Chickens killed with only heads eat

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Owls are known to eat just the head and leave the rest. We have had 'possums do it to but alot of times they will eat the guts as well. yummy huh

Steve

 

[Lifetime chicken lover]

I would look at other signs like holes in the coop/run. I had something break into my coop last week and it had actually pried open the metal shed walls. My guess was a raccoon for this attack, as I can't imagine any other animal being able to do this.

 

[eggsforus]

My vote is a racoon or mink/weasel. I recently lost 3 inside my coop, before I closed off the gap between the ext walls and the roof. I found where it got in, saw some hair, scratches and the thing also left a pile of poop in the coop. I have 6 pullets in the coop now, which has been secured.

This was all about a week ago. I have since shot 1, trapped 3 racoons...

 

[cindyschicks]

Quote:
Yes, the only predators I have in coop are rats. They have taken two baby Lionhead bunnies, two juvenile chicks, and a banty rooster. They truly demolished the baby rabbits but only took the heads of the chickens.

 

[mgw]

I caught a horned owl doing this also shot the owl but never did find the chickens head the only thing missing.

 

[littledel]

Quote:
Shooting owls is illegal

 

[Chickenaddict]

Chances are it is NOT an owl... I highly doubt that owl would have gone out of it's way to get in the coop. Sorry for your loss

 

[aprophet]

Julie's Silkies :

what kind of animal bites the head off and leaves the body.

Had 2 dead in the pen last week and this morning 3 in the house dead, I left the dogs run at night and it still came back.
any ideal what kind of animal does it.

Y'all are covered in skunks and possum up your way I am down here on the state line I have trapped a little up your way I think you are probably dealing with a weasel if you google" weasel box" the top 2 results will show you a safe way to use the wooden rat traps around your chooks the rat traps will take care of rats and weasels . if it were an owl In the chicken house that would be interesting first thing in the morning LOL most times when they get in to a building they almost cannot get back out kina the way a minnow trap works​

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Racoons bite heads off. Possums usually go for the body works. Just had a possum break into a heavy wire dog pen right next to my front door (climbed in) and killed 10 3 month old chickies. 5 survived and one other pullet is in very bad shape...brought her in the house.

Tonight I will sit up all night if need be so he will be history by tomorrow. Am so sad.

Sorry for your loss. Only way to stop a racoon is to kill or catch it in a trap and then kill it. Try putting a hot wire around your pen/coop. That works to keep them away.

 

[NarutoTn]

could be feral cat they do that