Last night I came home after dark, much later than I usually put the fowl away, to find the geese and ducks very agitated near the back door. I herded them all into their secure night pens. I had not counted the ducks, my oldest drake named Double Dot came staggering out from behind the shed. Long story short he had a large hole in his chest. I'd say a 2" round section of skin and feathers was torn off. Is this how a possum attacks? I know one is around, I've seen it several times, but none of the chickens, ducks or geese seemed to care and I just shooed it out of the shed. The other possibility is a skunk. The wound on the chest was the only sign of damage. Double Dot is still alive, my most wonderful dog vet stitched him up and gave him antibiotics, but he's not eating so I worry for him. Thanks
He is probably still just still pretty frightened and shook up from his ordeal. I am not sure what would have caused that - clearly a smaller critter as it didn't haul off your duck as a fox or coyote would do. And as it was on the chest I wonder if that would rule out owls/hawks. I am thinking maybe skunk or opossum or even a feral housecat. I thought maybe a weasel but I understand they kind go for the throat. Hope you can ID it and get rid of it! Good luck to you!
My oppossums do most of there business at night and they seldom go after something that is free to move around unless it is much smaller than oppossum. They are prone to go after something that is alive. You do not have enough information for me to figure out what is problem. Would be nice if you could describe where attack occured, especially with respect to details of location and how dislodged feathers are dispersed.
Thanks, I'm thinking smaller critter also. The geese may have chased it off. They are not very aggressive, however they do stop all duck and chicken activity they consider improper (fighting, mating etc.) I looked for tracks in the snow but I didn't see anything I could identify, and I didn't see any signs of a scuffle so I don't believe I found the attack sight.
We had possums eat the heads and necks of chickens in our coops years ago, we killed 2 in the coop. Raccoons are really bad too, killed adult geese too, working together. They will come back, both once they find a food source every couple of nights. Hot wire only thing that has stopped them.
