Chickens killed with only heads eat

[chiknducklings]

Oh wow! Sorry 'bout your Jersey Giant. Do you think a weasel could've gotten into the coop? We had a similar occurrence a few years ago, and trapped a weasel. Our coop had a concrete base about 1 foot tall my husband dug around the base and poured more concrete about 8 inches underground. Knock wood no more dead chickens.

 

[16 paws]

Just had another attack involving a bobcat here. It happened about three oclock in the afternoon.

My upstairs deck looks down unto our backyard where we have the coop and run. The flock was out free ranging.

I just happened to look down from the deck when I was shocked to see a bobcat right in front of the coop door. He must of heard me as we made instant eye contact. As my eyes focused in I realized he had my Brabanter rooster in his mouth! I screamed and headed down the stairs into the back yard. Everything started moving in slow motion. I realize now that scream was a life changer for my roo Jake.

By the time I finally made it into the yard the bobbie was gone....Jake lay motionless several feet from the chain link fence and another hen was laying by the fence with her head ripped off. I couldnt bear to look so my son who was now there also had to tell me that her head was there near her.

So this bobcat jumped a 6 foot chain link fence with barbed wire, killed one hen and then headed back to the coop to get more. I dont know if Jake jumped out in front to sacrifice himself or what but he ended up almost being the second victim.

About a minute later I almost had a heart attack when I saw Jake get up from where the bobcat dumped him. I really could not believe it. At first I thought he was going to be very mangled. So being the big chicken I am, I told my son to go and see if he was indeed mangled. By the way let me tell you that my son is 33 so you dont think I am making a child do this......
My son Chad said, Mom he looks alright! I really could not believe this. My son buried our hen and I started watching Jake to see how he was. After several hours went by I realized he must either be in shock or he had internal injuries. He was standing but not eating, drinking or moving around.

I decided to just watch him closely....
The next day was the same, Jake wasnt eating, drinking and he was not roosting. I thought oh no, I hope he didnt survive this just to starve to death from shock or some internal injury.
That night I set up a little hospital in the garage with a heat lamp and some fresh food and water. He didnt snap out of it. I knew he would soon be gone if he didnt eat or drink.
I made a decision to return him to the flock. I thought if he was going to die he would be happier to go with his flock. I also decided I wasnt going to let that happen if I could do anything about it.
I started by getting my dogs syringe for medications. I first began by squirting water mixed with honey in his mouth several times day. He would take some in but still wasnt getting better. So I went to Wal-Mart and got some baby rice cereal. I started giving him that along with some cocont oil several times a day. Then I offered him some dry masa flour mixed with water and yogurt. He still wasnt moving around at all and this went on for 6 long days.

And then things changed.... I couldnt believe when I finally saw him tilt his head down and reach for a drink of water on his own!!!!I was so happy.

He has been doing fine since then which has been 3 weeks now.That scream saved his life. I hope this can help someone else somehow and I thought Jakes story surely does need to be told. Maybe it can help someone else..

 

[wingitman]

Thats amazing 16 paws! well done on your efforts! I had a rooster die in a similar way from a dog attack, He didnt look like he sustained any external injuries so I thought he was going to get better but he didn't survive the night. If I had known how to care for them like you did he might have made it.

 

[16 paws]

Thanks so much wingitman.
Thats why I wanted to tell Jakes story. If it can help someone else it makes it all worth it.
Happy chickening!!!!
Marie

 

[bubzchickenz]

I have chickens killed during the day with only the heads gone and my ducks, geese,and gunies have never been touched

 

[jerrynesmith]

So we've narrowed it down to rats, cats, raccoons, owls, otters, 'possums and foxes? Hmmmm...I just found a headless hen in the coop. I know of no way for a varmint to get in. Her feathers were throughout the coop. No other chicken was harmed. The head was gone, and I could find no other injuries. I am stumped.

 

[dhopper122]

Foxes would have carried it off after the kill.An owl would need flying room for the the kill, so unless they could fly in, cross them off. Rats take chunks out of their legs and maybe back. Racoons tend to eat from the *** in. So, I would have a difficult time identifying the culprit, with the clues.

 

[16 paws]

So we've narrowed it down to rats, cats, raccoons, owls, otters, 'possums and foxes? Hmmmm...I just found a headless hen in the coop. I know of no way for a varmint to get in. Her feathers were throughout the coop. No other chicken was harmed. The head was gone, and I could find no other injuries. I am stumped.

I am sorry to hear this.

Are you sure there is no way for something to dig in? I would look around again. Maybe you were too upset to see where something got in.

 

[AllynTal]

If a raccoon can get its head through a hole, it can get its whole body through. It's amazing, really, watching a great big body slither through a very small space. I don't know what you've got, but I know a raccoon will bite the head off a chicken to get it to shut up so its presence isn't discovered while it pilfers eggs ...or kills another chicken to eat. It's possible you have an egg thief and the chicken that raised a fuss, lost her head for it.

 

[jerrynesmith]

1/4" welded wire mesh from four feet on walls, then two feet from floor on the ground. Same wire on floor and. All covered with river rock around edges of coop. Chicken wire covers all walls. Doors latch securely with 1/4" welded wire covering them. Snake proof. One little flaw--there is a 6" gap between roofs of coop and covered run. Only way in is through this gap from the top.