headless chickens, left for dead. Does anyone know what could be getting my birds?

[mschreiner1]

In the fall I lost 4 free ranging birds at dusk. One headless the rest left for dead (even the rooster was taken out). I was devastated. After that I started locking the birds up and only letting them out when I was in the yard. This morning I put my surviving 5 birds in the fenced in garden, but my buttercup always flies out and unfortunately did that this am. It was 10 am when I put them in the garden and by 11am I found her decapitated in the yard, feathers everywhere. Wondering what might be getting my girls. Fox? Coyote? Thought those only hunted at dusk or dawn. She was 1 year old, but not a huge bird. Could it be a hawk? I don't think it would be as heartbreaking if they just took the whole bird, but the take off the head and leave the meat is really upsetting.

 

[LoweBow]

Let me preceed this by saying I'm sorry for your loss.

In my outdoory lifestyle of hunting and fishing the one animal that will start w/ the head is a bird or prey.
I had a friend that had a Coopers Hawk that was decapitating his cochins. He said the bird wouldn't even slow down...in one swoop would hit and fly to a limb w/ head in tow.

Sounds like you have a killer bird....
Mike

 

[tracylo09]

That is so sad, hope you get to the bottom of it and can protect your remaining birds

 

[mschreiner1]

Thank you! This weekend my husband is going to build me a run for my coop. My coop is a a big shed with plenty of room for my 4 girls. So for the past year I've been either letting them free range or go in my large fenced in garden. Now with this recent lost I have put the pressure on my man to build me a covered run. Soon 8 chicks will be joining our flock. Keeping my fingers crossed that he gets it built this weekend.

 

[dreamer5577]

Hi && Welcome!!!

I'm sorry for your loss
I'm not completely sure as to what could be doing this. My first guess was a dog or even coyote but they don't normally decapitate. Hopefully someone more helpful will will jump in here!
Glad you joined us.,

 

[mschreiner1]

I have seen a large red tailed hawk flying over my property. Hmmmm so that's probably my killer bird. Ugh!

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us. So sorry that you're having problems with predators

 

[rikithemonk]

I heard a good suggestion about adding one of those wild game cameras with the motion sensors. Might let you know whats sneaking around your yard when your not there. I have also heard it suggested that running thin wire criss crossing the yard well over head height throws off the raptors when they dive. Although I have never tried this, I think it would buy your chickens more warning and perhaps time to get away. Its hard not to notice a huge killer bird slamming un ceremoniously into the ground.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

There are other predators than hawks that will decapitate, actually with hawks you usually only find a pile of feathers with maybe some feet.

 

[Beekissed]

An owl will decapitate and only eat the heads. At dusk, I'd be thinking this is your likely culprit and they do hunt in the daytime as well.