Rats? Anyone have duck death from rats?

learycow

Crowing
11 Years
Apr 1, 2011
3,079
1,237
376
Southern Maine
Do fake owls deter hawks? I've heard of people trying reflective tape and also hanging blank CD's on string where they can swing around to catch the light.
I will try this! Thanks!
Yeah, a net is not an option unless I put them in pens. But that is not something i am able to do at this point in time. I have them in the coops until I get something figured out.

Someone told me that once spring starts up and rodents and such become more and more readily available, he will leave the ducks alone. But I'm afraid he won't as he now knows he has an easy source of food.
 

newshound

Chirping
5 Years
Apr 29, 2017
34
31
95
Pennsylvania
Can you describe the bite marks? I know this sounds gross, but did you get a picture of the damage? You can normally tell if a rat was the culprit by teeth marks. Rats CAN take down an adult duck (especially if it's more than one of them) but I highly doubt it unless there was something seriously wrong with it. I think a game camera is in order.
I know this is old, hope you see it. My ducks have a covered run and their house is inside. I have had rats before, part of the run is chain link. Yesterday, during the day, my duck put her head through the fence probably to get greens. She was killed, the head was gone, neck was just bones. The rest of her was still stuck inside the coop. She was also gutted. Could this be rats? The only other predator is hawks and cats. Something, after it killed her and ate the neck, also went inside to eat. It had to have been able to fit through chain link. My other ducks are terrified and staying far away and out of the coop.
 

Miss Lydia

~Gift of God ~ Eternal Life ~John 3:16-17
Premium Feather Member
12 Years
Oct 3, 2009
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Mountains of Western N.C.
Mink and weasel can get through chain link
Very sorry for your loss. I’d wrap entire chain link in hardware cloth. Predators come back once they have had an easy kill.
 

newshound

Chirping
5 Years
Apr 29, 2017
34
31
95
Pennsylvania
Mink and weasel can get through chain link
Very sorry for your loss. I’d wrap entire chain link in hardware cloth. Predators come back once they have had an easy kill.
Thank you. We had put more hardware cloth all around anout 2 ft high and 2 ft out. We thought that would work but either something was already inside or it climbed and got another duck, I feel awful, we worked 4 hrs to help them. I took the last two out, they are in the sunroom right now. The first day they were out 2 eggs appeared out in the open with the ends eaten off. They had brought them out of a tunnel! I still don't know if rat or weasel. My chickens are right next door, I am locking them up overnight now.
 

Miss Lydia

~Gift of God ~ Eternal Life ~John 3:16-17
Premium Feather Member
12 Years
Oct 3, 2009
122,914
149,356
2,032
Mountains of Western N.C.
Yes don't give the predator access to any of your poultry and hopefully, they will move on. But we can't ever let our guard down there are other predators that will move in and take their place. I am so sorry you lost another one. Most predators can climb so most likely they climb up on the hardware cloth and went in through the chain link. Weasels and Mink and large rats wouldn't have a problem getting through the chain link. If you have a game camera or can borrow one set it up so you can catch what is coming around it will give you a better idea what your dealing with.
 

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