What predator eats only the beak and feet?

[shelleyd2008]

Or eats them at all? I found one of my Rouen duck's ducklings floating in a water pan they use for bathing. The pan is short enough that they (ducklings) can get out so it's not the problem.

The duckling's beak and both feet were missing and that's it. It was crested, and the crest area was 'messed up' but wasn't really eaten.

What animal will eat these parts?

 

[Blue_Myst]

Opossum comes to mind, a Raccoon would be capable of it, too. I think there was a thread recently posted about someone whose Silkies were having their beaks eaten by something, perhaps you can find some answers there, too.

You might want to post in the Predator section--you'll probably get more answers!

 

[CatDaddyAlbert]

Possum...for the most part they just kill to be killing, but sometimes they will eat a little but usually not much.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I followed the link from the learning center and this is where it sent me. I didn't even realize that it was the wrong one

(originally posted in the emergencies thread).


A friend of mine told me that it was probably mink?

 

[yinepu]

opossums usually just want the blood and arent interested in the meat.. though I have found that if there are eggs around they will raid the nest first.. and if that fills them up they will usually ignore the birds

 

[Gullygarden]

Or a rat.

 

[geebs]

RAT!!!!!

 

[remuda1]

Rat was my first thought as well

 

[flowergirl60]

Quote:
This is the right section.

 

[Capvin]

Rats are the most likely culprit. They are known to do just what you have described especially with chickens on the roost at night.