[Backinwellies]

     just found  our first duck almost  dead by stream. (just managed to stop grandaughter spotting it)   OH had to dispose.  Why was it killed and not taken?

[kaz]

It was probably a fox. They kill just for the fun of it. I lost 10 chickens Wednesday morning and have only found 5 bodies so far.
There has also been sightings of a lot of mink as well this year.
   for the duck.

[Backinwellies]

Any ideas what did this?

......  The duck wasn't quite dead .... just had a neat oval wound about 3"  x  2" .... exposing bones,  on its back.  No sign of fight.

It was a very wet day or I would have suspected Buzzard  ............  ideas please   I dont want to lose the other 5

[MAK]

Old age?
We found a couple of dead sparrows around the barn and looked for an explanation until the OH said " why can't they die from old age - just like us".
Good point I guess - as the Monty Python Parrot sketch suggests - birds do just die..

[Anke]

stoat or weasel? We lots all the occupants of our smaller henhouse recently - while inside during the night and no sign of forced entry as they would say... but the mesh for ventilation would be big enough holes for one to squeeze through...

[Bionic]

Linda, I had the same with my Indian runners. Lost 2 within a couple of days. Found both bodies floating on the pond. I have no idea what happened. It remains one of lifes mysteries

[Backinwellies]

Definitely not old age Mak ...... they only about 15 weeks old!

[doganjo]

Definitely not old age Mak ...... they only about 15 weeks old!

And not with a wound on it's back - a fox would have gone for the throat I think, and I'd have thought stoats etc too as they are lower to the ground than the duck. Any dogs around?  That's how my old GWP killed one of mine (by accident) - caught it as it was trying to run away from her and grabbed - didn't mean to kill her but Hester had big teeth    Allez used to catch them too but he always picked them up round the body and bring them to hand, as they are supposed to., and they didn't seem to run from him.

[happygolucky]

I wonder if it was a Drake holding on or more than one Drake, then drowning her....

[Backinwellies]

Sorry no drakes here!

[Louise Gaunt]

Buzzards pluck feathers out first and then make a hole, in the chest in the case if my hens, so it may gave been a buzzard attack.

[happygolucky]

I think it must be another big bird and they could not carry the duck.....I know my daughters ducks were killed buy a fox but as others say, they usually take their heads off or at least get at their necks! Lets hope its a problem that's solved. I mentioned the Drake as the Drake we had did that to a chicken

[Backinwellies]

Hmmm ..... Bertie the Buzzard used to come here for a daily feed by previous owners ... I continued to feed him  until he went off to play with the ladies in spring ..... I wonder if he thought I'd been breeding him live bait for this winter?    Had discounted him due to the weather yesterday .... rained most of day .... but wound much more like a bird attack  and i think a fox would have attacked more than one?

[Hillview Farm]

I had a drake taken by a fox who killed it, The fox was disturbed and had dragged it out into a field so I went and got him. There was holes about the same size as yours on his back so I think its a fox!

[Backinwellies]

Oh not so good .... fox will be much more of a problem..........