Are hawks and raccoons the only decapitators ?

[centrarchid]

I wanted to add that my run is fully covered with bird netting and the owls were just blowing through it, sometimes having a hard time figuring out how to get back out! I don't want anyone to think I didn't try to prevent this at all. We worked really hard to stop the raptor problem, but big raptors aren't stopped by netting. It keeps the little ones out like Sharp-Shinned hawks. The automatic door was the only way to stop the Great Horned Owls.

My Great-horned owls seem to avoid deer netting, especially after getting stuck in it once.

I was not direct in previous post. Be watching for a raccoon, despite seeing the owl. It is not a big deal to see multiple predators come in on the same night. Carcass damage looks more like done by raccoon than owl.

 

[cmom]

I wanted to add that my run is fully covered with bird netting and the owls were just blowing through it, sometimes having a hard time figuring out how to get back out! I don't want anyone to think I didn't try to prevent this at all. We worked really hard to stop the raptor problem, but big raptors aren't stopped by netting. It keeps the little ones out like Sharp-Shinned hawks. The automatic door was the only way to stop the Great Horned Owls.

Time to change the netting. I have only had issues with the netting when I ran short and put up some crappy netting. It wasn't what I thought it was and I should have returned it, but I put it up anyway and an owl went through it and killed a bird. I put up another piece of the crappy netting because that was all I had at the time and the owl went through it again and killed another bird. I thought the netting might deter any aerial predators. I put another piece of the crappy netting up and moved the birds to another coop and put a camera up and the owl came back and went through the netting again. I had ordered some good netting and replaced the crappy netting and the owl came back and tried to go through the replaced good netting again but this time got caught in the netting. We managed to get it out and into a cage. I called some wildlife people and they came and got it. They told me they had another area to release it in. This is like the netting I bought. ("SUPER STRONG and DURABLE -Tensile Strength: 85/245 LBS per Mesh"). Good luck...
https://www.amazon.com/Aviary-Netti...7326958&sprefix=aviary+netting,aps,785&sr=8-6

This is like the original netting I used. This is the piece I replaced the crappy netting with.

 

[centrarchid]

Time to change the netting. I have only had issues with the netting when I ran short and put up some crappy netting. It wasn't what I thought it was and I should have returned it, but I put it up anyway and an owl went through it and killed a bird. I put up another piece of the crappy netting because that was all I had at the time and the owl went through it again and killed another bird. I thought the netting might deter any aerial predators. I put another piece of the crappy netting up and moved the birds to another coop and put a camera up and the owl came back and went through the netting again. I had ordered some good netting and replaced the crappy netting and the owl came back and tried to go through the replaced good netting again but this time got caught in the netting. We managed to get it out and into a cage. I called some wildlife people and they came and got it. They told me they had another area to release it in. This is like the netting I bought. ("SUPER STRONG and DURABLE -Tensile Strength: 85/245 LBS per Mesh"). Good luck...
https://www.amazon.com/Aviary-Netting-Heavy-Knotted-Poultry/dp/B012L9ZIFE/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3R015GU0F7DMS&dchild=1&keywords=aviary+netting&qid=1597326958&sprefix=aviary+netting,aps,785&sr=8-6

View attachment 2288281

This is like the original netting I used. This is the piece I replaced the crappy netting with.
View attachment 2288282
View attachment 2288285View attachment 2288292

Will not work if this is a raccoon, which I think it is.

 

[cmom]

I have had my original netting up for over 10 years and it is still in good shape.

 

[sourland]

This happened when they were outside of the tractor in the yard free ranging with an electric fence surrounding them. Would an owl do that in mid morning?

On a cloudy or overcast day, yes, I have had birds killed by GHO.

 

[cmom]

I have seen coons on my game cameras. I also have electric wires around my coops and pens and so far in many years, nothing has gotten past the electric wires.

 

[centrarchid]

We are talking about the OP's situation.

 

[The Happster]

Pine martens also like to take the heads off. Had a pair of young Orps decapitated couple years back. My favourite birds.
They weren't eaten at all. Guess he was just bored.
Worst part is they're protected over here.

 

[ChristinLewin]

Will not work if this is a raccoon, which I think it is.

I thought fox or raccoon originally based on the gnawing pattern and cleaned off back area BUT the attack happened at 9:50ish am, with an electric fence, AND the neighbor saw a giant bird fly out of the enclosure where the dead chicken was found

 

[Folly's place]

I've had hawk kills that looked like this bird too.
Mary