Chicken beheaded by something...

[markman]

I started out with 10 Rhode Island Reds on my 2 acre property, but the flock was reduced by 8 one afternoon by a stray pitbull. I managed to put a .22 bullet into the pit bulls head and drop him (weighed 65 pounds) and after that my remaining two hens were safe for about 6 months.

A few days ago I went to open the door to the chicken coop and found one hen on the floor with her head chewed off, but none of her was eaten. The point of entry was the upper corner of the coop where some animal had sat on the slanted roof and reached around and broke 10 strands of chicken wire to gain entry. I tried to break the wire and couldn't do it, so this animal had to be very strong.

Remembering the days of raising Koi fish, I recall that Raccoons had cleaned out my Koi pond by removing the fish and chewing off their heads, not eating the flesh. This was similar behavior.

The only predators I have seen in the area are opossums, house cats, and dogs.

Any thoughts on the identity of the animal responsible and precautions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dsqard]

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said raccoon.

 

[newchik715]

same thing happened to me. two out of 6 were attacked and one recovered and died later and the other had her head missing but her body intact...i say raccoon too.

 

[Attack Chicken]

I say raccoon as well

Sorry to hear about your flock, sounds like you've been through quite a bit.

And

even if it isn't on the best note.

AC

 

[mominoz]

Had that happen years ago and it was possums.

 

[GreatPyrLover]

I just had three chickens killed last week...they were locked up in the coop and something tried to pull them thru the fence...it took their heads...that night we caught two raccoons....but the night before we had caught a opossum...so it was either of the three....my guess are the two coons!!!!!