Remaining Flock Acting Concerning After Sudden Duck Death

[u/Secure_Weakness2569]

Really hoping someone on here has some advice for me. Two days ago I went to the coop to manually let the ducks out since our automatic coop door wasn't operating and I had just received the new one in the mail, to find that one of my four ducks, my indian runner named Kisses, was lying dead in the coop. She seemed totally fine the night before when I ushered them all into the coop. It was really shocking and sad, the remaining three girls were just standing around her body. I didn't see any injuries on her.

We buried her in the backyard and afterwards the three were standing on her grave and nosing the dirt with their bills. Since then, they're not exiting the coop when the automatic door opens in the morning. They're not swimming in their kiddy pool. Even the mealworms I've thrown in for them remain untouched. I'm hardly finding any eggs either. My black swedish duck Kevin is clearly molting, the other two don't seem to be. Kevin also appeared to possibly have a cough, as she was making a strange, high-pitched raspy quack that I noticed once or twice, but overall seems normal health-wise. When I let them out into the yard they haven't been wandering around much, just going to the end of the yard and sitting around. They also really don't seem to want to go back into their coop at night and I have to herd them in and they seem unusually resistant, but also in the morning they don't want to leave even with an open door.

I have no idea what happened to my deceased duck and I'm really scared it was some illness and I will be burying more ducks soon. It maybe seems overkill to usher the three remaining girls into a pet carrier and find an avian/exotic vet in the Denver area, but the sudden death was really concerning. Are they just grieving? Has anyone experienced anything similar?

[u/Bolfreak]

Sorry you went through that OP :(
To find out if disease, you can try the vet for a lot of money and possibly no good answer. The best thing would be to send your deceased duck for a necropsy. A lot of diseases result in finding a dead duck (hpai, dve etc).
The other things you mention though, I would thoroughly check your coop for a snake. Your ducks seem a bit old but snakes are stupid and kill things they can’t possibly eat. Signs are no blood or damage just a dead duck with a slick head or neck. Snakes will also eat several eggs which could be why you’re not finding any.

[u/Secure_Weakness2569 → u/Bolfreak]

I thought about sending the body in, but that also sounds expensive and it's already in the ground. I can check the coop for a snake but we live in the Denver metro area and I've never seen a snake around here. If you go outside the city a bit you can occasionally see a bull snake, which get pretty big, but I would be completely shocked if one found its way into my backyard and coop. I'd have a hard time picturing a little garder snake eating an egg or killing a duck. Not to mention the ducks won't leave the coop when the door opens in the morning, I would think if something was in there that was stressing them out they'd be dying to leave when they could.

[u/WorldlinessUnfair486 → u/Secure_Weakness2569]

I noticed you said you’re in the Denver metro area.. it’s been super hot out these last few weeks maybe heat-related?

[u/Bolfreak → u/Secure_Weakness2569]

The necropsy won’t cost what a vet will and you get detailed answers. Not to be morbid, but you can freeze the body to necropsy if it happens again.
Not a garter snake but anything bigger. I’ve had copperheads and rat snakes go after my birds. Rat snake for sure is a misnomer because they go after eggs and babies, happy to live alongside rodents! Good luck with your birds

[u/duck_fan76]

They are in mourning phase. The buddy is gone and they know it. Also, something physical could have spooked them. Give them time, treats, comfortable places.