Chicken with its head missing

[mitch1114]

I just found a dead chicken partially under the coop. I thought it had gotten itself stuck but when I pulled it out its head had been ripped off. What the heck kind of critter does that?

 

[cluckcluckhens]

I'm leaning towards a Dog did this. Why? Our neighbor dog does this to squirrels, cats and rabbits all the time. He presents his owners with these gifts I am told without the head.

 

[mitch1114]

I dont think it was a dog. We had 6 chickens killed this past summer and fall because of dogs so we dog proofed the run. They are not free range. I forgot to say I found it next to the fence under the corner of the coop.

 

[FluffyFeathers97]

Owls kill and take only the head. It's very wasteful but it's telltale that it's an owl.

 

[cmom]

My first thought would be an owl.

 

[Henry&Friends]

Raccoons will also reach into an opening and eat off any part it can grab... a hawk ate my chicken from the head into the abdomen, I only know it was a hawk because I chased it off. Dogs, from my experiences, just chase and grab whatever they can and give it a good shake. Very messy and tends to leave birds alive, just very hurt. were there feathers or any signs of a struggle?

 

[mitch1114]

I dont see how it could be an owl. It was underneath the coop. The coop is on skids so there is a couple inches underneath it.

 

[mitch1114]

Raccoons will also reach into an opening and eat off any part it can grab... a hawk ate my chicken from the head into the abdomen, I only know it was a hawk because I chased it off. Dogs, from my experiences, just chase and grab whatever they can and give it a good shake. Very messy and tends to leave birds alive, just very hurt. were there feathers or any signs of a struggle?

No signs of a struggle that I could see. But I got a lot of feathers out from under the coop where its head would have been.

 

[Henry&Friends]

No signs of a struggle that I could see. But I got a lot of feathers out from under the coop where its head would have been.

could you send a picture of where the bird was found? It would probably help us figure out what could get in there and how it went down.

Oh, and sorry for your loss I hope you don’t feel too bad... I know I always do.

 

[cmom]

Of you have a game camera, put it up. Most likely the predator has been lurking looking for an opportunity and it will be back then you will know what you're dealing with.