Suddenly Vanished 4 ducklings

[Tinabuglaw]

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• Ducks

Predator Massacred Muscovy Ducklings​

• Thread starterTinabuglaw
• Start dateToday at 2:03 AM
• TagsNone

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• Today at 2:03 AM
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[IMG alt="Tinabuglaw"]https://www.backyardchickens.com/data/avatars/m/627/627192.jpg?1682950089[/IMG]

Tinabuglaw​

Songster​

So I went outside yesterday evening to put the ducks and geese and muscovies away. I noticed immediately that Roadrunner, my female new mama, was not with her chicks. She originally had seven and lost two of them somewhere along the way. But today, four of her remaining five were lying all over the place in the yard, bloodied and dead. One of them had a puncture wound and another had of gash in her head. We planned on inspecting them closer to see what kind of predator we were dealing with, so I put them in a short line back to back and took a picture. But before I could do that, I turned my back and something literally took 3 of the 4 bodies that were left! The only one that was left was the one that looked like it had a heart attack.

I'm worried about Roadrunner. When I brought her to the coop today she was very cooperative didn't scratch me or kick. She didn't really try to run from me either. We called her Roadrunner because we could never catch her in fact she was gone for a month somewhere in the woods hatching her babies. I'm just wondering what I can do for mom and if anybody knows what kind of pain she might be in.

 

[The Coop Crew]

I’m so sorry for your loss I don’t have any advice or answers but sending hugs

 

[Hungry Chicken]

Oh my gosh I am so sorry for your and Roadrunner's loss. That is absolutely terrifying. She must be facing the motherly pain of losing her children, I think she might be in shock. Maybe she's also traumatized by whatever killed her chicks. Sending support and love

 

[Penpal]

I'm sorry you are suffering with this. I really don't know what would kill the ducklings, then come back and remove them. It would help if you put your location in.

 

[McChooky]

If you didn't see or hear anything and found them all dead except the momma it rules out an aerial predator.They kill one at a time but land predators are different. If you don't have a fenced run and a dog to watch over them all whatever killed these will be back.I don't know of any predator brave enough to have taken the dead ducks you left laying there

 

[McChooky]

The momma duck needs to kept inside tonight and kept in a quiet spot without any bright lights.I would inspect her closely for any wounds because I suspect whatever was after her ducklings attacked her first.Give her water with a tsp sugar for energy and feed her if you can. You may have to encourage her to eat by giving her treats

 

[McChooky]

Dogs don't usually eat what they kill or I'd say that is what this is.This may have been rats or a raccoon.