.

Some are rather large and may be able to push open a light sliding door.

 

[Lynette]

The house they are in is surrounded by a pen with chicken wire on it and the main door was still locked. That's why I think it was a raccoon because there is no cover on it and I think it climbed on the wooden posts and got in that way. The lock is on the top of the door, so to open it, you also have the weight of the door also. But I am going to change the lock today just to be safe. I am just so upset and angry right now!! I don't know how to shoot a gun but now I want my husband to show me how so I can get my revenge personally!

 

[Amiga]

You are right to be angry. I think I understand. See if some of that energy can go toward thwarting future attacks, because you know it will be back. And if you have the time to read that link, it may give you some good information (may not, you may already know what you need).

Building the duck housing in 2010, I worked to try to think like a raccoon, a coyote, a fox, a bobcat . . . . and there is still no 100% iron clad guarantee I won't lose someone to predators. We have so many. I have begun to carry the proverbial big stick. I mean a physical big hickory stick, when I walk the ducks for foraging. They range, but not unsupervised.

At times I wish the local Y would offer martial arts classes for dealing with predators.

 

[Jenn1399]

I am so sorry!

 

[Lynette]

I have already told my husband that I want to put new locks on and put fencing all around the run so nothing will happen again. I am also going to look at my chicken coop doors and run just to be sure I don't see a way in on those. And then I will have a trap set tonight.

 

[Mum]

Oh I am so sorry for your loss

Whatever killed an ate your duck, certainly kept things neat and tidy!! They are laid out so particularly, so I'm going to say it was not a fox (that's as much as I know).