What predator can do this?

[Chullicken]

Just lost half my flock over a week period to an Ermine (Weasel). I kept closing holes and it kept getting in daily. The last attack I was actually standing there, had time to get my gun and load it, and missed the little bastard by centimeters. It had even begun to tear off shake shingles from the coop exterior but thankfully its solid behind that. Figured out finally I had a hole in my run apron under the ground where moles had burrowed in. Point is, you've got an Ermine more than likely. Close and cover every inch of your duck house with hardware cloth because it won't stop until their either gone or all dead. And they will kill during the hours of daylight if the opportunity presents itself. Sorry for your loss.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I’m so thankful we don’t have them where I live. What on earth kinda vermin just kills to kill. I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope & pray you get it and it’s whole fam-damn-ily!!! What a horrible experience

 

[Kris5902]

Wrap everything in the smallest mesh hardware cloth you can acquire! Roll it out and staple it (fencing staples,not just staple gun staples!) down to the floors even. Mink/weasels/ermine are nasty, and kill just because they can. I’m thankful I haven’t had to deal with any yet... just coons, but a neighbor had their 20 Icelandics taken out by one about a month ago.

 

[beckylm]

I've had about 80 birds killed by mink over a couple years. Often, I couldn't find any marks. They grab by the base of the neck or head and hold on till the bird is dead. They go from bird to bird till all in the building are all dead.

All the other ducks were not touched. Just the one and he said there was just one hole. From what I’ve heard like you said a mink would have went after all of them. That’s what is so confusing.

 

[FT Chickens]

I would get in contact with a local fur trapper, if it season (as it is where I live, and you do have something in your pond). They would be happy to come and trap it for free for the fur.

 

[Kris5902]

They don’t always kill them all at once... sometimes they will come back picking them off slowly, then one day randomly kill them all, or maybe it’s didn't get all the way into your coop yet? My neighbor lost a few birds a day for several days, then one morning opened their coop and found a mass murder. When it comes to some predators it’s a kill or your chickens will be killed situation!

I like the thought of a local Fur trapper, free service and the animal isn’t wasted. That’s what bugs me the most about weasels (generalizing), the wanton killing and they don’t even eat your chicken fully!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What is your location? In many states it may be fur season. However, in my state, if an animal is killing your livestock, Dept. of Conservation allows trapping the animal any time of year.

 

[aart]

What can chew thru wood and get thru that small of a hole and be in water?!?

Is duck house floating?

All the other ducks were not touched. Just the one and he said there was just one hole. From what I’ve heard like you said a mink would have went after all of them. That’s what is so confusing.

Might be that it was interrupted in it's meal by keeper.
Cover that hole, it'll be back.
Gotta pic of hole?
Game cam if you've got one and really want to know what pred.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Wrap everything in the smallest mesh hardware cloth you can acquire!

One thing I noticed... the smaller whole in the wire... the smaller gauge of wire... I wonder if 1/2 inch larger gauge is better than 1/4 inch smaller gauge... Does the smaller gauge offer more protection or simply become easier to chew through?

 

[llombardo]

One thing I noticed... the smaller whole in the wire... the smaller gauge of wire... I wonder if 1/2 inch larger gauge is better than 1/4 inch smaller gauge... Does the smaller gauge offer more protection or simply become easier to chew through?

The 1/2 inch is stronger. I made the mistake of ordering the 1/4, then found out the 1/2 inch is better so I sent it back and got the 1/2 inch.