Very strange death, Please reply ASAP

[The Duck Ladie]

So I had gotten home, after a litte while it was reported to me that one of my ducks was dead. It was my campbell hen who had a little more than a week ago been attacked by one of the dogs. The dog didn't inflict any deep wounds, she basically pinned the poor duck down and tore all of her back feathers out. After some care she was acting fine, though she was still not as fast as she had been. Somone else took careof the ducks today, and they told me they were fine this morning, which means whatever happened happen between 9:00 am to about 45 minutes ago. The duck was found with her head turned back near her side. The really strange thing is that the back of her back, aside from her spine and maybe a few ribs, is hollow, like emptied out. I didn't see any blood around. Everything else looked intact. I have all the other ducks in a seperate pen at present. What got in? My best guess is that whatever got in got her since, because she was still recovering, she was slower. The other ducks seem fine.

 

[MagpieDucks]

Maybe try posting in the Predators and Pests forum.

My very uneducated guess would be a dog??

 

[Abriana]

Pictures would help, and I think it could have been a dog perhaps, but it would be a lot easier with pictures. I’m sorry about your duck

 

[The Duck Ladie]

I'm afraid they already buried it. The head wings and feet were intact. Her tail was intact but go right above the tail and she had been hallowed out. The spine was there, stilll with some flesh on it.

 

[Abriana]

I'm afraid they already buried it. The head wings and feet were intact. Her tail was intact but go right above the tail and she had been hallowed out. The spine was there, stilll with some flesh on it.

Oh, I didn’t know.

 

[The Duck Ladie]

Oh, I didn’t know.

It's ok

 

[CarleeAnn]

http://articles.extension.org/pages/71204/predator-management-for-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks

Maybe something in the weasel family?
So sorry for your loss.

 

[Star and eclipsa]

So I had gotten home, after a litte while it was reported to me that one of my ducks was dead. It was my campbell hen who had a little more than a week ago been attacked by one of the dogs. The dog didn't inflict any deep wounds, she basically pinned the poor duck down and tore all of her back feathers out. After some care she was acting fine, though she was still not as fast as she had been. Somone else took careof the ducks today, and they told me they were fine this morning, which means whatever happened happen between 9:00 am to about 45 minutes ago. The duck was found with her head turned back near her side. The really strange thing is that the back of her back, aside from her spine and maybe a few ribs, is hollow, like emptied out. I didn't see any blood around. Everything else looked intact. I have all the other ducks in a seperate pen at present. What got in? My best guess is that whatever got in got her since, because she was still recovering, she was slower. The other ducks seem fine.

I think that sounds alot like a hawk or falcon attacked her, but I'm no expert in this.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like a weasel or mink

What is your pen made of fencing etc and is the top covered?

 

[Star and eclipsa]

http://articles.extension.org/pages/71204/predator-management-for-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks

Maybe something in the weasel family?
So sorry for your loss.

I've heard that weasels only bite the neck and drink the blood, and from what I've learned a weasel would have probably killed more than just one duck. That is only what most people say on other posts though so I'm not sure it is true.