Chicken found dead this morning

[darkbrahmamama]

Could be skunk, possum, weasel, raccoon .....

 

[BiggBen]

Wouldn't an animal eat more than just the neck? I am new to this so sorry if this is a redundant question?

 

[enola]

Not if it is an animal that really only wants the blood.

 

[darkbrahmamama]

Or just the crop contents.

 

[BobDBirdDog]

I dont know if you have Weasels where you are located but they, along with rats will do that. Weasels suck the blood but will not eat the bird. I think skunks will do that too. Ferrel cats/wild house cats will paw through the holes and can do the same damage.

 

[centrarchid]

Raccoon or owl. Most likely latter.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Was the remains still below the roost?

 

[chickchoon1]

Not likely a cat(feral or otherwise-they all need s/n so feline numbers can be reduced for their/some peoples sake) and if possible just assume all of the above smaller critters and either rewire with smaller hardware cloth or make sure ANY breaches in chick wire/cloth are firmly held down so they can't push their way in. Sounds like maybe they ate the crop?After the grains in crop, maybe? So sorry for loss. Seems especially hard when you don't know what has caused it. i finally figured out my predator was a hawk(had no covering on chix and they were pastured, mostly) after 4 losses and predominantly the crop/neck were eaten.

 

[BiggBen]

Yes the remains were found sitting below the roost

 

[BiggBen]

Was the remains still below the roost?

Yes the remains were sitting directly under the roost