What would go after my ducks in this manner?

[Smartie_Pants]

Two of my ducks have gone missing within about a week and a half. The first dissapeared and the only trace was tons of feathers on the ground. The second it left the body and very few feathers were on the ground. The neck didn't feel broken at all, and there were no bite marks or traces of blood.

We have had no predator problem before and have only lost three ducks, a long time ago, and they were spaced months apart. What do you think is doing it?

 

[willowcol]

Sorry for your loss! Can't help with predators but sure someone else will help you soon.

 

[rhopeisnhim]

I just lost nine ducks in three days one of which was laying on eggs. No feathers, no blood, no trace of anything. Does anyone know what would have done this? We have lived here for over 6 years and have never had this problem. They seem to disappear while we are not at home. Thanks

 

[nzpouter]

the feathers you found, are they in some kind of a circular shape on the ground?

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

Sorry for your loss.

The missing duck with the feathers left behind sounds like a fox (a fox has gotten 3 of our chickens, each time they're completely gone with just feathers remaining). When the bodies are gone it is usually canine (dog, coyote, fox).

The second duck's death is more of a mystery. I have no suggestions as to that one.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
Explain that, please. You make me think Aliens.

 

[Smartie_Pants]

I didn't see the feathers of the first one until after my mom ran over them with the lawn mower and notices they were the color of my duck, so IDK.

When our ducks went missing before, two just dissappered about 2 years ago, and then last fall another just went missing. We've never had them dissappearing so fast with feathers left behind. There were no traces of the others at all. We haven't noticed any new dogs around (there is a chow, but we've lived here almost four years and its come around before and never even looked twice at our animals) and we've never see any true predators around. We did hear coyotes once, but just once in almost four years.

 

[nzpouter]

Quote:
Explain that, please. You make me think Aliens.

raptors.. they'll stand on top of their prey and start plucking before they eat. The feathers plucked will be drop around the carcass of the prey, by the time they finish, what's left is a skeleton stripped clean of meat and feather on a circular shape around the skeleton.... if the bones are missing then I guess you have a carry on animals nearby as well.

.... on the other hand, if the feather leave a straight trail line then it's most likely a canine family.

 

[jessaree]

My guess would be a 'coon. I just lost 5 baby mallards to one, sounds like the same thing that happened to mind.

He won't be bothering the ones I have left...hopefully his friends learned a lesson from his demise & won't bother them.

 

[Smartie_Pants]

I thought about that, but these were big ducks that would have been the size of a coon. The neck wasn't broken, no bite marks, middle of the day, and their heads weren't eaten. I thought raccoons might not fit some of those.