Chicken massacre this morning 😔

[AMurray102]

This morning we woke up to the chickens crying out. By the time we got out to the yard 4 of our 5 chickens were dead They all were missing their heads… We have an automatic chicken door that is set to open at 7am (when the sun comes up here). I’m now thinking this was too early. We have had free range chickens for about a year now with no issues, but I was letting them out myself at around 9-10am. This is our first loss so we are feeling all the emotions. Thinking maybe it could have been a hawk or owl? Doesn’t appear to be any predator foot prints in the mud. Any insight or similar experiences? Thanks everyone.
Also, we are thinking about getting mini goats to protect the new chickens in the future? Do they really protect well or is this just a myth? Thanks!

 

[AGeese]

Raccoon or a big possum could have eaten the heads. Sorry to hear...

 

[swamphiker]

I'm so sorry for your losses.

Decapitation is typical of a hawk or other bird of prey, but doesn't necessarily rule out other predators.

I haven't had issues with hawks/owls after moving their run to an area with lots of trees and shrubs to help them hide and keep the hawks from having enough space to hunt effectively.

 

[The Coop Crew]

I’m so sorry for your losses

 

[PatriciafromCO]

am sorry for your losses, if it helps, its very common on predator bird strikes to leave a swirl pattern with some fluff feathers in the dirt. Usually they take the whole bird. in the short amount of time to have so many and decapication I would lean towards a smaller ground predator.

 

[AMurray102]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

This morning we woke up to the chickens crying out. By the time we got out to the yard 4 of our 5 chickens were dead They all were missing their heads… We have an automatic chicken door that is set to open at 7am (when the sun comes up here). I’m now thinking this was too early. We have had free range chickens for about a year now with no issues, but I was letting them out myself at around 9-10am. This is our first loss so we are feeling all the emotions. Thinking maybe it could have been a hawk or owl? Doesn’t appear to be any predator foot prints in the mud. Any insight or similar experiences? Thanks everyone.
Also, we are thinking about getting mini goats to protect the new chickens in the future? Do they really protect well or is this just a myth? Thanks!

Hello That is the worst news. I'm sorry. Mini goats do not act as protectors. Mini donkeys do though. But hawks and owls strike so fast and hard it will be too late for the donkey to stop the death. When I was outside a long time ago owls would land on frogs near us to eat them. They hit the ground so hard and fast it makes a loud thump sound and scares you and then you watch them fly away in just seconds.

 

[AGstudy]

Possoms are known to decapitate and kill multiple birds. Hawks and Owls as far as I know only take one.

 

[GlicksChicks]

Raccoons are known for decapitation. It could've very well been multiple raccoons that caught on to the cycle of when you let the chickens out and waited for them.

Raccoons learn fast and can flee even faster.

 

[dekel18042]

This morning we woke up to the chickens crying out. By the time we got out to the yard 4 of our 5 chickens were dead They all were missing their heads… We have an automatic chicken door that is set to open at 7am (when the sun comes up here). I’m now thinking this was too early. We have had free range chickens for about a year now with no issues, but I was letting them out myself at around 9-10am. This is our first loss so we are feeling all the emotions. Thinking maybe it could have been a hawk or owl? Doesn’t appear to be any predator foot prints in the mud. Any insight or similar experiences? Thanks everyone.
Also, we are thinking about getting mini goats to protect the new chickens in the future? Do they really protect well or is this just a myth? Thanks!

While not all four footed farm animals protect chickens I've noticed that chickens that share a pasture with any kind of grass eaters, cows, horses, sheep, goats, donkeys, llamas, (not pigs) seem to have a lot less prediction. My guess is the hawks don't want to come down and it keeps other predators from entering where there are other animals. Then if the chickens are locked up at night they're safe. I live in a rural area and this is how most chickens are kept.