What predator can do this?

[beckylm]

I had a duck separated in the duck house because of a hurt leg. She just had one of those metal round dog pens around her. This morning I went in to let her rejoin the flock and she was in the corner dead. The back of her neck was a little bloody and she had a small hole at the base of her neck. My boyfriend buried her and underneath her there was like a 2 inch hole. The floor of their house is wood planks like a deck. All the other ducks were fine. We also can see something poking its head out of the pond when we are inside the house. What can chew thru wood and get thru that small of a hole and be in water?!? We are thinking a mink? I’m worried for my other ones now. We patched the hole but how long until they chew thru again? ‍

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Mink or weasel.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry for your loss.

Yes something in the mink/weasel family.

1/2 inch hardware cloth is recommended. You are correct to be concerned.. it will be back for more chicken dinner.

Also, welcome to BYC!

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Mink or weasel.

Ditto

 

[ronott1]

It does sound like a mink or weasel

 

[Naser]

Sorry for your loss
I would say a mink, you really need to reinforce the walls of your coop, mink is nasty it kills everything in it's way and can squeeze through small holes. remember chicken wire will not stop it, try trapping it.
Good luck

 

[MissChick@dee]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[beckylm]

It came through the floor of the house.

Sorry for your loss
I would say a mink, you really need to reinforce the walls of your coop, mink is nasty it kills everything in it's way and can squeeze through small holes. remember chicken wire will not stop it, try trapping it.
Good luck

It came through the floor which is deck board wood.

 

[beckylm]

There were no teeth marks. I read minks drink blood. Would you be able to see teeth marks? There was just one small hole at the base of the neck.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

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.