Whats killing my ducks :(

[DucksNChicks]

Came out back today and I saw that I only had five ducks instead of six found him with his head almost off in the back of the coup. I found a small hole that I fixed, but I still want to know what killed him. Here are some pictures of poop i found out back where whatever it was got in, and some weird markings on some saplings

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b516/fireforge1979x2/Woolwich-20130406-00056_zps7c8771b2.jpg

 

[mpruett]

Came out back today and I saw that I only had five ducks instead of six found him with his head almost off in the back of the coup. I found a small hole that I fixed, but I still want to know what killed him. Here are some pictures of poop i found out back where whatever it was got in, and some weird markings on some saplings

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b516/fireforge1979x2/Woolwich-20130406-00056_zps7c8771b2.jpg

The droppings appear to be rabbit poop. The markings on the sapling could also be chew marks from rabbits. The poop does looks like it consists of woody debris as opposed to fresh green vegetation. The poop will change according to season. Raccoons typically kill ducks and chickens by biting the head or neck area. They can reach through fences, netting or holes, grab a duck or chicken, kill it and pull it through the opening bit by bit. I'm sorry if this is too graphic but it is a reality.

 

[sourland]

- sorry for the circumstances. Poop and barking on saplings is the result of rabbit activity. Duck may have been killed by a wide variety of predators - can they be locked in a coop at night, and is your pen covered? A live trap baited with part of the duck body may very well catch the predator.