neil cooney 10,415 Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 9 week old mallards killed on me by a bite to the underside. Any eaten were on their backs and breasts eaten like a sparrow hawk eating a pigeon.I've ruled out buzzards. Not a mark on the head and there's a trout stream a field away from the pond they were on. 6 birds killed. Any ideas ??????? Quote Link to post
Lab 10,979 Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 9 week old mallards killed on me by a bite to the underside. Any eaten were on their backs and breasts eaten like a sparrow hawk eating a pigeon.I've ruled out buzzards. Not a mark on the head and there's a trout stream a field away from the pond they were on. 6 birds killed. Any ideas ??????? Mink or otter.. Quote Link to post
CarraghsGem 92 Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 where were the bodys found? in water or on the bank? if in water i know its a long shot but pike? another even longer shot; snapping turtle gone wild? Quote Link to post
roebuck220 80 Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 otter Quote Link to post
sounder 9 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 mink i say Quote Link to post
"Earth!" 503 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 mink i say with their backs and underside eaten? theres no mention of head damage Quote Link to post
neil cooney 10,415 Posted September 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Yesterday when I discovered the dead ducks I put 3 of the dead ones out into a paddock beside the pond. Around half ten last night a friend shot a dog fox in the paddock that was rooting at the dead ducks but I'd agree with most on here and say that an otter is the culprit. The nearby trout stream has a good population. Quote Link to post
DUCKWING 302 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 LADS , THAT COULD WELL BE A RAT ............. RATS OFTEN START EATING THE BIRDS CROPS FULL OF GRAIN WHEN THEY ARE HUDDLED OVER NIGHT ON THE GROUND ......... ANOTHER TELL TALE RAT ATTACK IS WHEN A WING IS FOUND SNAPPED OFF AT THE SHOULDER JOINT OR CHICKS WITH BROKEN WINGS , UP AT THAT SAME JOINT .. WHERE THEY TRY AND DRAG THE YOUNGSTERS AWAY FROM THE HUDDLE ..... A RAT WILL TAKE ONLY A FEW PER NIGHT USUALLY ....... THOUGH SOMETIMES WILL TAKE ALL THEY CAN GET WHEN IN YOUNG ....... IF IT WAS A MINK OR OTHER THEY WOULD ALL BE DEAD ......... Quote Link to post
Lab 10,979 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 LADS , THAT COULD WELL BE A RAT ............. RATS OFTEN START EATING THE BIRDS CROPS FULL OF GRAIN WHEN THEY ARE HUDDLED OVER NIGHT ON THE GROUND ......... ANOTHER TELL TALE RAT ATTACK IS WHEN A WING IS FOUND SNAPPED OFF AT THE SHOULDER JOINT OR CHICKS WITH BROKEN WINGS , UP AT THAT SAME JOINT .. WHERE THEY TRY AND DRAG THE YOUNGSTERS AWAY FROM THE HUDDLE ..... A RAT WILL TAKE ONLY A FEW PER NIGHT USUALLY ....... THOUGH SOMETIMES WILL TAKE ALL THEY CAN GET WHEN IN YOUNG ....... IF IT WAS A MINK OR OTHER THEY WOULD ALL BE DEAD ......... Depends on the size of the pond mate......seen plenty mink/otter killings and often they are in the 10/20. A large pond would give the ducks a decent escape route and eventually the mink/otter would stop for a feed. Quote Link to post
DUCKWING 302 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 TRUE FELLA , THOUGH A 9 WEEK OLD DUCKLING WOULDNT PROVE TOO MUCH OF A MATCH FOR A MINK ALL THE BEST DUCKWING Quote Link to post
dpb82uk 138 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 a mink wood of took them to its nest or stash them ner by and wood of dun its best to get as many as it cud Quote Link to post
perthshire keeper 1,237 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 i would say otter we had a load killed last year with just the arse and parsons nose eaten and some with the bills off at the head like some one had sawn then off i sat out with the lamp and it was a otter seen him do it Quote Link to post
"Earth!" 503 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 TRUE FELLA , THOUGH A 9 WEEK OLD DUCKLING WOULDNT PROVE TOO MUCH OF A MATCH FOR A MINK ALL THE BEST DUCKWING but mink are far stronger than a rat i still say otter. Quote Link to post
Buddon Ness 0 Posted September 4, 2010 Report Share Posted September 4, 2010 otter gets my vote just lost 100+ same way blessed. Like P.Keeper saw them at it.Look for spraints and you'll find them full bone and feathers. Quote Link to post
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