Predator ID

[MaineFarmMom]

I've had poultry for 13 years and lost a few to predators. I always know what what it was and how it happened. I'm stumped this time.

I let the ducks out of the barn and into their pen at sunrise, and left the dogs outside with them. The dogs came in for breakfast after an hour and the ducks were fine . I went out to get firewood and heard upset ducks. The dogs had been in for an hour so there's an hour's window for this to happen. The mallard is gone. The only things left are three small feathers, the liver and intestines.

There are no tracks in the dirt that I can see. It rained over night and although the soil is compacted, there should be something to see. The dogs can't find a scent trail.

I've lost a whole bird to a bobcat over the years. I always found part of the bird buried in the leaves or snow. If it's there, I can't find it and neither can the dogs.
I feel like I'm missing clues.

Any ideas of what kills and eats all but intestines and liver and doesn't leave tracks?

We have bobcat, fox, coyote, fisher, osprey, bald eagles, great horned owls, barred owls, raccoons and skunks.

[Micahn]

With the no tracks I would say a bird got it. I just seen the other day a hawk take a rabbit that looked as big as it was. It flew off with it but you could tell it was a real struggle.

[CarolT]

I agree. I think it actually was wanting to eat the intestines/liver, but the hue and cry made him leave without it.

[MaineFarmMom]

Thanks to both of you. Nothing else makes sense. I have chickens to butcher in two weeks and turkeys either then or soon after. Not being able to let my birds out unless I'm home to have the dogs out is going to be a pain.

[Goldeneye]

In day light and no tracks sounds like a bird.

[CarolT]

Not sure what situation your birds are in, but I took white yarn and made a "spiderweb" above the pen. The hawks wouldn't come in with it there. We have lots of trees and tall posts where I could keep it above head high. It doesn't have to be very tight at all to scare them off, either, they could easily have made it in, but it looks like a trap or something and they avoided it. It's gone now but we have an emu that apparently intimidates them, too LOL

[stormwalker]

I had a redtail hawk kill one of my call ducks right on her nest.
She couldn't get out of the corner, so I went in and threw a towel over her, picked her up and launched her. It was a beautiful sight!
I didn't like losing my little duck, but to see that hawk fly up was marvelous.

[MaineFarmMom]

Originally Posted by CarolT

Not sure what situation your birds are in, but I took white yarn and made a "spiderweb" above the pen. The hawks wouldn't come in with it there. We have lots of trees and tall posts where I could keep it above head high. It doesn't have to be very tight at all to scare them off, either, they could easily have made it in, but it looks like a trap or something and they avoided it. It's gone now but we have an emu that apparently intimidates them, too LOL

We're residing the barn. As soon as that back is done I'll do this again. Thanks for the reminder. A neighbor has wires strung from a pole that must be 20' tall. It looks like a frame for a big round tent. The hawks see the wires and don't bother the chickens. He hasn't lost a bird to hawks since doing this.

Originally Posted by stormwalker

I had a redtail hawk kill one of my call ducks right on her nest.
She couldn't get out of the corner, so I went in and threw a towel over her, picked her up and launched her. It was a beautiful sight!
I didn't like losing my little duck, but to see that hawk fly up was marvelous.

That's awesome! I'd love to see whatever it is that got my duck. I will happily leave hawks and eagles alone and do a better job of keeping my birds safe from them. I've been leaving the English shepherd in the pen with the ducks and the collie with the meat chickens to be on the safe side.