what preditor did it???Pekin Duck Tragedy.

[Penguino1]

One of my Pekins and an Isa Brown hen were taken Saturday morning. I can't even tell you have mug I miss them. Now I have a lonely male pekin and 2 isa brown hens in separate cages (chickens in the same cage and duck in different). We think it was a fox because it left no trace but feathers and there is a hole under the fence that the fox could've dug. Our neighbor hood is right up against a middle school, and my neighbor's house has a big pile of wood and debris. Is it possible the animal is living under the pile of debris? Some one help because I CANNOT loose another pet. My pets are everything to me so please answer. Also, what kind of animal do you think it is? the one on the left was the one who was killed

Sounds like a fox or weasel

 

[angel4tlbl]

I don't know if we have weasels around here. If we do, what can we do to protect our flock?

 

[peepsnquacks]

Helpppp!!! I have NO idea what happened, but we have a large hoop coop with 6 eight week old Pekin ducks, 4 eight week old chickens, 6 six week old Leghorns, and 5 four week old assorted other chickens. There is PLENTY of room for them all, as we have put in boxes and perches for roosting, etc. They all go out to play and eat grass and bugs in the evenings.
This morning, I found one of my eight week old Red Rangers, completely torn apart under both wings. It was like a chicken anatomy class, you could see ALL of its organs. No holes or blood anywhere else, no feathers anywhere around or missing from the chicken, looks like something just lifted its wings and removed the skin from both sides. Of COURSE, me being the only one at home, I had to put it down with a .22. First time I've ever had to do something like that, but I couldn't just let it sit there and die a horribly slow and painful death!!
Our coop is very predator proofed. Wire bottom, wire all the way around, chicken wire reinforced at the bottom half, and tarps covering over the roosting area.
Could my Pekins have done this?!?!? None of them are even old enough to be interested in breeding yet? And this is not a breeding injury, this was just horrible.....help help help, can anyone help me figure out the mystery of what happened?
Mr. Peeps (hubby) thinks the Pekins attacked it out of boredom and overcrowding, then once it was bleeding, all the chickens jumped in and pecked at it repeatedly. Please let me know your thoughts!!!! I don't know how to make a new thread, so I'm sorry for stealing this one....still learning to navigate around here....at least I'm in the right category?!?
I am heartbroken. The ducks and chickens are like my children. I love each and every one, and do everything to keep them healthy.

Thanks....
PeepsNQuacks