all my hens were decapitated.

[ny mason]

I woke up to 3 headless hens yesterday..
only my rooster survived,frantic but unharmed.I think it was a weasel due to the tiny hole in the fence and the fact that the body's were left behind.
I spent the better part of yesterday reinforcing my run/coop and got another 3 hens.I locked all the birds in the coop last night and all was well this morning..but I KNOW it will be back!
has anyone ever dealt with one of these before?
what else can I do to ensure this wont happen again?
I have 4 7 week old RIR chicks ready to go outside but want to make sure they will be safe.

 

[Habibs Hens]

or a rat

or cat

I had that happen to my ducks last month

 

[moetrout]

I'd guess coon. Whatever it was it will be back. Put out a live trap and dispatch it.

 

[ny mason]

wouldn't a coon or cat take the body with them?
as I said the "meat" was untouched.

 

[ny mason]

or a rat

or cat

I had that happen to my ducks last month

would a rat kill a chicken?

 

[Habibs Hens]

wouldn't a coon or cat take the body with them?
as I said the "meat" was untouched.

That's what came to my mind a FOX or COON would take the body

would a rat kill a chicken?

yes a large rat very easily can kill chicken and they like to eat the head and leave the rest

a CAT will kill for fun and bite at the back of the head

 

[ny mason]

That's what came to my mind a FOX or COON would take the body


yes a large rat very easily can kill chicken and they like to eat the head and leave the rest

a CAT will kill for fun and bite at the back of the head

Interesting..we do have a lot of rats around the property,although it never occurred to me that they may be a threat to the chickens.
I would think that my rooster would be able to handle a rat {not sure if he tried} as I said he was without a scratch.
a local breeder suggested I put a goose in there,says they are great a discouraging predators...thoughts?

 

[Hippy Pete]

That's the m.o. of a house cat. Sadly. They chew until dead and then carry away the lightest part. They do it to rabbits too.

 

[Habibs Hens]

Interesting..we do have a lot of rats around the property,although it never occurred to me that they may be a threat to the chickens.
I would think that my rooster would be able to handle a rat {not sure if he tried} as I said he was without a scratch.
a local breeder suggested I put a goose in there,says they are great a discouraging predators...thoughts?

a goose wont help protect a flock all that it will do is be an alarm and now a days geese don't call much

infact a Turkey is a better alarm caller

but again protection wont be had and a large enough animal like a coon will take on a turkey or a goose

 

[Egghead_Jr]

The easiest and best protection is to close the coop door every night.