Duck genocide HELP

[Shelbylynn96]

A month ago I had a flock of 10 including: 3 runners(1m 2f), 4 Campbell’s (3m 1f), 2 Anconas(2m), and 1 m Rouen. We suddenly had a horrible blizzard out of nowhere one night so when one f runner disappeared (we still haven’t found her) we didn’t think much of it, we kinda just assumed she blew off and joined one of my neighbors flocks as all my ducks have their flight feathers. One day when it finally warmed up enough for some snow to melt I went out looking for her and found that my male runner had died, it was well above 40 degrees so I know he didn’t freeze but we thought maybe he had a heart attack from the thunder because we had a storm that day (he didn’t have any bite marks and was laying right out in the open so an animal getting him didn’t seem like a possibility). Today I just got home and noticed my last female runner was missing from the flock so I went out looking for her and found her dead in their hutch. Today the weather has been above 45 degrees, no storm just beautiful weather. So now I’m thinking it was the male Campbell’s and Anconas who have been killing all the runners. Does anyone else have any ideas why they might do this? Or maybe any other ideas on why only the runners died? Should I separate the female Campbell and the Rouen from the male Campbell’s and Anconas? I’m sorry this is so long I’m a bit hysterical right now, I love my duckies and the runners have always been my favorites (other than the Rouen, he’s my lil fatty and just the sweetest duck ever)

 

[Fluffnut]

That many drakes together might be an issue, but if you didn't see any marks or missing feathers, I would guess it to be some kind of genetic thing or illness. That's really weird, I'm so so sorry!

 

[Fluffnut]

Was there something in the environment/ food and water that could be to toxic to them? Or anything new? The first missing female might just be missing, but the other two may've been sick? Or have a genetic heart failure- on the off chance they were all related?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Have you noticed a lot of mating going on? That many drakes could def kill a lone female and other drakes if enough joined in. Very sorry for your loss

 

[Shelbylynn96]

Thank you for all the answers!! We’ve had this flock for over a year now and only had one aggressiveness issue when they were babies but never again. All of them pretty much stick together in a flock so I don’t see how only the few could have been poisoned. I haven’t noticed any more breeding than normal, and the second runner that died was a male. I haven’t noticed any sickness in the runners but it is possible that they’re related, we got them all from the same farm but they were each very different colors (silver, black, and white) also if is genetic wouldn’t it be strange that two ducks woul die so close together. Although if they are related and a weakened immune system was genetic I guess it would make sense if they got sick, but again I didn’t notice any signs of sickness(though admittedly I have a hard time catching the runners so I may have missed anything that you can’t see from 10’) Again thank you so much for taking the time to help a fellow duck lover!

 

[storiesandglass]

I'm so sorry, darn it!! I am not very experienced, but I did just recently read that many ducks are sensitive to mold. Is it possible that their food, bedding, hutch or another part of their environment has gotten moldy?

 

[Loopeend]

The female runner could have not fly away.

You do have a lot of males. For every species no females, or too little females.
I am not an expert in other duck species then Runners. But could it be they got in a fight during mating season, the female was killed somewhere by over-mating (unfortunately not found) and the rest of the males still aggresive (there was still a Rouen female duck left) and the male runner ducks were easy prey since they can't fly/can be a bit more unstable due to their body posture? Or tend to be less of a mating-couple then the other breeds; and thus interfeared in they eye of the male of a mating-couple?

I again do not know anything about other breeds. I just know Indian runner ducks. And they can be savage. Pecking on the head/drowning/or combo (all leaving little injuries visible to the eye) cán happen and do happen. It often get worse with too many male ducks, or new non-related ducklings for both dominant men or dominant female.

I am sorry for your loss.