I've got a big problem with predators killing my ducks lately and I very strongly suspect they're some kind of raptor, but I don't know what.
I found one of my juvenile Harlequin drakes dead, but no blood and found one Muscovy girl (approx 7lbs) the day after I noticed she was missing; she was alive, had walked back to her flock-mates when I saw her covered in dried blood. I saw that all the feathers had been plucked from the back of her neck and all the skin had been eaten off the back of the neck too. Some of the meat had been eaten off of her "shoulders" as well. She smelled like rotten meat but I figured that was because she'd been like that for 24 hours before I found her.
Two days later I found another Muscovy hen of the same size with a much fresher wound, same description. She was coated in fresh blood and had walked back to the barn to be with the rest of her ducks.
Last night I found my juvenile Khaki Campbell hen eaten up horribly but alive and smelling like rotten meat. Also 3 other ducks: 2 Harlequins and another Campbell dead but no blood.
Of course, each time I've continually stepped up preventative measures and finally resorted to keeping them all in their barns during the day. Which is terrible when it 101 degree heat index... I have fans for them but I know it just blows the hot air around. Unfortunately, it appears that word got out that I was hosting a duck buffet for lazy raptors and there are probably at least 4 of these hunters perched on my property somewhere.
I haven't seen them or heard them so I don't know what I'm up against. I'd say from the size of the ducks and the fact that I have mastiffs on the property that it's got to be an eagle or a great horned owl.
Anybody know what's killing my ducks?
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