The Poultry Keeper

Peckhams · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Scotland

Happy New Year to you all. Very Happy

Wondered if anyone out there recognises these signs?

Hens and ducks are totally free range - but they are locked up each night.
Last night went to lock up the birds - hens were all fine.

Absolutely mortified to find the duck house empty. Crying or Very sad

This years duckling (still think of him as such) dead - attacked around the neck only - body fully intact and untouched - still very warm. No sign of the other 3 - no feathers anywhere to be seen.

Found 2 in different locations - very scared but ok - caught them up and put them into a safe pen. My drake is still nowhere to be seen. I've hunted all over today - for signs of him, dead or alive! Absolutely nothing.

Could it be a fox? I would have expected more feathers!
Or is it more likely to be a mink or weasel?

I wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience? (Hopefully not!)

Any thoughts would be appreciated...

debcat · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:20 pm Post subject:

really sorry about your ducks Crying or Very sad

I haven't lost any that way, but, would of thought a fox would leave more of a mark
Hopefully someone will be able to help you

Peckhams · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Scotland

Thanks Debs,
I too, would have thought there would be a lot more signs of chaos and would not have expected such an obvious attack on only the neck - if it were a fox. We've been very lucky so far never to have our birds attacked - so don't have anything to compare with.
We do live close to water - so wondered if it may be even be a mink - can't seem to find typical 'killing patterns' on the internet. The 2 remaining ducks are out of there at the moment - in a little pen - with a new duck house! - xmas present - I want them to use their new home - closer to the house - daren't let them loose again at the moment - poor things keeps quacking to the missing drakes - I've read that if it is a weasel - they'll keep coming back now - anyone know if this is true? Or could it be a fox? Would electric netting keep something as small as a weasel out? If that's what it is!
Thanks for your interest.
By the way - Mojo - if you're out there? - how do you identify a rat attack?

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

So sorry to hear about your traumatic time.
I only have had one chick taken by a predator - and we had NO signs whatsover, so we never did identify it.

Can't advise i'm afraid - but wanted to let you know how sad I am for you. I know I would be heartbroken

Debs

Peckhams · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Scotland

Thanks a lot Debs,

Traps are going out tomorrow - trouble is not sure what we're after. We had a vigil today for the first few hours of twilight with Uncle Winchester - but no takers!
I think revenge is the only way to go forward - thanks for your reply, hope you and your brood are all well - Peckhams are all fine - wondering why the ducks get the new house!

Debbie

debcat · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:28 pm Post subject:

Never used an electric fence,
I think Nigel and Steph do though I'm not sure how effective they'd be against mink

Hope you manage to catch whatever in the traps

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7344 Location: isle of lewis

bit graphic but how far apart if you could see it where the insizer marks .
suz

Peckhams · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Scotland

Couldn't see any individual marks - the neck was totally exposed - looked like it had been cut open with a fillet knife

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7344 Location: isle of lewis

could i just make a bit of a suggestion do you have a good ,friendly local vet,give them a ring and ask them they seem to know more about predators in their area ,we have an otter on the west side that kills lambs each year Shocked

and i wouldn't have even thought of it ,a friend that had some of hers taken when we found them had a neat round hole taken out of the neck ,a mink was trapped 2 days later by the duck house ,i hope this has been some help Smile

suz

Peckhams · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Scotland

Many thanks Suz,
Very helpful - I've got a brilliant vet - didn't think of asking him - so obvious now you've said...
The more I think of it I am inclined to think that it isn't a fox - but - why has the drake disappeared? Could a mink carry off a 3lb duck?
Thanks for your help and interest - I really don't know what it is - but very worried that whatever it is will be back for more.
Debbie

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7344 Location: isle of lewis

the vet will know if he's or she's a good one ,people say a lot in conversation ,that sits in the back of the brain if you know what i mean Embarassed

we found them up and down the river quite a distance apart with the mink ,really had to look ,try a liver or something like that cat food ,in live trap
suz

Peckhams · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Scotland

Many thanks - will try that!
Loved the pics of your twins by the way - cheered me up!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Sorry to hear of the attack on your ducks, equally sorry that you haven't got the drakes back home, but pleased at least your chickens are safe.
I hope you manage to find out what it was and deal suitably with it. Are you sure it was an animal ~ the way you describe the neck, just seems odd.

CP · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:25 am Post subject:

So sorry to hear about your ducks. Crying or Very sad

I know that if the feathers have blunt ends then it's likely to be a fox. And weasels can carry surprisingly large & heavy victims compared to their size.

I suppose you've ruled out human intervention? Confused

(as you say it looks like the throat was cut with a knife)

Peckhams · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Scotland

Definitely animal.
What I meant was that round the neck was very neat - the skin had been severed all the way round leaving all the neck exposed and only this area had been attacked and mauled. Poor thing.

Must get some shuteye...
Did you know - I'm a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac - I lie awake all night wondering if there's a DOG!

Bye for now - thanks all for your responses.