Lost sweet Ellie today.

I went to the coop this morning and everything seemed normal. We opened the doors and my brother found his Mottled Cochin, Ellie, dead on the floor, headless and missing a bunch of feathers. There were some feathers on the floor but not enough to cover Ellie's body. She had what looked like bite marks in 2 places but nothing could get in the coop except for small snakes or something else small. The other chickens didn't seem too bothered by this. We're reinforcing our coop today but little Ellie will never be replaced. She was the kindest and most social out of all of our chickens. We're going to miss her so much. RIP Ellie.

Any idea what could've done it?

Sorry to hear about Ellie! My guess would be that it was either a snake or a weasel.

Thanks. I thought it was a snake because that's all that could really get in there. But my Grandfather says a snake wouldn't take her head clean off. I've never seen any weasels around here but I'll keep an eye out.

Another one was killed. Whatever it is, it's going to DIE. Setting up the trap this evening. Will cooked chicken work for trying to catch possums, raccoons, skunks, etc?

The first one that was killed, the head was eaten. The second one killed was eaten at the other end. It has to be a small animal and we're guessing a small possum. The darned thing ate some of the second one's insides. I don't know what could catch a Sebright. They are good flying and they are FAST. There was signs of a struggle but whatever's killing them, stays in the coop to eat them. But it doesn't even finish. I don't know if this thing hears me coming and runs away before it can finish it's meal, or if it just likes to kill. I don't know what time this happens but I think it happens in early in the morning. I was out there today at 6:30 and the chicken was already dead. Is there any way to tell how long she's been dead? And if it is a possum, will tuna work to bait the trap? We're putting 4 big Barred Rock roosters in that coop tonight so if it gets in again (it shouldn't though) they can fight it off. I'm trying to sell these roosters and I know this sounds bad but, I'd rather these roosters go than any others. Don't get me wrong, I like these roosters but it's there job to fight for the flock. And I don't think a tiny possum could kill these monsters. That thing is killing all of our bantams first and wait til it sees these roosters in their place. It's going to be an interesting night. We're setting up the box trap in hopes we'll catch it. We're putting the bantams in a different coop where they'll be safer. Wish us luck!

Sorry for your loss. Could be a possum or raccoon.

CAUGHT IT! It was, in fact a possum. A baby at that. It was so cute. I was in for releasing it a few miles down the road but my Grandfather shot it. Setting the trap again tonight just in case there's more. No chickens were harmed last night!

chikenobsession said:

CAUGHT IT! It was, in fact a possum. A baby at that. It was so cute. I was in for releasing it a few miles down the road but my Grandfather shot it. Setting the trap again tonight just in case there's more. No chickens were harmed last night!

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I think hens and roosters are pretty useless in the dark because they cannot see anything fyi. Releasing it just gives someone else a headache. Your grandfather was good in doing what he did. Good idea about the trap. Glad you caught one, but I would suspect there are more.

I have a motioned censored light in the coop. So if anything moves, the light comes on so they should be able to see. I am so glad we caught it! I agree it was best to shoot it. I don't think there's any more. There was only one chicken killed a night but just to be safe we're setting it again. Nothing else should be able to get in. I wish we would've thought of it before Ellie was killed. We're looking for more Sebrights and Cochins because we just love those breeds. We have Molly's (murdered Silver Sebright) eggs. They are going in the incubator today so at least we'll have her babies. We still have Polly (other SS) and her eggs too. Can't wait until they hatch .Unfortunately, Ellie wasn't laying. She was getting close but we don't have any babies from her to hatch. Hopefully we can find another one like Ellie.

You gotta do what you gotta do.